Education in Faith
Josy Reeder
2026 RE Symposium
This week, Richard, Shelby and I attended the RE Symposium: Inspired by Faith Melbourne 2026, hosted by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS).
The symposium brought together Catholic education leaders, RE leaders, clergy, and educators to share best practice in Religious Education, Catholic Mission, and Identity. Through keynote presentations, workshops, prayer and liturgy experiences, and opportunities for collaboration, we were inspired and encouraged to continue strengthening our work in faith formation and Religious Education within our school community.
One of the workshops we attended was led by Anne Kertz Kernion called:
' Spiritual Practices for the Brain: Nourishing Our Students and Ourselves'
Anne's approach is: care for your body, calm and focus your mind, and open your soul to God’s love and presence.
Remember Stress Changes the Brain
Read about the practices below that can help build a deeper awareness of faith in everyday life while benefiting your body, mind, and soul. These practices can also help reduce stress and promote a greater sense of peace and wellbeing.
Body
- Move with awareness through walking, stretching, or gentle exercise while noticing God’s creation around you. Morning Prayer Walks help with Optic Flow and Panoramic Vision, Sleep and Appetite.
- Create moments of stillness by resting, breathing deeply, and caring for your physical wellbeing.
Mind
Begin and end the day with gratitude, naming blessings and moments of grace. Practicing gratitude is scientifically proven to boost your mood, strengthen immunity, and lower stress. By triggering the release of dopamine and serotonin, a daily gratitude habit rewires the brain to be more optimistic, resilient, and focused while naturally promoting better sleep and heart health.
- Spend time in silence and reflection to calm thoughts and listen for God’s guidance.
- Reflect on Scripture or inspirational words and consider how they apply to daily life.
Soul
- Pray regularly, through spoken prayer, quiet reflection, or simply being present with God.
- Practise kindness and compassion through acts of service and care for others.
- Notice God in ordinary moments, recognising sacredness in relationships, nature, and daily experiences.
- Create rituals that connect you with faith, such as lighting a candle, praying with Scripture, or attending liturgy.
Scripture
In this Sunday's Gospel (Matthew 13 :44-52), Jesus uses simple stories to show that God's kingdom is the greatest treasure we can ever discover. It is so valuable that it is worth putting before everything else in our lives. He also reminds us that our choices matter, calling us to live with kindness, faith and integrity each day. As families, we can encourage one another to recognise God's presence in everyday moments and to treasure what truly lasts.
Term 3 - Scripture and Jesus
This term, Prep students will be exploring Prayer and Liturgy, while students in Grades 1–6 will focus on Jesus and Scripture as part of their Religious Education learning.
Prep: Students will explore the purpose and structure of simple prayers and learn why prayer is an important way Christians communicate with God. They will reflect on how Jesus teaches us to build a loving relationship with God and care for others through prayer and everyday actions.
Grade 1/2: Students will explore how God's people are portrayed in both the Old and New Testaments and consider what these stories reveal about living as followers of God. They will reflect on how God's Word inspires individuals and communities to live with faith, compassion, and service in their everyday lives.
Grade 3/4: Students will learn about parables as a special way Jesus taught important truths and develop skills to locate passages in the Bible using chapters and verses. They will explore how parables reveal the Kingdom of God and reflect on the role of Scripture in Catholic prayer, worship, and community celebrations.
Grade 5/6: Students will explore how elements such as imagery, plot, setting, and the author's purpose help reveal the meaning of Scripture. They will use a range of strategies to interpret biblical texts and reflect on how the messages of Scripture can guide their own lives and strengthen their relationships within the community
Josy Reeder
Religious Education Leader