Dear SCA families,

I am pleased to advise that while all COVID-19 test results have not yet been received, all results so far have been negative, other than the one that was initially reported. We hope to receive the remaining test results shortly. Our school has undergone a deep clean of the premises and continues to be in contact with ACT Health and Catholic Education. Therefore, St Clare of Assisi will not reopen until all test results have been received. It is anticipated (pending results) that our school will reopen Monday, 6 September for students of essential workers that have not been impacted by quarantine. However, from Thursday, 2 September Remote learning will continue as scheduled, and teachers will resume online platforms, including, connection sessions, email correspondence and updating students of their progress and assessment. 

We give thanks for the gift of our St Clare of Assisi Community and ask our Lord to continue to guide us with faith, courage, understanding and kindness, as we continue this journey ahead. I thank Father James, our Staff, Community Council and SCA community for their strength and compassion and find peace in knowing that we will get through this together.

We especially pray for the person in our community with this virus and trust that our community will continue to respect their privacy by avoiding any speculation.

I thank you for your understanding around remote connection sessions being paused over the two day period. This pause in sessions has allowed our teachers and staff to navigate through the necessary processes of being tested themselves and in some cases their own families. If a teacher is absent or unwell for any days over the coming weeks, as a school we will do our best to continue to facilitate connection sessions. Parents will be notified via SZapp if their child’s teacher is unavailable for the day.

In challenging times we can always rely on our wonderful SCA community to Be the Light for our school. Congratulations to our students and families who continue to Be the light by writing words of kindness through art design on driveways in their own environment. Hopefully you have each received your chalk packs in the post! Thank you to our wonderful office ladies, Karen, Jo and Annette for their assistance in making this happen.

Please continue to send your photos in to Karen.snowball@cg.catholic.edu.au

We miss you all very much and look forward to when we can join together at school again. 

Please pass on my heartfelt thanks to your children. Let them know we all think they are doing an amazing job with remote learning, and encourage them to continue making us proud and Be the light. 

With blessings and thanks for your continued support,

Dear Parish Family,

Greetings from your pastor and parish team.

“Faith is a beam radiating from the face of God.” - John Eudes. In these trying times, my
prayer for each one of you, my dearly loved parish family, to grow stronger in our faith to
see the face of God and be further strengthened by the power we receive from him. In our
brokenness God can work miracles, provided we are open to it and allow him to work in us.
In the Old Testament we read, how God worked in Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in their
brokenness and weaknesses and navigate them through the salvation history. They believed
in God irrespective of the confusions, failures, losses, pains, sufferings and struggles. Their
trust in God was far superior than their weaknesses or brokenness. They were vulnerable
people, but God turned their vulnerability to grow stronger in their faith. All of us have our
own struggles in these very uncertain and challenging times, but God can work if we hold on
to our faith.

Our faith should lead us to live our present crisis with courage and renewed hope,
supporting each other as we wish to be supported by others. “Say, you are all obliged to
help one another by word and doctrine, and the example of good works, and in every other
respect in which your neighbour may be seen to be in need; counselling him exactly as you
would yourselves,” ― Catherine of Siena.

Let our faith be our hope and force to move forward with determination to grow through
these uncertain times. My daily Mass is offered for all your intentions. Please be rest
assured of our prayer and support.

I am fully vaccinated, for me and for others, so that we can have somewhat normal life.
People who doubt, as to what is in it, honestly, I don’t know what’s in vaccine, so also, I
don’t know what’s in antibiotics or other medicines, what’s in the food I eat, the air I breath,
the drink I drink. I don’t know, but I do know one thing, these help me to get over whatever
feeling I was encountering, they work. I encourage all those who are eligible and able to
receive vaccine, please do take it as early as possible, if not for you, please for others, so
that we all can do things as we used to do.

Remember, that we are here to help you.

God Bless you all
Fr James T Antony CMI

THANK YOU