Loving God,

Faithful rewarder of souls, grant that your departed servant and our Bishop, Pope Francis, whom you made successor of Peter and shepherd of your Church, may happily enjoy for ever in your presence in heaven the mysteries of your grace and compassion, which he faithfully ministered on earth. 

Through Christ our Lord.
Amen. 

The Pope for all people, and for our time

As a Church of more than one billion people, we come together to celebrate the life, and grieve the loss, of Pope Francis, as he was called to eternal life, on Easter Monday. In the days since his death, much has been written about the man who led the Catholic Church as shepherd, companion, and leader of complete service. He has been our first Jesuit Pope, and one of only a few who have come from outside of Italy.

Pope Francis has variously been lauded for his beautifully crafted encyclical Laudato Si on the urgent need to care for our fragile planet, and for his leadership at a time when the Church’s reputation has been damaged by the scourge of child abuse. He attended to internal politics in the Vatican and took a synodal approach to decision-making.

While there have been critics of Pope Francis, there is so much that is profound about his Papacy; especially in his tender and loving leadership, that we will dearly miss. He will be most fondly remembered for being the Pope of compassion, forgiveness, and radical inclusion. His consistent message, as our own Archbishop rightly reminds us, is that the Church – our Church – is for everyone. No one should be left out, marginalised or shunned. We should be generous in forgiveness, and unstinting in our compassion for one another.

While Pope Francis did not make doctrinal changes per se, his application of the faith was one marked by care, love, and generosity. For me, what stands out most readily is our Pope’s humility. Not just through gesture, but in the most authentic of ways. He washed the feet of prisoners each Holy Thursday, he literally went out to the margins, visiting those who have no place in the halls of power or influence, and in his authentic humanity, he made time for everyone with whom he came into contact. He shunned a palatial apartment, he got around in a little Fiat (an image I love), carried his own luggage, and insisted on a simple coffin. He literally embraced the poor, the disabled, and the disfigured.

Our Pope was a man whose humanity was at the fore of his every gesture, action, and word penned. He reminded his priests that they should seek to be shepherds with the smell of the sheep on their back: in other words, be connected to, and in relationship, with the people. He refrained from engaging in judgement, worked for peace, and justice, and created space for us all to reflect on how we might work to make the world a better place. I know that we are all better for having the example of Pope Francis.

He remains the model of true discipleship, and the Pope we have needed. And in this Easter season, we continue to look for Christ in all the corners of the globe.

I can only encourage all of us at this time to pray that the Holy Spirit guides and breathes life into the pending conclave, as the Cardinals prayerfully discern our next Pope.

Behold, I make all things new (Revelation 21:5).

May he rest in peace.

With our library now officially opened and blessed, there is no better time to celebrate the wonderful things already happening – and everything still to come. At the heart of our new library is a vision to nurture curiosity, spark imagination, and support growth in literacy and critical thinking for every student.

As guest speaker and former Canberra student turned published author, Peter Papathanasiou, shared so beautifully at the opening:

“Books don’t just educate and entertain us – they help us grow. They teach us empathy, resilience, and curiosity… they remind us that we’re never truly alone, and that there’s always a story waiting to connect with us.”

The library is a sanctuary – a space created for your child to explore, reflect, and flourish. As Peter described, it is “a gateway to learning, to creativity, and to possibility.”

Year 7 & 8 Reading Program

All Year 7 and 8 students are now participating in our new reading program. Each cycle, students visit the library for dedicated sessions that include paired reading, comprehension strategies, and reading for pleasure. These sessions are designed to build reading stamina, develop fluency, and foster a lifelong love of books. Progress will be monitored and feedback shared with students and their families.

You can support this at home by creating a few quiet minutes each evening for your child to read aloud, or by reading alongside them. Ask about the book they are reading, what they have discovered, or how the story has challenged their thinking. These conversations help students reflect and connect with their reading beyond the page.

Lunchtime in the Library

The library is open every lunchtime and has quickly become a hub of curiosity and learning. Students are welcome to read, complete assessments, seek support, or enjoy puzzles and games. Chess Club is also held on Thursdays and led by our senior students – a great opportunity for peer mentoring and friendly competition.

Homework Club

Running Monday to Thursday until 4:45pm, Homework Club is more than just a quiet place to complete assignments. It is a space where students can access support, collaborate on projects, join reading groups, and access tailored resources with guidance from library staff. Parents are always welcome to visit and borrow a book too!

Online Resources at Your Fingertips

Via the JPC Library page on Canvas, students can access research guides, referencing help, and other tools to support their learning – all available on LearnPath in Oliver.

To support families with this, our library team will be running a session for parents in Week 2, after school on Tuesday. This session will walk through Canvas access, research skills, and helpful tips to support your child’s learning. We hope to see you there – please do not forget to RSVP.

We are delighted to announce that five of our Year 11 students have been accepted into the University of Canberra's H Course Program for 2025. These students underwent a competitive selection process, including a written application and interview, to secure their places.​

H Courses are specialised programs designed and accredited collaboratively by an Australian higher education provider and the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS).

The following students have been accepted into the program:

• Samuel Vargas – Systemic Anatomy and Physiology

• Paige Killiby – Understanding People and Behaviour

• Eleanor Harbour – Understanding People and Behaviour

• Lucy Grace – Politics and Democracy

• Lucy Thorpe – Introduction to Creative Writing

We commend these students for their dedication and academic excellence. Their achievement reflects their hard work and the supportive learning environment at JPC. We look forward to seeing them thrive in these university-level courses.

From Week 2, families will be able to place canteen orders directly through Compass. You will be able to:

• View our new menu
• Pre-order meals 48 hours ahead
• Pay via Compass Wallet or credit card

This week, we recommend using any remaining balance on your MonitorBM account.
Top-ups will close on Friday, 2 May.

If you still have money remaining after this, you will be able to request a refund from Monday, 5 May, with refund requests open for up to three weeks.

All orders will move fully to Compass by Week 3.

Meet Buddy & Baxter – JPC’s Newest Pooch Pals!

The Pooch Pals Program is JPC’s Support Dog Program, designed to promote student and staff wellbeing, enhance mental health, and contribute positively to the school culture. The program operates under the Catholic Education Archdiocese of Canberra Goulburn (CECG) Animals in Schools Policy, the School Support Dog Plan and Agreement, and JPC’s local procedures. It ensures that all welfare, safety, and risk management obligations are met for both students, staff, and dogs. The Pooch Pals Program has been running successfully at JPC since 2017.

We are excited to introduce Buddy and Baxter, two adorable Bichoodles, to the Pooch Pals Program at JPC! A Bichoodle is a cross between a Bichon Frise and a Toy Poodle, making them affectionate, intelligent, and gentle companions. Their hypoallergenic coats also make them a great choice for a school environment, as they are less likely to trigger allergies.

Buddy is 6 years old and brings a calm, reassuring presence to the program.
Baxter is 9 months old, full of energy and eager to learn from his older companion!

To help them settle into their new environment, Buddy and Baxter will begin with a two-week familiarisation period, where they will gradually get used to the school setting with limited interactions. Once they feel comfortable and confident, they will be fully integrated into the JPC community, ready to spread smiles with their wagging tails!

For their safety and wellbeing, Buddy and Baxter will always be kept on their leads while visiting the school. They have also undergone full veterinary checks and are fully vaccinated, ensuring they are healthy and ready to interact with our school community.

Their handler, Nerissa Hannaford, is based in the Learning Diversity staffroom (Library). If you have any questions about the Pooch Pals Program, please feel free to reach out!

Nerissa Hannaford
Learning Diversity Teacher

Tiago Hallen lifts his way onto the international stage

We are proud to share that Tiago Hallen, our 2024 College Captain, has been selected to represent Australia at the upcoming Oceania Weightlifting Championships — a major milestone on the pathway to the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

Tiago joined St John Paul II College in Year 11, and with that came a bold decision to change his direction — both personally and athletically. Having played soccer for most of his life, he made the shift to weightlifting just as he began at JPC.

“Becoming a weightlifter was part of a bigger change in who I wanted to become. JPC really helped me adapt and grow through that change. The community — my friends, teachers, and mentors — helped shape who I am, and that shows in who I am as an athlete.”

Throughout his time at JPC, Tiago balanced his sporting goals with the demands of leadership, academic achievement, and service to the College community.

“It definitely was not easy — being College Captain, managing university preparation, and trying to excel in my sport — but it taught me how to prioritise and manage my time. Sometimes weightlifting had to take a step back for events like Feast Day, and other times I needed to focus entirely on a major competition. It was about learning how to sacrifice for the greater good.”

Tiago’s selection for the Oceania Championships followed his gold-medal performance at the ACT State Championships, where he not only won the event but recorded the highest Sinclair total in ACT history — marking him as the top pound-for-pound lifter in the Territory.

“It was one of the best moments of my life. Being chosen to represent Australia — in a sport I love, after so much hard work — it is just incredible.”

He now trains around eight hours a week while juggling university and work, with Saturdays marking his longest and most intense sessions.

“There are more hard days than easy ones. But I have learnt to push through, stay consistent, and remember that the bad days build the good ones. You cannot hit personal bests all the time. You build the foundation day by day.”

Looking ahead, Tiago has his sights firmly set on qualifying for the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and ultimately the Olympic Games in either Los Angeles 2028 or Brisbane 2032.

“I do not want to be a one-hit wonder. I want to stay consistent, keep qualifying, and hopefully one day help coach and support others chasing their dreams too.”

Tiago also shared some heartfelt advice for current students:

“You need to be willing to make sacrifices for success. Talent will only get you so far. Discipline, consistency, and the ability to work hard — especially when it is hard — are what truly matter.”

And his go-to gym song?

“Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus — it just keeps me happy in the gym!”

At JPC, we are incredibly proud of Tiago — not just for his achievements, but for the values he continues to live out: resilience, humility, discipline, and leadership.

If your child is interested in learning a musical instrument and improving their theoretical and practical skills, individual tuition is available. Our industry professional tutors and performing artists cover a wide range of styles and instruments, including violin, cello, saxophone, clarinet, guitar, drums, vocals, piano, bass, and more.

Band opportunities and instrument hire are also available to support students in their musical journey.

If you are interested, please complete the form via the link below and visit the JPC Music Tuition page for more information.

https://forms.gle/XuVzaW5Tn1L9H7Fd6

The Saver Plus Program is a government-funded initiative designed to support families with school-related costs while building lifelong financial skills.

Eligible families who commit to saving up to $50 a month over 10 months will have their savings matched dollar for dollar, up to $500. That means you could have $1,000 to put towards your child's education.

You can use the funds for a range of education-related expenses, including:

• Laptops, tablets, and other digital devices

• School uniforms, shoes, and books

• Camps, excursions, music, and sports fees

To learn more or to check your eligibility, visit www.saverplus.org.au or call 1300 610 355.