Religious Education News

It’s been a busy start to the year as I am sure that all parents, staff and students would agree. Every year seems to get busier, with so many activities packed into only a few weeks already. 

Prior to the return of students to school, we were privileged to host staff from our local Catholic school cluster (St Patrick’s school, Walcha; St Joseph’s Uralla; St Mary of the Angels Guyra and St Mary’s, Armidale) as well as Armidale Catholic Schools Office staff, celebrating Mass in our school Chapel. For many of the visiting staff this was the first time they had ever visited our chapel. We have welcomed a number of new staff into the Religious Education faculty, some of whom have been staff members for some time (Mrs Lauren Paterson and Mrs Natalia Mayes, as well as Mr Mark Aarts who joins us as our Languages teacher as well as teaching junior Religious Education and Studies of Religion. 

Our Year 7 and 12 students came together for a welcoming liturgy on their first day back. It was a time of beginnings and endings for our students - our Year 7 cohort just stepping off on their High School journey, whilst our Year 12 students are approaching the end of theirs. Many thanks to the parents who took the time to attend the liturgy, sharing the sacred space with their children. 

Last week we celebrated our opening school year Mass at the Cathedral, acknowledging the achievements of our past school leaders and witnessing the handing over of the Captain’s Cross to our 2026 student leaders. Father Paul Chandler spoke to the school community about our past, present and future, noting that whilst we all have different pasts and will have different futures, we all share a common present as members of the O’Connor community. 

The tempo doesn’t ease off in the next few weeks. We will commence our Project Compassion fundraising with our annual pancake breakfast next Tuesday (Shrove Tuesday). Pancakes are $3 for a stack of three pancakes, with a choice of toppings, lovingly prepared, cooked and sold by our student leaders and Year 11 Lasallian Youth Leaders. Next Wednesday we will gather again as a College community for the Ash Wednesday Mass at 9:00 am in the Chapel, with our Year 10 and 11 students attending the midday Mass at the Cathedral. Ash Wednesday marks the commencement of the Church season of Lent. During this time we’re called upon to spend time in prayer and fasting, as well as supporting our Catholic aid agency (Caritas) through supporting Project Compassion events. 

As we prepare ourselves for Lent, let’s remember the words of Pope Francis, helping us to work together to build God’s kingdom in our world. 

• Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
• Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
• Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
• Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
• Fast from worries and have trust in God.
• Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
• Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
• Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.
• Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
• Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
• Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.

Mr Andrew May

Religious Education Coordinator

From O’Connor to Balgo: A Lasallian Volunteer’s Journey

We are proud to share a reflection from a former O’Connor student, Bernard May, who is currently serving as a Lasallian Volunteer in Balgo. Bernard’s experiences offer a unique insight into the impact of service, community engagement, and living the Lasallian values in a very different context.

In his article below, Bernard shares his journey, the challenges and joys of volunteering in Balgo.

I arrived in Balgo just over two weeks ago and have already made many memories. Bella, another Lasallian Volunteer from Lasalle Bankstown, and I flew into Balgo on a charter flight from Broome on Australia Day, capturing the vast desert interior of remote Western Australia. 

Throughout the last couple of weeks, we have driven out to the Balgo lookout where we were provided with amazing views of buttes and of the incoming rain. Even from our house the clouds look spectacular!

Upon our arrival, the Church Elders also gave us, as well as a new school teacher, their blessing during an evening liturgy. 

I have now been working at Luurnpa Catholic School for over a week and each day is always filled with new surprises and experiences! The students and community have been very welcoming with many people who do not know my name still calling out to me and asking me questions by referring to me as “kartiya” (car-dee-ya), meaning white fellow. 

The school also had its first assembly of the year as well as its first whole school mass which was held in the Kindergarten room. 

To top off our first couple of weeks in Balgo, we have also been blessed with some amazing sunsets from our backyard. A truly magical introduction to remote Australia for anyone who is considering or who hasn’t even heard of Lasallian Volunteering! 

Bernie May

Lasallian Volunteer

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