From Father Gift

Why Anglican schools are places of hope

This week we celebrated Health Week and RUOK? Day. It is essential for us as a school that our students are healthy in body, mind and spirit. Healthy individuals contribute to a healthy community and, in turn, a healthy community fosters healthy individuals. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle; we cannot have one without the other. Therefore, both students and teachers play a crucial role in creating a healthy school environment. 

One of the resources available to both teachers and students is the weekly chapel services held at St George’s Cathedral, which beautifully serves as our school chapel. We believe strongly that a spiritual connection with God promotes a fulfilling life, providing meaning and support during the array of life’s challenges that we face on a daily basis. Research shows that individuals with spiritual beliefs are often better equipped to cope during challenging times, as these beliefs provide a sense of meaning, hope, and community support, ultimately promoting greater resilience and well-being in stressful situations. Hence, we gather in our chapel for weekly prayer and worship and to support and pray for each other. 

As we teach in our Year 11 Anglican Identity classes, Anglicans do not impose their beliefs on non-believers, nor do we seek to indoctrinate our students or disrespect their diverse beliefs. Our faith is invitational. We invite teachers and students to explore and investigate the Christian faith as we express it in our worship services.  Even for those who do not share our beliefs, the chapel remains a space for teachers and students to relax, reflect, and rejuvenate, helping them cope with the pressures of academic performance and the daily chaos and demands of everyday life. We believe that chapel services significantly contribute to mental wellbeing. Students can share the three connections for enhancing overall wellness that we discussed in the chapel.

Yours in hope,

Fr Gift Makwasha

School Chaplain