Mission and Identity 

What's happening in the College? 

• Chapel Mass
• Project Compassion

Chapel Mass

With our Commencement Mass now behind us, the College moves into our program of Chapel Masses. Each fortnight a Religion class hosts this Mass in the College Chapel. Our Chapel Mass this week held great significance, for not only was it the first Chapel Mass for 2021, but it was also first Chapel Mass celebrated by our new parish priest Fr David Ranson. Mr Di Sano’s Year 8 class provided all the readers for our celebration that marked the Feast of the Chair of St Peter. Fr David provided the background to this Feast, a day that remembers the role of the leader of the Catholic Church on earth – the Pope. This position was first filled by St Peter and to continues to this day, with our current day Pope Francis. Thanks to Mr Di Sano, his Year 8 Religion class and to Benjamin Cullen of Year 11 for being our Minister of the Eucharist.

We look forward to our next Chapel Mass on 8 March, that is to be hosted by Mr Ticli’s Year 9 Religion class.

Project Compassion

Each young man of St Pius heard very clearly at his Ash Wednesday liturgy that during the time of Lent, we are called to provide “Alms” (charity) to those in need as we progress towards Easter. Our giving here at St Pius has always been for the Caritias initiative “Project Compassion”, an initiative that liberates many disadvantaged communities from a life of poverty and despair. 

During our Ash Wednesday liturgy students were made aware that part of our Catholic faith is our participation in Mass and prayer, the other part of the Catholic faith is “living” our faith – particularly following the example of Blessed Edmund Rice. Each day as they walk through the front foyer of the College, the young men of St Pius see the famous words of Blessed Edmund Rice to “give to the poor in handfuls”. 

Our support of Project Compassion ensures that we also are authentic not only to our Catholic faith, but also to our Touchstones that remind us that our role is to provide a liberating education, as well as to work for justice and solidarity. All members of our community are encouraged to support our Project Compassion appeal so as to avoid merely paying lip service to our Catholic tradition and charism of Blessed Edmund.

To assist families who may wish to donate online and receive receipt for taxation purposes, the following link to Caritas has been created:

https://lent.caritas.org.au/stpiusxcollege

The College is looking at making a sizable donation to Caritas, and we will need the whole community's support if we are to make a difference in the lives of the most disadvantaged. For further details about previous initiatives undertaken by Caritas, details can be found at:

https://lent.caritas.org.au/

Mr Nathan Mulheron - Assistant Principal, Mission and Identity