Dear Parents, Carers, Staff and Students,

Last Friday 1 November we celebrated All Saints' Day with a very moving and uplifting Mass in our school hall, followed by a scrumptious morning tea and had some time for open classrooms. We also took the time as a parish school community to recognise those wonderful Grandparents, and other special people in our lives, who share with their loved ones the gift of love and support.

The purpose behind celebrating Grandparents day on this special feast day is so that we all can be reminded of the fact that we can see the ‘saintly’ attributes in the face of those we interact with each and everyday. The term 'Saint' can apply to each of us as we strive and stumble to imitate Jesus Christ in our lives. Sometimes we do it better than at other times. Nelson Mandela put it nicely when he said, “I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.” Fr Peter Tien, during his homily, reminded us all of how blessed we are to have wonderful grandparents and other special people who provide the example of sainthood through their qualities of generosity, kindness and unconditional love.

The gospel reading on Friday was the famous scripture passage, ‘The Beatitudes’. During this passage Jesus uses that lovely phrase, ‘Blessed are they …’ which is sometimes translated to ‘Happy are they …’. On Friday, after Mass I reflected on how “Happy are we …’ to have so many people who give so generously to the life of St Anthony’s.

Happy are we … to have Fr Peter who leads our spiritual and faith formation.

Happy are we … to have parents and carers who actively engage and are so 

                          supportive of our  school.

Happy are we … for a staff who are dedicated and caring.

Happy are we … for our students. They are the very reason we do what we do!

Take Care

Mr Justin Devlin

Principal