Mission and Identity
- Holy Week
- Pope Francis
- Mother's Day Mass
- ANZAC Assembly
Holy Week
In our last issue of Woodchatta, we shared the College based events that marked the solemn time of Holy Week. As the holidays began and we moved into the official Holy Week on the liturgical calendar, the College partnered with the parish as it continued to mark this powerful time of year.
It was such a powerful experience; hauntingly beautiful in fact, to join a candle-lit Stations of the Cross that began at Our Lady of Dolours, progressed through St Pius X College, then through Our Lady of Dolours Primary School and back to the parish. Shrines and stations were set up and decorated by various groups and ministries.
As candles flickered in the dark, Taize was sung and over 200 faithful were on bended knee.
Congratulations again to Fr David, Fr Anselam and Fr Hien for bringing such a moment of grace to the CBD.
On Good Friday the Stations were taken to the bustling streets of the CBD in Chatswood by Our Lady of Dolours. As one of our wonderful Year 10 students was lifted up on the cross, silence and stillness blanketed the usually chaotic concourse.
As the Cross stood in front of the neon Westfield signage, it was a powerful reminder of a lyric from the hymn ‘King of Kings’ - ‘….this Gospel truth of old, shall not kneel, shall not fade’.
Congratulations again to Fr David and thank you to our wonderful TAS staff for building the mechanical cross.
Pope Francis
As we continue to mourn the loss of Pope Francis, the reflection below by Br Frederick-James captures the spirit of Pope Francis and his servant leadership model:
'The day Pope Francis knelt to wash the feet of prisoners, migrants, and women he embodied the scandal of grace. A power redefined not by dominance but by tenderness. In a world drawn to spectacle, he chose the towel over the throne.
Like Jesus bending low to wash dusty, undeserving feet, Francis lived his papacy close to the ground. He showed us that holiness is not found in being untouchable, but in being touchable—by others’ wounds, their sorrows, their hopes.
This was not weakness. It was resurrection strength. The kind that rises not with clenched fists but open hands. Francis led not by climbing ladders, but by descending them, to lift up the ones the world forgot.
Servant leadership isn’t a style or a strategy, it’s sacrament! It’s how the resurrected Christ still walks among us - through those willing to kneel, willing to listen, willing to love without pretense. May that be us...
Risen Christ,
You stooped low to wash feet, to heal the broken, to serve without condition.
Thank you for the witness of Pope Francis, who walked in your footsteps
with joy and humility.
Teach us to embrace resurrection life not with pride, but with grace.
Not with noise, but with quiet acts of mercy.
May we carry your towel, not for show, but for love. Amen'
The College held a Chapel Mass in honour of his memory on Tuesday. The chapel was beyond capacity and is a tribute to his connection and influence on our young people.
Mother’s Day Mass
Those women with a special place in the hearts and lives of students at St Pius X College are warmly invited to our Mother's Day Mass, Wednesday 7 May at Oxford Falls.
The event includes all students in Years 5 - 12.
8:45 am seating for 9:00 am start.
The Mass will be followed by The Biggest Morning Tea in support of the Cancer Council.
Please support this fundraiser via the following link: https://www.biggestmorningtea....
Please RSVP by Friday 2 May: https://spxchatswood.formstack...
Anzac Assembly
On Wednesday we marked ANZAC Day with an assembly that honoured the sacrifice of many as well as the importance of peace in a world that is so often fragile.
The link below leads to a powerful reflection by Fr David on ANZAC Day in light of Easter: Fr David Reflection https://davidranson.com.au/homily/2025/04/24/anzac-day-25-april-2025/
In the light of Easter and the renewal it brings to all that was broken, all that was lost and all that was bruised in the human experience, we wish all members of our St Pius X Family a beautiful and joyous Easter Season - 50 days of celebration!
Mr Daniel Petrie - Assistant Principal, Mission and Identity