Friday 24th January 2020

In this Sunday's Gospel, we hear about Jesus starting to gather together the first Christian community.  Christian communities (just like families) are never perfect - even Jesus' closest disciples were not always the ideal set of people and were far from being perfect.  However, everyone works better with others in community.  Our school and parish have a very strong and supportive relationship with one another which has continued to develop and grow.  These places within our community are places of love, friendship, security and inclusiveness.  People in the past answered Jesus' call to form our Catholic school communities which now welcome and support us and our children.  Now it is our turn to continue the these foundations, to build and develop the welcoming and loving community of the school following Jesus' call to be evangelisers of the Gospel. 

We welcome Bishop David McGough back to our parish this weekend as our Year 6 children receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, along with other children from within the parish, on Sunday 26th January at 1pm.  Thank you to Fr Des and all our school staff, sponsors and catechists who have supported all the children during this special part of their faith journey.  Please continue to pray for our Year 6 children to support them to live out the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit in their daily lives.

This Sunday, Pope Francis will also be sharing a new and exciting way to a specific focus on the importance of the Word of God, the sacred scripture, the Bible, in our lives.  Fr. Des will also be coming into school next week to bless the Bibles in our school.

This Monday, we remember the millions of people who tragically lost their lives as part of the Holocaust during the Second World War.  It also marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Camps.  However, it is a time to think of the many people who have been persecuted around the world in other places such as Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur beacuse of their beliefs.  We pray for world peace, so that we can all live in a community of harmony and care for our fellow human beings on earth.

On Monday, we will be starting a new reward system at lunchtime named "The Golden Table". A child from each year group will be rewarded weekly by the kitchen staff and lunchtime supervisors for their good manners and behaviour at lunchtimes. A special "Golden Table" will be set up for them to eat their lunch at and they will receive a treat.

A team of six girls and six boys from St. Joseph's will be taking part in an indoor athletics competition at Oldswinford Hospital School on Thursday 30th January.  We wish our children every success and hope they enjoy this experience.

A reminder that cross country training for any child in Years 4 to 6 takes place on Monday lunchtimes starting at 12.15pm.  Please ensure that your child brings a separate sports kit including plenty of layers.  A team will be selected after this coming Monday's practice for the first round of the Stourbridge Competition which is to be held at St. Joseph's School on Wednesday 5th February (starting at 4pm).  However, we still require additional parent helpers to marshal at this event.  Please leave your name with the school office if you are able to support the school.

The price of morning tuck has increased to 25p for either toast, fruit or biscuit.

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for our school and parish communities.  Please help me say yes to you, and enrich the communities to which I belong. Amen.

Pupils at St. Joseph's are growing to be: compassionate towards others, near and far, especially the less fortunate; and loving by their actions and forgiving words.

Promotion of World Peace: We pray that Christians, followers of other religions, and all people of goodwill may promote peace and justice in the world.