Dear Parents and Carers

I hope Week 7 has been good for you.  Many great events continue this term. 

Carlo Acutis Canonisation

Something significant is occurring this Sunday 7 September.  The young Blessed Carlo Acutis will be canonised a saint in the Catholic Church by Pope Leo IV.  

We will be talking about this with the students at school and it makes a great story and example to talk to your children at home about. Some young people often can’t relate to the saints of another era, but Carlo Acutis is a great example for them to study and look up to.  He is our first Catholic Millennial Saint.    

Carlo’s life and death tells the story of a normal young boy/teenager who found God in his life, quite profoundly from the age of 7. 

He was born in London, raised in Milan, spent time in Assisi and is now buried in Assisi.

He was born to privileged parents of good wealth and fortune, but this did not define Carlo’s life or his choices. Carlo is called ‘The Apostle of the Eucharist’ because of his personal experience and connection with the blessed sacrament and the body and blood of Christ.

So struck and transformed by the Eucharist in his own faith, Carlo decided to research and present all of the Eucharistic miracles of the Church to other people in the hope they too could experience the unconditional love of God. Carlo was a tech-savvy kid who loved computers.  He used his technological skills to create a website for people of all ages to learn more about this. He used technology to send out his message of evangelisation to all corners of the world. He stood up for those human values and dignity.  He worked to help those people suffering, less fortunate than himself and those in need of love, purpose and direction in their lives.  Many of his family, friends and people he met said he bought them closer to God.

He lived a teenage normal life including sport, soccer, gaming, school, friendships, family events and travel.  

Sadly, Carlo’s life was cut tragically short when he developed a rare and aggressive form of leukemia and passed away within a week of being diagnosed. Carlo was just 16 years of age.  He lived from 1991 - 2006.

In 2013 a miracle was attributed to Carlo. A family prayed for the intercession and support from Carlo when their young daughter was very ill with a pancreas malfunction causing life threatening consequences.  They prayed to Carlo and her condition disappeared!  Doctors could not find any medical or scientific explanation for what happened.  

Carlo was pronounced as ‘Blessed’ in a ceremony by the late Pope Francis in Assisi in 2020 and was destined to be canonised and made a saint. 

Carlo’s canonisation is this Sunday and we pray for him, his family and all those who will benefit from his example in our Church today. 

Many sites online tell the story of Caro Acutis’ life.  

Please note that this Sunday we also honour the canonisation of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young man who devoted to helping the poor in his community. He died age 24 in 1925. 

Carlo Acutis                                                                Pier Giorgio Frassati

(Pictures: Wikimedia Commons)

Sacrament of Confirmation

Many of our Year 6 students will make the very special Sacrament of Confirmation next Friday 12 September.  Archbishop Christopher Prowse will confirm our candidates at the 5.30pm mass in Blackfriars Parish Watson.

Confirmation is about the candidates confirming their commitment to follow God as a young adult, as their parents and God parents did on their behalf at Baptism. Our young Christians remain close to Jesus and can open their hearts and minds in a way that nourishes, sustains, comforts and inspires them.  As their journey into adulthood continues, God will always be walking with them every step of the way.  

Happy Father’s Day this Friday/Weekend

Happy Father’s Day to our dads and grandads in our community, and all those parents and carers who look after our students.  We look forward to a nice Father’s Day BREAKFAST and community celebration tomorrow morning Friday 5 September. Parents and students are welcome to attend between 8:00am and 9.00am for breakfast. 

Colour Run Fundraising Underway

The Rosary 2025 Colour Run event is planned for Thursday 25 September (Last Day of Term 3).  The colour run was launched on Monday this week, with our Year 6 students doing a fun dance and quiz for the whole school. Students have been given special cards to seek fundraising and donations over the 4 week period.

Thanks for your support as the Community Council and parent volunteers work together to raise funds to keep improving Rosary School.   

Our first colour run last year was a huge success and a lot of fun!  

EREA School Leaders Visit to Rosary

On Monday this week Rosary School hosted a group of 15 principals and school leaders from the Edmund Rice Education Australian (E.R.E.A.) schools from Queensland and Australia.  They were particularly interested in observing our classrooms in action and watching our pedagogy and student engagement in learning. The principals were very impressed with Rosary School, the staff and students. They are exploring introducing the evidence based explicit teaching pedagogy and other engagement norms with students in their schools.    

Rosary staff and students received some very affirming feedback from our visitors! Nice work everyone.   

RUOK Day (Week 8)

Rosary School is taking part in the National R.U.O.K. Day next Thursday 11 September. We all know the importance of promoting and maintaining good mental health. This includes your own mental health and the wellbeing of others.

R.U.O.K. Day is about promoting conversations between people about how they are travelling and coping with school and life in general.  It is hard to speak up and there are skills in how to have these conversations respectfully and genuinely. 

Rosary Community Council Open Meeting Held Last Night

Last night our Community Council held an open meeting and it was lovely to have two new parents attend.  They were able to hear about how our Council operates as well as meet the members and hear about our current strategic initiatives and what is planned for the future. 

We look forward to sharing more Community Council news with you soon.  

Wishing you well for the week ahead.

God Bless. 

Greg Walker

Principal