Mission and Identity
Here at the college, students engage in the formation of the head, heart, hands and feet as part of our commitment to the holistic development of every child. A rigorous Religious Education (Head) curriculum, accompanied by a rich spiritual life (Heart) and a robust suite of social justice opportunities (Hands and Feet), provide our students with a clear synergy behind the ‘what’, the ‘how’ and most importantly, the ‘why’ of our shared Mission and Identity as a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice Tradition.
Each week we will be providing insights into these three spheres of Mission and Identity at the college:
Head
Year 7 - Care for Our Common Home
This term, Year 7 will be studying a unit which explores the belief that God is the source of this awe-inspiring and wonderful creation, and that all human beings are called to stewardship. They will examine how the example of Jesus informs a Catholic understanding of service, including to the environment. Students will reflect on how they can participate in and encourage care for our common home.
Year 12
Our prayers and thoughts are with Year 12 who continue their HSC Trial examinations, including Studies of Religion examination tomorrow.
Heart
Rosary Beads - Chain of prayer across the seas
In preparation for celebrating the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary on 15 August, Religious Education students across the college have commenced making a personal set of Rosary Beads to support their personal prayer life. Year 10 students in particular, have made sets of Rosary Beads as a gift to accompany the pen pal letters being sent to Colegio Stella Maris College in Uruguay, a fellow College in the Edmund Rice tradition.
Saints in Focus:
On Monday we celebrated the Memorial of St Ignatius of Loyola. The origins of the Loyola family in northern Spain describe a family, who after feeding their relatives and local soldiers, would then feed local animals including the wolves. As a result the villagers, in gratitude, carved two wolves either side of a large kettle in honour of their continued generosity.
Ignatius continued this generosity in his life when he left a life of fame, wealth and worldly pursuits to teach as a catechist in hospitals and begged for his food. He then founded a religious order known as the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) to establish schools that would not only feed the physical needs of the children but also their spiritual needs. As a result, the ‘wolf’ is a symbol of St Ignatius as it represents a call to serve the needs of others – particularly those who exist on the fringe. The wolves of 15th century Europe were hated as they lurked on the fringe of the forest. They call us to consider who are the ‘wolves of suspicion’ we treat as exiles in our community today?
Year 11 Retreat Day:
On Thursday 3 August Year 11 will engage with their Retreat Day based at the Oxford Falls Campus. The retreat day is titled ‘The masks we wear - Year 11 Retreat Experience’ and will be exploring the masks we wear, the choices we make as a result, and discovering individually who God destined us to be.
Retreat days are a time set aside for spiritual nourishment, and exploring our relationship with God, each other and self. It is a time to respond through the lens of faith to where we are in our journey and how to respond to the needs of our time.
Hands and Feet
On Monday, the Edmund Rice Society were grateful to host the weekly College Chapel Mass alongside Father Joey, the Mission and Identity Team and Mercy College representatives. The Mass was themed around St Ignatius of Loyola, a representative for Catholic missionaries, education, and charitable works. Father Joey preached the meaning of spirituality and why it’s necessary to put it into action; to labour with Christ in building the Kingdom of God. A key step into putting our faith into action is to come to our next Chapel Mass, hosted by Mercy College next Monday at 8:00 am, which is open to anyone who wishes to attend. (Riley Seeto, Year 11)
Mr Daniel Petrie - Assistant Principal, Mission and Identity
Sacrament of Confirmation - St Michael's Lane Cove
St Michael's has opened their enrolments for Confirmation. If you would like your child in Year 6 or above to be confirmed, please see the attached letter for more information.