Catholic Identity
“St Brendan’s is a Catholic School embracing our diverse Community with faith and courage in the spirit of the Mercy Tradition.”
(St Brendan’s Primary School Shepparton Identity Statement)
Our School Charism
‘Discernment’
Recognising our gifts and understanding our ‘call’ to live out our charism.
(Our founding order, the Sisters of Mercy and our Patron Saint, Saint Brendan)
During the first week of school our teachers led our students through a CHARISM walk around the school, identifying and discussing many of the signs and symbols of our founding orders, the Sisters of Mercy and our Patron Saint, Saint Brendan the navigator. Many of our students know the visible signs around our school that represent our ‘charism’, gifted by the Holy Spirit and our church, and this is important.
However, as active ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, this year our staff have been called to nurture within our students the essence of our school charism, whether it be through morning prayer, their daily interactions or our Religious Education program. It is important that as leaders of Catholic Education we open up dialogue among our students, and allow them to listen, see, think, wonder about all we represent as a Catholic Primary School. When we create this ‘open dialogue’ our students have the opportunities to connect and listen to each others stories and interpretations, and it becomes authentic and genuine. Our school identity statement reflects our diversity, but at the heart of the statement, we are a Catholic Primary School with Mercy traditions and this is our charism.
Our Making Jesus Real awards, that are presented to students who demonstrate the gifts and qualities of Jesus is always a lovely acknowledgement of students who are outwardly displaying our school charism, with Jesus at the centre of all we do. At our school we encourage all our students to ‘live out’ these qualities and ‘Make Jesus Real’, every day! and it is hoped by the time our students graduate; we have nurtured a foundation for their own faith development as they embark on their own faith journey into the future.
Creating opportunities for our students to know our school charism is important for all, whatever their faith level or background may be.
It is who we are and who we represent and a special gift, one that keeps giving, well into the future!
Below are some images of work completed at the beginning of this term as the students learnt more about our school charism.
Opening School Mass
Next Friday, 28th February at 10.15am.
ALL WELCOME
LENT
As the beginning of Lent fast approaches, we begin our preparations in readiness for Pancake Tuesday. Pancake Tuesday is in week 6 of this term, 4th March.
DONATIONS NEEDED
PARENT HELPERS NEEDED
We are also seeking parent volunteers to help flip pancakes in our school hall on the morning of March 4th, between 8.45am and 10am. All items will be supplied, including aprons, frypans and utensils.
A selection of Year 6 Student Leaders will then assist in delivering the 'yummy' pancakes across the school.
GOLD COIN DONATION for Caritas Australia
A gold coin donation from each student would be appreciated to support Caritas Australia.
Teachers will collect the gold coin donation in the morning and send this to the office.
Thank you in advance. Caritas Australia is an aid agency of the Australian Catholic Church and is recognised as a charity Australia wide, working to eradicate poverty and injustice.
Project Compassion DONATION BOXES
for every family
Each student will receive a Project Compassion Box this day too, 5th March.
Families are encouraged to fill their boxes with 'small change' at home and return them back to school by the end of term.
More information will be communicated to families as we approach closer to week 6 and then the end of the term.
Lent marks the beginning of our 'OUTREACH' initiatives to support those in need around the world.
As we 'live out' our Mercy Charism, following in the footsteps of the founding sister, Catherine McAuley, we embrace this opportunity to help those in need.
Thank you in advance to all our school community families.
Kind Regards,
Leanne Pellegrino (Catholic Identity Leader)