St Pius X College Newsletter

Mission and Identity 

  • Matthew 25:40 Red Dirt Immersion
  • Campion College Winter Program 
  • Youth in Council
  • Sacrament of Confirmation

Matthew 25:40 Red Dirt Immersion

During the winter school holiday period the College undertook another successful Red Dirt Immersion to Central NSW with 33 Year 10 and 11 Pius students joined by 10 students from Christian Brothers High School Lewisham. 

The vehicle log books recorded over 2,200 km in eight days moving from Cameraygal land in Chatswood through Gadigal, Kamilaroi, Wailwan, Ngemba and Wiradjuri country, acknowledging each as we arrived and welcomed by elders from the local Lands Councils throughout our journeys. 

The Matthew 25:40 Red Dirt Immersion is an ongoing commitment to the spirit of reconciliation, and moving forward together as one mob. In July 2024, this physical and spiritual journey of accompaniment between St Pius X College Chatswood and Christian Brothers High School Lewisham, saught to deepen our understanding of Aboriginal culture and spirituality as we set out to learn ‘on country and through country’. 

We visited both Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal communities through Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Walgett, Brewarrina, Bourke, and Dubbo not so much to 'do' for others, but to 'be' with them, learn from them and listen to their stories of hardship, displacement and dispossession. We were also very fortunate to take in a number of local cultural sites, visiting the Sculptures in the Scrub site in Dandry Gorge, the Siding Spring Observatory and The Brewarrina Aboriginal Cultural Museum and Fish- traps. We are grateful to the school communities we visited - Coonabarabran High School, St Laurence's Catholic Primary Coonabarabran, St Joseph's Walgett, St Patrick's Brewarrina and the St Ignatius' Parish School Bourke. 

We also owe gratitude to the local Aboriginal Lands Councils and elders current and emerging who were all too happy to share their stories with us in Coonabarabran, Baradine, Brewarinna, Bourke and Dubbo. We finished the immersion at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, where we were fortunate to experience a smoking ceremony and welcome to Wiradjuri Country. Our thanks go to the staff who accompanied our students – Mr Philip Stollery, Mr Daniel Petrie, Mr Anesh Naidoo, Mr Nicholas Westhoff as well as those who accompanied the Lewisham students – Mr Blake Griffith, Mr Christian Bell and Mrs Marea Soulos. We are also indebted to the maintenance and support staff who again supported Red Dirt.

To Bourke and back again, the Holy Spirit has ignited our hearts and we remain committed to keeping the fire burning. 

Campion College Winter Program 

During the term holidays, 5 fortunate Year 11 students had the opportunity to attend the Campion Winter Program at Campion College Toongabbie. Ethan Auer, Nathan Formosa, Anthony Parissis, Ethan Rahme, and Dominic D’Souza immersed themselves in a 4-day program designed to emulate university life through the study of the Liberal Arts. 

These students explored the core subjects of the University with lectures on History, Philosophy, Theology, and Literature, with the option to delve into the classical languages of Greek and Latin. In addition to these 5 lectures, the boys participated in a mock formal with the College President, engaged in lively trivia evenings, communal breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as optional morning Masses, afternoon confessions and movie evenings.  

This invaluable experience not only fostered lifelong memories but also forged lasting relationships between students from rural and metropolitan areas across Australia. For any student who wishes to embark on a similarly enriching journey, Campion College will be hosting their Summer Program during the December to January holidays.  

Youth in Council

Synodality gained further momentum in Chatswood this week as students from St Pius X College and Mercy College gathered for the first ‘Youth in Council’.

This initiative grew out of the Parish in Council movement developed at Our Lady of Dolours Parish Chatswood, where four ‘Parish in Councils’ have now been held.

The ‘Parish in Council’ approach:

  • All are invited into conversation, discernment and empowered to actively contribute to parish life
  • All are encouraged to take a shared ownership of, and investment in the future of the parish
  • Leads the parish into council
  • Listens to emerging discernments
  • Provides a response
  • Determines the priority, timing and resources allocated for actions

Students left asking if they can continue to engage in this process fortnightly!

A powerful experience to witness students of both schools discerning what it means to belong, what enables such experiences and what forms obstacles to belonging.

The Spirit was tangible amidst the vulnerable sharing of our young people.

Thank you to Fr David Ranson for facilitating this exciting new chapter.

Sacrament of Confirmation

We have had notification of registrations for the Sacrament of Confirmation from the parishes of St Michael's Lane Cove and also Holy Spirit North Ryde.  If your child is in Year 6 or above, has been baptised, received their First Reconciliation and First Communion, then they can complete their Catholic initiation and be confirmed.

Please see the links below to register:

 

St Michael's: https://forms.gle/dkuzFTUiNeRLQzq77

 

Holy Spirit: https://www.trybooking.com/CSZOW

 

As we commence Term 3, we wish all families the gift of peace and pray that the Holy Spirit journeys with you.

God bless,

Mr Daniel Petrie - Assistant Principal, Mission and Identity