Mission and Identity 

What's happening in the College? 

• Year 10 Reflection Day - Friday 5 March
• Chapel Mass
• Junior School Bible Liturgy
• Project Compassion

Year 10 Reflection Day – Friday 5 March

Last Friday our Year 10 students travelled to Oxford Falls to enjoy the facilities and the weather that greeted us to reflect upon their own journey during this year of maturity. Students were provided with the opportunity to consider how they see themselves as they grow into adults, not only in the St Pius X College community, but also within their own families. Scripture provided the opening of the day where The Word provided the back drop to growing into adulthood. Examples of St Pius students' work in Social Outreach settings gave more tangible examples of maturity.

Former Socceroo Captain, Mr Paul Wade, provided the external input during the day. Using the backdrop of his career as a representative soccer player, Paul explained how life’s journey requires being attuned to all that happens around you. All too often we prevent ourselves from being the best we can be, or talk ourselves out of opportunities that we have. Mr Wade’s collection of jerseys from throughout his career played a pivotal role in telling his story that included being dropped from the Australian team, through to the road to redemption and back to playing at the highest level. No jersey captured more attention than that of former Argentinian Captain Diego Maradona.

Our day concluded with our very own Rick Russo taking the year group through some relaxation techniques. The techniques he explained could be employed whenever the boys felt that their journey through work and assessments became too much.

Chapel Mass – Monday 8 March 2021

Thanks to Mr Paul Ticli and his Year 9 class for hosting this fortnight’s Chapel Mass. Fr David provided a wonderful opening to our Mass that took place on International Women’s Day. His comment that as men, women complete us really resonated with many of the staff present. The introduction (below), provided by Mr Ticli, set the scene not only for the Mass but for the entire day:

"Today is International Women’s Day: a special day to celebrate the women in our lives, Mothers, Sisters, Grandmothers and friends. We ask God to send them all his special blessing and care – not only this day – but each and every day. May we always respect and value every person as we have all been made in the image and likeness of God. On this day we also acknowledge our special devotion to our Mother Mary and ask for her protection over the most vulnerable in our society today."

A special thank you to Elliott Cook of Year 11 who was our Special Minister of the Eucharist for the Mass. 

Our next Chapel Mass will take place on 22 March.

Junior School Bible Liturgy

Tuesday, 9 March, saw the College set aside time for the new students in the Junior School to be welcomed into the Parish of Our Lady of Dolours. We used this time to celebrate a liturgy, recognising the importance of the Bible to our school, particularly as an EREA school, authentic to the charism of Blessed Edmund Rice. Each student new to the school received a Bible and our liturgy provided the backdrop to explain the role of the sacred text in our lives today. Fr David provided a blessing of each boy in the Junior School after they had received their Bible from either Mr Couani or Mr Long. Our Year 6 Class Captains led the Year 6 students in reciting the pledge of leadership for the Junior School.

Each student also received a prayer card recognising that 2021 marks the 200th Anniversary of Catholic Education in Australia. The prayer card features the image of Our Lady of Help of Christians, Patron Saint of Australia. Students will use this in class throughout the year.

We especially thank Fr David for his time and assistance with our liturgy.

A special mention of thanks also go to the Performing Arts Faculty for providing the accompanying music that added to the reverence and solemnity of the occasion. In particular I would like to thank Mr Steven Cummins for working to ensure the sound and mixing occurred flawlessly, Ms Stephanie Gan and Mr Nathanael Primrose-Heaney, Thomas Van Dyjk (Year 12) and Jarrod Lam (Year 11) for providing the music accompaniment. 

Project Compassion

Our Lenten Appeal for Project Compassion continues throughout Term 1. Students have been learning in RE classes about the number of initiatives that Caritas funds, using the money donated at this time. Each initiative provides the opportunity for people, particularly in developing countries, the chance at a dignified life. Each time we donate, it provides us the opportunity to live by the touchstone of supporting “Justice and Solidarity”. 

While our faith calls for time in personal prayer during Lent, we are also called to look after the most vulnerable in our community. We ask all families to assist us to ensure that St Pius X College can make a generous donation to Caritas, given that last year’s fund raising was seriously affected by COVID.

For those families wishing to donate online to Caritas, the following link has been created:

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

Mr Nathan Mulheron - Assistant Principal, Mission and Identity