From the Religious Education Coordinator
In our Church ……
The Passion of St John The Baptist
This week, on 29 August, we celebrate the Passion of St John the Baptist.
Saint Bede the Venerable has written:
There is no doubt that blessed John suffered imprisonment and chains as a witness to our Redeemer, whose forerunner he was, and gave his life for him. His persecutor had demanded not that he should deny Christ, but only that he should keep silent about the truth. Nevertheless, John died for Christ. Does Christ not say: “I am the truth”? Therefore, because John shed his blood for the truth, he surely died for Christ.
Through his birth, preaching and baptising, he bore witness to the coming birth, preaching and baptism of Christ, and by his own suffering he showed that Christ also would suffer. Such was the quality and strength of the man who accepted the end of this present life by shedding his blood after the long imprisonment. He preached the freedom of heavenly peace, yet was thrown into irons. He was locked away in the darkness of prison, though he came bearing witness to the Light of life and deserved to be called a bright and shining lamp by that Light itself, which is Christ.
– https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2014-08-29
In our Community….
We would like to congratulate Rebekah Vrab of Year 7 for participating in the “Kids Giving Back” program. Rebekah was involved in producing over 8500 hot meals, salads, fruit kebabs, breakfast boxes, snack packs and care packs with empathetic, positive messages, which were distributed to 15 charities around Sydney.
Her exceptional leadership qualities, compassion, and strong sense of civic responsibility are truly inspiring and a testament to the values that are instilled in her. I wanted to extend my heartfelt gratitude for her contributions. 
How Can You Be Involved?
Here are two ways that you can be involved:
- Wild Walk Fundraiser – Sunday 10 September
- September/October 2023 School Holiday Community Programs
A Message from Kids Giving Back
We would love to see more of your students involved in ‘giving back,’ If you could kindly let your school community know about the below opportunities.
Wild Walk Fundraiser – Sun 10 September
Register for our annual fundraiser “Wild Walk” https://wildwalk.com.au/ as a team or a school sponsor for your students to participate in an adventurous walk through the Royal National Park and support an incredible initiative supporting homeless and vulnerable communities.
We’d love you to encourage your students to participate and fundraise or even donate for this event! With walks varying from 5kms to 26kms we would like to acknowledge their hours, (if needed for Duke of Ed, Service Learning or IB), through their efforts in either fundraising or donating!
September/October 2023 School Holiday Community Programs
Bookings open within the next week! Keep an eye out on our website as these programs sell out fast! School holiday programs | Kids Giving Back
Your school can support us, support those in need by taking up the below opportunities!
School Donation Drives
Your school could make an incredible contribution to our charity partners simply by donating much needed groceries and toiletries. Let us guide you with simple instructions on how to collect these specific items needed per year group, and our school holiday volunteers will create these beautiful packs ready for donation.
Mufti Day Fundraiser for Kids Giving Back
Help us to support our Charity Partners!
Running a Gold coin day for Kids Giving Back will help us to continue to supply breakfast boxes and snack packs to students at low socio-economic schools and vulnerable communities.
Youth Changemaker Program – aged 14+ years
We provide volunteering opportunities for students wishing to complete their service component for Duke of Ed, IB and general school service hours with Kids Giving Back. To date, 275 students have become Youth Changemakers with Kids Giving Back.
We look forward to your continued support in encouraging your students to make a positive impact in the communities.
The Cardoner Network
The Cardoner Network is a not-for-profit, Young Adult-focused hub for volunteering, founded in 2010. We seek to engage Young Adults in a conscientious community with shared values, where genuine friendships are made. The Pillars of the Project provide opportunities to come together to grow, learn to question, and contribute in different ways. We seek to embed in Young Adults an understanding and respect for all and provide opportunities of service both locally and abroad.
If you are interested in being involved, please register in the link below:
https://www.thecardonernetwork.org/
St Joan of Arc Parish Invites 2023 HSC Students
Over the years we are aware that students from St Joan of Arc Parish and School could have been enrolled as High School students at Marist Sisters College. Some of these would now be about to sit for the 2023 HSC.
At St Joan of Arc Parish we intend to make our Sunday evening Mass (6.00 pm) on 24 September 2023 a time of prayer for those young people and their friends who would also be welcome to attend.
2023 HSC Students are invited to attend Mass at St Joan of Arc on that evening and afterwards to share in pizzas and some good company in the Church grounds and maybe reconnect with past school friends.
For the students planning to come to the Mass, would you kindly let us know, so that we can arrange the catering for the gathering afterwards.
Many thanks.
Fr Phillip Zadro and St Joan of Arc Community
97 Dalhousie St
Haberfield, NSW 2045
Phone: 9798 6657
Email: admin@stjoanofarc.org.au
In our Curriculum
Every Year 10 Religious Education class is currently studying the Sacraments at the Service of Communion frameworked around Micah 6:8 which says; “ He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” In this topic, students have been learning to appreciate the baptismal call to love and serve God and one another, understand the nature and importance of the Sacraments of Holy Orders and Matrimony in the lives of the faithful and the Church and investigates the range of ways through which baptised persons can live out their vocation. To achieve this, students have been completing various activities such as journaling their memory of a significant ritual they have participated in in their lives, Scripture deconstruction on Ephesians 4:1-6 Unity in the Body of Christ and listening to the report of Pope Francis’ homily from WYD in Rio to pass on Jesus’ message of love: Review Pope Francis’ Homily WYD, Rio – “Go, do not be afraid, and serve.”
Thank you to Year 10 for your efforts! Thank you to our teaching team for their continued commitment and dedication to Year 10:
Ms Samantha Ison
Ms Angela Bowland
Mr John Muskovitis
Ms Irena Jajcevic
Ms Veronica Barbagallo
Mrs Caroline Morizzi, Religious Education Coordinator
This article on College life meets The Archbishop’s Charter for Catholic Schools – Charter #1, #2
