Religious Education News

Welcome back to 2023!

The last two weeks have been busy ones for all students and staff at O'Connor, and our faith life has reflected this business. Staff joined in with parishioners in celebrating Mass at the Cathedral to start our first day, then we welcomed our new students in Year 7 with a liturgy in the Chapel on their first day. It was wonderful to see many parents in attendance too, renewing their involvement in the faith life of our school. 

Last Wednesday we celebrated our opening school Mass,  with Fr Paul McCabe officiating. There was not an empty seat in the chapel as our 2023 School Captains received the Captain's Cross from previous Captains, and our Year 11 Lasallian Youth Leaders were inducted. 

These Liturgies help reinforce the importance of our Catholic faith in the daily life of the College. Our College motto, 'The fruit of the spirit is Love' is not simply a throwaway line, but central to what we strive to do every day at O'Connor. St John Baptist De la Salle and St Angela Merici lived out this motto and embedded it into the teaching practices of their brothers and sisters, and it continues to guide us to this day. 

One way in which this motto is lived out is through the work of our Faith and Service Captains, Lasallian Youth Mentors and Lasallian Youth Leaders. These young women and men embody St Paul's words, through mentoring fellow students and assisting in the spiritual life of the school. 

This term will see a range of faith activities for all students. Our weekly year group Masses (Wednesday morning at 9:15am) will commence this coming week, on February 15th. Parents and friends are warmly invited to attend. 

The order of Year Masses is:

15th Feb - Yr 11

22nd Feb (Ash Wednesday) - Yr 12

1st March - Yr 10

15th March - Yr 9

22nd March -  Yr 8

29th March - Yr 7

06 April - Yr 12 (Easter Liturgy)

In addition to these Masses, our 2023 Retreat Program will also commence this term. Our LYL formation day will be held on 22nd February, with the Year 8 retreat the following day (23rd February) and Year 10 on Friday the 24th of February. Information about these retreats will be posted on Compass. 

I look forward to hopefully seeing some of you at our school Masses, and thank you for your support.

Mr Andrew May

Religious Education Coordinator

Our Founders - St Angela Merici and St John Baptiste De La Salle

Saints Mary and Joseph Cathedral Parish

Keeping in touch with what is happening in the Cathedral Parish is easy through their website and Facebook pages.

With such a difficult year and a half it has been harder for parishioner's to give to the parish through the plates, particularly when the church is closed as it is at present. The Parish account details are available on the Parish bulletin. 

Cathedral Parish Website

Information about our founders

La Salle Website

Ursuline Sisters Website