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From the Religious Education Coordinator

A Message From Our Bishop

This Sunday at Mass we will be reminded by St Paul that we are the Church – we, the people, are God’s temple, because God’s Spirit is living among us.  We will be invited to become what we are – the body of Christ, the presence of God in the world. 

This will be the focus of our Remembrance Day Mass next Tuesday.  It was decided that we should incorporate our Traditional Remembrance Day Ceremony with Mass so that when we pause to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for peace we can then pray for peace throughout our world and focus on the need for each one of us to strive for peace in our school, our family and in our community.

True Peace is rarely achieved without equality and justice, something that many of our students here at Gilroy are very passionate about and, working towards, on a regular basis.  Already preparations are underway for our Christmas Appeal where homerooms work together to make Christmas Hampers for those in need or raise money to make an education a reality for those who cannot afford it. 

I ask all parents to encourage their children to get involved and most importantly encourage you to challenge your children to personally make the sacrifice through their own financial contribution rather than always relying on Mum and Dad.

During the month of November, we will be joining all schools and parishes in the Diocese of Parramatta to help support the Diocesan Works Fund that is 100% tax-deductible. Also known as faith@work this fund reaches out to people in our local communities that are not supported by regular parish contributions.  Each family will receive an appeal envelope, which you are invited to return if you wish to contribute.  I stress that parents who contribute at the parish level are not expected to give through the school.

The faith@work appeal gives us the opportunity to act together as one Church family to support ministries and services that no individual parish or school can offer. Please be generous so these good works can continue.  I have included below the letter from Bishop Anthony in regards to this appeal. 

Peace    

Sean

My Dear People

Diocesan Works Fund Appeal in Schools

In May of this year we inaugurated the Diocesan Works Fund (DWF) Appeal in schools throughout the Diocese of Parramatta and it supported the regular May Appeal in parishes. I write to thank you for your contributions.

From Granville to Katoomba parishes and schools came together to raise much-needed funds to support CatholicCare’s wide range of welfare services in Western Sydney, as well as educate Seminarians, finance catechetics in government schools and support youth ministry, deacons, university and hospital chaplains.

The theme of this DWF appeal was Faith at Work based on the words of James 2:18 ‘But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.’

Eleven schools in the Diocese of Parramatta raised over $1000 by conducting school fundraising events and returning envelopes that had gone home to families. A total of $38,000 was collected from school communities. Please be assured that the funds raised make a genuine difference to many people.

I am grateful to parish priests and parishioners, to principals and parents, to teachers and students and their families, to long-time supporters and new contributors.

In November, the final DWF Appeal for 2014 will be run in schools and parishes and your generosity is once again called upon so that the good work can be continued. ‘Without the money, there can be no mission’. When all of us give on a regular basis, the Church can plan for mission into the future and make a real difference.

May God bless you and the work you have made possible in and through the Church in Parramatta and beyond.

Yours sincerely in Christ

Most Reverend Anthony Fisher OP, DD BA LIB BTheol DPhil Bishop of Parramatta

Community Announcements

Student Services Notification – URGENT ATTENTION

We would like to advise Families and Staff that we have had 1 confirmed case of the Measles.

Julie Gates

Student Services

Student Absentee Line

If your child is absent from school, please call and notify the College. You will receive a Truancy Call if you do not notify the school of the absence.

The number to call is (02) 8853 8215. Please leave a message with the following details:

·      Student’s full name

·      The reason for absence

·      Your full name

This line is open 24 hours 7 days a week for your convenience.

Please do not dial the school’s number and select Reception or Student Services – call the direct number above.

Thank you.

Using the Gilroy Truancy Call system!

The Truancy Call system is automated to send out a call or text message when your child is marked as absent.

You can respond to these messages in a number of ways:

·      Sending a text message in reply to the automated text message

·      Ringing the school directly

·      Following the prompts from the automated call to leave a voicemail.

Please note:

YOU CANNOT SEND A TEXT MESSAGE TO A PREVIOUS DAY’S ABSENTEE TEXT. The message comes through to the computer according to the DATE stamp and won’t be received. If you wish to text message for an absence, you must first wait for the message to be delivered to you to reply.

If you have any queries, please contact the College for more information.

Thank you.