Faith and Mission

Mission Action Day – Friday 24 March 2023

$85,000 for 85 years!

Together We Serve

Students and staff of St Bede’s College will participate in the annual Mission Action Day to raise funds for the Lasallian Foundation and De La Salle Mission schools in Balgo WA, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, and other identified works in need.

Students have been informed of the importance of our financial and prayerful support for our Lasallian brothers and sisters amidst the ongoing challenges of life in developing communities and countries. The provision of education is vital in ensuring that these students will have a future filled with opportunities and possibilities.

Students have been asked to seek sponsorship through family and friends using the MyCause online platform for the 10 kilometre walk they will do on Friday 24 March. Each student has been shown how to manage their own secure, individual fundraising page, which will appear as per below.

Incentives

Highest fundraisers in each House and Year Level will be acknowledged and receive a prize.

Each student who raises $40 or more will be entered in the MAD Raffle which will be drawn early Term 2. (1 ticket per $40 raised)

85th ANNIVERSARY FAMILY MASS

Friday 16 February, 2023

We were honoured to have Bishop Tony Ireland as the Principal Celebrant for the Mass, accompanied by four of our Chaplains: Father Peter Matheson, Fr Alan Fox, Fr Denis Stanley and Fr Ignatius Tan.

It was wonderful to welcome so many students along with their families.

At the conclusion of the mass our College Student Leaders were anointed and commissioned by Bishop Tony. He prayed:

College Leaders, you are called to serve, locally and globally. We are grateful for your willingness to share your gifts and talents with us.

May you lead and serve your College Community and beyond with courage and enthusiasm.

May you be the face of hope and compassion by supporting and encouraging one another.

May you call upon God to give you wisdom and understanding as you perform in your role.

And, may God bless each of you, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

An address by the eminent Br Peter Bray, fsc (Vice Chancellor, Bethlehem University, Palestine)

Over 70 people gathered on Wednesday 22 February at the College Auditorium to hear the address from Br Peter Bray. Brother Peter, is a De La Salle brother and the 8th Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University - the first university and only Catholic one established in Palestine providing higher education to the Palestinian people (both Christians and Muslims) in the West Bank. After many years of living and working within the walls around Bethlehem, Br Peter is well aware of the curfews, travel restrictions, military checkpoints and the negative impact of the Israeli military occupation throughout the West Bank. Br Peter shared with us the history of Palestine and Israel so we could better understand the present context and reality of occupation for students, staff, faculty members and the Brothers themselves.

The audience donated almost $2,000 for Bethlehem University, which will go a long way to educate a young Palestinian student. Our College leaders led us in prayer – a fitting way to commence the season of Lent.

Pancake Tuesday – fundraising for Caritas Australia

On this eve of Ash Wednesday we celebrated Pancake Tuesday, otherwise known as Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). On Pancake Tuesday we are encouraged to eat up all the fats and sugars in the pantry as we prepare for the fasting season of Lent.

At Mentone Campus, pancakes were sold to raise funds for Caritas Australia for their work in Syria and Turkiya following the devastating earthquakes that struck those countries last month. $420 was raised!

Ash Wednesday – back to ashes!

On Ash Wednesday 22 February, prayer services to administer ashes were held across both Campuses of the College in Homerooms and Tutor Groups. It was the first time in three years that we could wear ashes after the COVID ban. By wearing ashes on our forehead, we remind ourselves that we don’t always follow God’s ways and that we need to ask God for mercy and forgiveness.

We wore ashes to show that we wanted to turn away from whatever keeps us from God, and to have a change of heart, so that we can live in right relationship with God and each other.