Holy Week

Holy Week is an extra special week in the Church’s year recalling significant and solemn events in the life of Jesus; his suffering and death. But the week is not only about memory or history; it is an invitation for us to shape the way we live our lives today and into the future influenced by the witness of Jesus.

The highpoint of Holy Week is Good Friday, a time to reflect on the Passion and Death of Jesus. It is a story that we are familiar with, we hear it each year, we reflect on it each time we go to Mass, we might even think of it each time we look at a Cross or crucifix. While it is important that we meditate upon the Passion and Death of Jesus, we know that this story of suffering and sacrifice leads ultimately to a story of hope and optimism based on the Resurrection.

The suffering of Jesus reveals his humanity and speaks to each of us who have experienced personal suffering or loss. Drawing on his Jewish heritage, Jesus cried out from the cross the words of the psalmist: (Psalm 22)

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?

O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest.

I am scorned by others, and despised by the people.

All who see me mock at me; they make mouths at me, they shake their heads.

Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.

Do not be far away! O Lord, come quickly to my aid.

Take some time to read this excerpt of the Passion from the Gospel of Luke (23:44-49):

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.

47 When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” 48 And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. 49 But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Reflection

It is hard to know exactly what those people thought when they looked upon the cross and saw the dead body of Jesus.

What we do know is that over the centuries, many have looked upon the Cross and have pondered what it meant for them.

When you look at the Cross, what do you think of?

The Cross of Christ is the single most sacred symbol of the Christian faith.

For many of us it holds special personal significance. For all of us as members of a Catholic school community we recognise and honour what it represents.

In all churches on Good Friday, the Cross will be venerated by millions of people worldwide, in this way we connect to the one universal church.

When we venerate the cross we are doing two things:

Firstly, we acknowledge the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of humanity through his passion and death; so we pay the highest honour possible.
Secondly, we can take to the Cross our own sufferings, burdens and disappointments and place them before Jesus, just like those who have come before us.

Take some time now to read this message about the significance of the Cross from the teachings of St Paul:

Make your own the mind of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, did not cling to his equality with God

But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are; and being in every way like a human being, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.

And for this God raised him high, and gave him the name which is above all other names; so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:6-11

Ritual action

Next time you are in front of a cross, touch it lightly, bow before it, kiss it, or simply stand before it. Then pray ….

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Mission Action Day 2023

The students and staff of St Bede’s College participated in the annual Mission Action Day 10 kilometre walk on Friday 24th March to raise awareness of and raise funds for the De La Salle Mission schools in Balgo WA, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, and other Lasallian works in need.

We know how important of our financial and prayerful support is for our Lasallian brothers and sisters. The provision of education is vital in ensuring that our Lasallian schools are well resourced so these students will have a future filled with opportunities and possibilities.

“Let us not grow tired of doing good, and while we have the opportunity let us do good to all.” Saint Paul to the Galatians 6:9-10

A word from the College Captain, Dylan Collins:

"Mission Action Day was a huge success. Heading into it, we simply wanted everyone to stick around and enjoy the activities on offer. While the day emphasises such an important message surrounding the idea of service to others, it also provides the chance for the community to build connections with others, which will carry on to brighten up everyday life at school.

To me, the day is so valuable as it reminds everyone that those who we interact with on a day to day basis at school, are all unique people before they are just our classmates or teachers. Myself and some mates ran staff versus students dodgeball on the day, and the participation and competition exceeded all of our expectations. We had staff who played for over 2 hours, all of which I assume had sore shoulders the next day. The opportunity to play dodgeball with people from all around the college, or sumo wrestle your friends on the front oval is one that only comes on MAD, and I'm glad that everyone made the most of it this year.

The leaders are all super proud of our own effort, but also very grateful for the support we received from our peers and teachers in the lead up which enabled the day to be as successful as it was. As Year 12s, it's definitely something we will all miss!"

Donations will be accepted up to this coming Friday 6 April, 2023. You can donate using the MyCause links that were sent to individual students, or by scanning the QR code below:

Catholic Education Week – Mass of St Patrick and Colloquium for Secondary School Students

Catholic Education Week was an opportunity for St Bede’s College to join all 334 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese to celebrate our distinctive Catholic identity, our achievements, and the role our school plays within parish and local communities.

Nine Year 11 students represented the College at the Cathedral Mass and Colloquium for Secondary School Students. The 2023 theme for Catholic Education Week was 'Forming lives of faith, hope and love in the light of Christ'.Archbishop Comensoli animated this theme through his homily, as did Fr Rob Galea during the Colloquim. We caught up with our Regional Bishop, Tony Ireland, who gladly had a photograph with our group:

Liam Casey - LaSalle

Thomas McKeown - LaSalle

Oliver Scott - Solomon

Axel Hannan - Solomon

Tom Gregory - Benilde

Oliver Etienne – Benilde

Wil Ferwerda - Benilde

Charlie Rankins - McCristal

Liam Napier – McCristal

A reflection from one of the student delegates, Tom Gregory:

"On St Patrick’s Day, a group of nine Year 11 students accompanied Miss Greene and Brother Tony to St Patrick’s Cathedral in East Melbourne. We were early, so we were treated to hot chocolates at a café. We congregated with students from other schools at the Cathedral for Mass, which was celebrated by the Archbishop.

After Mass, we visited the nearby Catholic Leadership Centre and were provided with a delicious lunch. While we were eating, Fr Rob Galea gave a presentation about his interesting journey to becoming a priest, and the unconventional path he has taken in life.

Thanks to Ms Greene and Brother Tony for an enjoyable day."

Year 9 Religious Education and 'The Rite Journey'

We are pleased to advise that a new program will introduced to Year 9’s in 2023: The Rite Journey. This yearlong program is designed to support the development of resourceful, responsible, respectful and resilient adults.

The co-founder of The Rite Journey, Andrew Lines states, “we recognise that adolescence can be a challenging time for our students. They must navigate the tension between a Catholic world-view and a complex secular contemporary youth culture; a culture strongly influenced by the pervasive online world where positive public role models are hard to find. Our students are bombarded with a range of conflicting messages from the media, social-networks and peers about what it means to be an adult and how to find their place in the world. They yearn to prove that they are ready to be adults and find themselves creating their own initiations into adulthood. This period of transition from childhood to adulthood can be characterised by a sense of ‘lost-ness’ or lack of purpose.

The Rite Journey program partners with families in helping our students navigate these complexities as they journey to becoming the adults God has created them to be.

Through class activities, discussions, challenges, a mentoring program [and the Year 9 Retreat] we seek to equip and empower students to be confident, purpose-driven and faith-filled people.”

At St Bede’s College, the program will be taught by the Year 9 RE team of teachers who have done the necessary training. It will embedded into the Year 9 RE Program where two classes per cycle will be dedicated to The Rite Journey.

Throughout the program, our Year 9 students will be given many opportunities for growth, so as we progress throughout the year, we look forward to sharing their tasks, challenges and updates with you.

For more information regarding The Rite Journey, please visit - https://theritejourney.com/ or contact Ria Greene, Deputy Principal of Faith and Mission, at rgg@stbedes.catholic.edu.au.

Ria Greene

Deputy Principal

Faith and Mission

Congratulations