St Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish Primary School Warrawong eNewsletter

Religious Education News

Harmony Day
Tomorrow, we are celebrating Harmony Day at school. Our day will start with morning assembly at 8:45 where Harmony Day awards will be presented to a student from each class. Classes will also highlight Harmony Day in their classrooms. Students are encouraged to wear traditional cultural dress or orange clothing on Friday.

Significant Feasts in our Church

On Monday, the church celebrated the Solemnity of St Patrick. After having escaped from slavery, St Patrick returned to Ireland as a man on a mission. Setting aside all the folklore that has embellished the story of his life, we remember him as one of the greatest missionaries in the history of the Church. He dedicated his life to teaching others about God. He is probably most well known for using the leaves of a shamrock to teach people about the Holy Trinity: that is, that our God is 3 in 1.
One of the most important things that helped St Patrick in spreading the Good News was his belief and faith that the Spirit of Jesus would surround him with love and protection.

Yesterday, the church celebrated the Solemnity of St Joseph, the patron saint of families, workers and the Universal Church. Joseph was a carpenter, a good and honest man, whom God called to care for Mary and her baby Jesus. Joseph was a faithful and trusting servant of God who wanted to do what was asked of him. We can learn from Joseph to listen to what God asks of us and become faith-filled servants caring for those in need.

Next Tuesday, March 25, the whole school will be attending the 9am parish Mass to celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, which refers to the time when the angel Gabriel visited the Blessed Virgin Mary to tell her that she would be the mother of our saviour. On this day, we do not only celebrate the announcement to Mary that she had been chosen to be the mother of Jesus, but also her willing acceptance of the news. May we be as generous in accepting the will of God in our lives as Mary was. As always, all are welcome to join us.

Fundraising for Project Compassion
Zooper Dooper Days
We will be selling Zooper Doopers for $1 at recess and lunch next Wednesday, 26 March, to raise money for Project Compassion.

Second Week of Lent
(Week beginning Monday 17 March)

Toefuata'iga - (Toy-foo-ah-tah-ing-ah) is a 13-year-old primary school student from Samoa. Samoa may be a country surrounded by water, but access to clean drinking water is scarce in some areas, with many families facing extreme hardship as a result.
Toefuata’iga’s school community struggled without reliable access to clean water, which impacted students’ education and hygiene. Teachers often had to leave the school to fetch water from nearby homes, disrupting lessons and adding strain to the community. When the water ran out at the school, students were sent home which meant they missed out on valuable learning time.
Thanks to the support of Caritas Australia in partnership with Caritas Samoa, Toefuata’iga’s school now has a 10,000 L water tank through a Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program. Teachers and students are now able to focus on education and improved hygiene.
“Now that we have the water tank, things are so much better, we can stay at school all day, and I get to spend more time learning and playing with my friends. I’m happy that we don’t have to go home early anymore.” – said Toefuata'iga.

This transformative story is just one example of how Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion creates waves of change around the world.

Watch Toefuata'iga’s story here.

Will you stand with students like Toefuata'iga this Lent?

Photo credit: Caritas Australia

Please donate today.

You can support Project Compassion 2025 through the donation boxes, envelopes or by scanning the QR code above.
Or online at: caritas.org.au/project-compassion
Or by calling: 1800 024 413

Thank you for standing with us, as we Unite Against Poverty this Lent.

Third Week of Lent
(Week beginning Monday 24 March)

Lam is 27 years old from a small village in rural Vietnam who faced significant challenges due to his short stature. Growing up, Lam often felt isolated due to limited job opportunities and difficulty moving around his community. While his friends started jobs after high school, Lam stayed home with his parents, unsure if he could ever achieve his dream of becoming a graphic designer.
Everything changed when Lam joined the I-SHINE program, supported by Caritas Australia. Through this initiative, Lam completed a six-month course developing his graphic design skills. Along the way, he built confidence, made friends and gained a sense of connection.
Today, Lam runs a successful freelance graphic design business from home, serving clients worldwide and earning a steady income. Lam hopes his story will encourage other young people with disabilities to overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams.
Lam’s journey shows how your support of Project Compassion empowers individuals to break barriers and transform their lives.

Watch Lam’s story here

Will you walk alongside people like Lam this Lent?

Photo credit: Caritas Australia

Please donate today.

You can support Project Compassion 2025 through the donation boxes, envelopes or by scanning the QR code above.
Or online at: caritas.org.au/project-compassion
Or by calling: 1800 024 413

Thank you for standing with us, as we Unite Against Poverty this Lent.

Upcoming Youth Event

Once again, the Sisters are organising a Youth Event for our parish. All youth from Year 6 upwards and their parents are warmly invited to the Parish/School Hall on Sunday 30 March for a Youth Gathering. For catering purposes, please let Ms Maloney or one of the sisters know if you would like to attend. Details for the night are as follows:

- - Arrival Time: 4:45 pm
  - Dinner: 5:00 pm
  - Games & Talk: 5:45 pm
  - Taize Prayer: 6:30 pm
  - Finish: 7:00 pm

Ms Marita Maloney
REC Coordinator