NAIDOC Week 2025

We celebrated NAIDOC Week last week at St Joseph’s.  The theme for NAIDOC week was “The Next Generation – Strength, Vison and Legacy”

Students completed various artworks and activities throughout the week in class and some of them were used for our special NAIDOC liturgy. 

Special thanks to Mrs Saunders and Miss Cheryl for organising the activities and liturgy.  Thanks to Father Mathew for leading our liturgy on Friday

Celebrating Grandparents and the Elderly

Pope Francis established a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly which took place for the first time in 2021. 

In 2025, the celebration will fall on Sunday 27 July, the Sunday closest to the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus.

The Holy Father has chosen the theme of the Fifth World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, to be held this year on Sunday 27 July: “Blessed are those who have not lost hope” (cf. Sir 14:2).

This new worldwide celebration in the Universal Church calendar is a momentous achievement for Grandparents and the Elderly and will hopefully reassure them that they are loved and that they are needed.

Our grandparents make an enormous contribution to our school community and are so important in the lives of our students. 

Catholic Education Week will be celebrated across Queensland from 27 July – 02 August in 2025

Celebrated annually in Week 3 of Term 3, Catholic Education Week is an opportunity for all 312 Catholic schools in Queensland to celebrate and promote their distinctive mission and ethos.

Catholic education strives to make a difference in the lives of those in our schools and in the wider community by challenging young people to live out the message of Jesus and to reach their full potential as compassionate, contributing, life-giving members of society.

The theme for 2025 celebrations continues from previous years “Communities of Faith, Hope & Love.”  We work very hard at promoting this idea every day at our school.

I hope you have seen the fence wrap at the front of our school reminding us all of this important week.

What’s happening for Catholic Education Week?

Monday 28 July: CEW begins

Classroom activities for Catholic Education Week begin.

Wednesday 30 July:  FREE DRESS DAY/CEW Dance Party.

Students can wear casual clothes in exchange for a gold coin.  Money will be collected and donated to St Vincent De Paul – Winter Appeal.

In the afternoon, while students are in casual clothes they will have a Dance Party to celebrate CEW.

Thursday 31 July:  CEW Liturgy (Grandparents Day)

A special liturgy to celebrate Catholic Education Week will be held at 12.30pm on the Basketball court. Parents and especially grandparents are invited to come along. Parents and grandparents will be invited to stay on for afternoon tea after the liturgy. They are invited to bring along a picnic rug and some snacks for second break and sit around the school and enjoy afternoon tea. If it is wet we will spread out our rugs on the basketball court. Parents are asked to provide a plate for afternoon tea.  Tea and coffee will be available for the adults.

During the Liturgy, special Catholic Education Week awards will be given out to students.

Friday 1 August:  CEW Deanery Mass in Mareeba

On Friday 1 August some of our school leaders will represent St Joseph’s at a special Western Deanery mass celebrating Catholic Education Week.

God bless,

Mary MacCallum