Mission and Identity
- Celebrating 'fiat'
- Year 12 Retreats
- Year 11 Formation Day
- Australia and Kenya Partnership
- Important Canonisation Youth Orchestra reminder
- Father's Day
Celebrating ‘fiat’
On 15 August, the College revelled in the Feast of the Assumption. Each of our wonderful priests as well as student reflections provided multiple windows into the significance of Mary’s great ‘fiat’. Her unwavering yes reverberated through the almost two thousand people that worshiped with us at Our Lady of Dolours.
This beautiful day of traditions, bells, stained glass windows, processions and rising incense, one student lent across to me who had been assisting at each of the Masses. After soaking in the heavenly atmosphere, and referring to the liturgical rhythm of worship, he lent across and shared ‘I get it now sir’. That simple phrase spoke volumes. At peace and fulfilled, he left the church with his cohort. Let us pray that moments of transcendence are experienced by all sons of St Pius X.
Please enjoy a recap video here of our celebrations
Year 12 Retreats
Last week, students selected one of five, three day residential retreats across Tallows Beach, Workul Koo and Mulgoa.
Students plumbed the spiritual, emotional, social and mental depths of their 13 year schooling journey with vulnerability, courage and humility. Students engaged in a range of experiential activities that ranged from scratch tiles, guided meditations, spiritual journally, small group sharing, prayer bead making, Biblical Micrography, Rice Mandals, affirmation sessions and praying the labyrinth.
‘It was first time in my life I actually felt like I was talking with God.’ A year twelve student shared this after praying the labyrinth at Mulgoa while on retreat, barefoot with the grass beneath his feet just after the rain. Some students, when reaching the centre, knelt in prayer and silent tears fell from their eyes.
The Mission Team are profoundly grateful and humbled for such moments of grace. To witness the Holy Spirit beckon yearning hearts to be welcomed by their loving God is a gift beyond measure.
We extend our gratitude to the Pastoral Care team for their collaboration and partnership in offering the Year 12 Retreat Program.
Please enjoy a recap video here of our Retreat experiences.
Year 11 Formation Day
‘Broken vessels or chosen vessels?’ Our Year 11 Formation Day dove deep into God’s active love in the cracks, broken pieces and liminal space of our lives. After rich sharing, heartfelt prayer and holding safe space for vulnerability, 160 young men handed over to ‘Our Lady Untier of Knots’ all that burdened them. After ‘letting go and letting God’, students anointed one another. They were asked to be courageous and accept the words from God’s unconditional love - ‘You are enough’.
Our young people carry so many hidden crosses. May God walk beside them in their Via Dolorosa journeys.
Australia and Kenya Partnership
‘Baba Yetu’ - Following the Lord’s Prayer in Swahili to honour our brothers from across the sea, the College welcomed Samuel Karanja and Jason Bongers Karanja and Jason Bongers from the Edmund Rice Foundation Australia offices in Australia and Kenya.
After moving testimony from Karanja at Assembly, the students beamed with pride to offer the growing total of donations raised thus far to support the transformational ERFA projects in Kenya.
Karanja and Jason then presented to Year 6 who were enraptured with questions about their work, as well as the daily struggles of their brothers and sisters in Kenya.
It was a surreal blessing to reconnect with both these living saints, who generously led Mr Balboa and me while on the ‘Into the Heart’ immersion in Kenya and Uganda last year.
May God continue to bless their ministry and keep them safe.
Important Canonisation Youth Orchestra reminder
The following rehearsals are compulsory for the quickly approaching Canonisation Mass.
This Friday at 3:30 pm @ Mercy College
Next Thursday 4 September at 3:30 pm @ Mercy College
Next Sunday (actual event) Rehearsal in Harrington Hall at 3:30 pm prior to Mass at 5:30 pm.
Father's Day Celebrations
Mr Daniel Petrie - Assistant Principal, Mission and Identity