Faith and Mission
Indigenous Culture
‘Warami Mittigar’ – which means “Hello friends... welcome!” in the local Darug language.
My name is Shauna-Lee, and I’m currently a Year 12 student and one of the Da Vinci House Leaders. I am proud to be from the Kamilaroi Tribe, located from New South Wales to Southern Queensland.
I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land, the Darug people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present, and emerging. They hold the memories, the traditions, and the hopes of Indigenous Australia. I also extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Over the past two terms, the senior Indigenous students and I have been working closely with Uncle Ted from Jarara (Parramatta Diocese’ Indigenous Unit) to develop a range of activities and initiatives aimed at embedding Indigenous culture within St. Luke’s.
This year’s NAIDOC Week theme is “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision, and Legacy.” We’ve made it our mission to leave a legacy that can be passed on from generation to generation—an everlasting impact at St. Luke’s.
Some exciting projects in progress include:
- The completion of the Yarning Circle
- A personalised School Acknowledgement of Country
- A Totem Mission unique to our school
- The formation of an Indigenous Focus Group …and so much more to come!
Our goal is for these initiatives to be carried forward each year—some as long-term goals, others as short-term actions that can begin within the next few terms. Uncle Ted, Xander (a fellow Year 12 Indigenous student), Mrs Atkins, and I have been meeting regularly to get the ball rolling. Now, more senior Indigenous students have joined the movement—ready to take part and learn about the legacy we hope to pass on.
Here are some photos of what we've been working on together:
Fun Fact! Did you know the Yarning Circle is surrounded by Flowering Gum and Kangaroo Paw?
🌿 Flowering Gum represents resilience, adaptability, and connection to the land. 🌸 Kangaroo Paw symbolizes uniqueness, resilience, and the beauty of Australian landscapes—often seen as signs of strength, endurance, and deep connection to Country.
Stay tuned for more updates! Yanu (Goodbye)
Indigenous Culture Student Group
Kinchela Boys Home Uncles Visit St Luke’s –
A Powerful Day of Truth-Telling and Healing
This week, St Luke’s Catholic College had the profound privilege of welcoming the Uncles from Kinchela Boys Home, who generously shared their powerful stories of survival, strength, and truth. These courageous men are survivors of the Stolen Generations—Aboriginal children who were forcibly removed from their families as part of government policies that caused immense harm to individuals, families, and communities.
The Uncles spoke with honesty and grace, offering our students and staff a deeply moving insight into their lived experiences. Their stories of injustice were heartbreaking, but they were also filled with resilience, wisdom, and hope.
This visit was not only an educational experience but a significant moment of truth-telling—an essential step on the journey toward healing and reconciliation. As a school community, we are committed to listening, learning, and honouring these truths so that the past is never forgotten and a more just and compassionate future can be built together.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Uncles for their presence, their courage, and their commitment to helping educate future generations. 🖤💛❤️
Faith and Formation
Encounter - Year 6
Reflection on the Encounter Excursion
- Mihika from Year 6 Riley
On the 10th of March, Year 6 attended a leadership day called Encounter at St John XXIII in Stanhope. It was an inspiring and uplifting experience where we joined in singing, prayer, and exciting activities alongside many other schools from across the diocese. One of the highlights of the day was the live praise and worship music led by Gen Bryant, which made the atmosphere energetic and engaging.
We brought our soul journals with us and in between all the singing and dancing, Gen Bryant, Youth Leaders guided us through moments of reflection. We thought about who we are, our hopes, and our dreams. During the first session, we got to know each other and listened to youth leaders and Gen Bryant as they shared their experiences with faith. In the journal exercise I wrote that I think God will support me in my future and I will thrive like always. We then reflected on our own aspirations and wrote our hopes for the future on swap cards, which we exchanged with students from other schools during lunch.
In the final session, we took part in a special type of prayer known as adoration,where a priest brought a symbol of Jesus into the room. In moments of quiet reflection, we knelt down considering how we encountered Jesus in our lives. We were able to deepen our faith and feel the presence of Jesus. The day concluded with even more singing and praise, leaving everyone feeling joyful and inspired.
Overall, Encounter was a lively and meaningful experience. I learned new songs, deepened my understanding of my faith, and participated in activities that brought me closer to God. I made new friendships and extended my sense of community with the schools. It was a truly special day that strengthened my connection to both my faith and my peers.
Heres what some other stage 3 students thought!
“On Leadership Day, schools from around Sydney came together for an inspiring and exciting event. The highlight of the day was Gen Bryant’s incredible performance. Her voice was truly mesmerizing as she sang a variety of songs that had everyone captivated. She even invited some brave participants to join her at the front, creating unforgettable moments for everyone. The energy in the room was good vibes ! And to top it all off, the bus ride itself was a blast, filled with laughter and good vibes, making the entire day an absolute joy from start to finish.” - Madi Payne, YR 6 Freeman
“On leadership day, a lot of schools participated and came together to see Gen Byrant. It was a very good experience!! We sang our hearts out and we were the loudest people there! For me IT WAS AWESOME! We sang some songs from One Direction, Meghan Trainor and obviously Gen Bryant herself!” - Aafreen Ruban, YR 6 Freeman
“The hall was big. When I say big, I mean big. I had to turn my head to see the whole thing at once. Then, up on the stage, we saw the one, the only GEN BRYANT! We had a blast! Singing, learning, dancing and even doing some actions and interacting between schools! The energy level was so high, everyone was having a blast, and we were all upset when the day ended.” - Declan Xander Ferrao, YR 6 Freeman
“On encounter day, Riley and Freeman got to meet Gen Bryant and a ton of other schools. We sang lots of songs, learned about Jesus, and heard how Gen Bryant managed her life with His help. It was really inspiring! We even got Mr. Rodwell and some other teachers to join us on stage and have fun with the whole group!” - Eva Kher, YR 6 Freeman
Leadership - Year 5
Year 5 Leadership Day – Monday, March 17
On Monday, March 17, our Year 5 students took part in a special Leadership Day held at St Luke’s. We were thrilled to welcome Gen Bryant, who led an engaging and inspiring program focused on developing leadership skills in our students.
Throughout the day, the students participated in a variety of activities including song, dance, and team-building exercises – all designed to help them explore their unique gifts and talents and how they can use these to be positive leaders within our school community.
It was a joyful and energetic day that encouraged each student to reflect on their strengths and the ways they can contribute to our school as leaders in both big and small ways. A big thank you to Gen Bryant for her inspiring work and to our staff for supporting such a meaningful experience for our future leaders!
Here are some reflections from some Year 5 students:
When Gen Bryant came to St Luke’s, I felt very happy and enjoyed singing along. When Year 5 participated in the activities we had so much fun with the mini teamwork activities. I got to learn many things about being a leader from the house leaders for Leadership Day. I had a great time !
It was amazing especially how it was my first time having leadership day. I also learned a few things about being a leader because of Gen Bryant and the Year 12 KLeaders. The miost fun I had was in the middle session we got to play games, my gfavourite one was when I got to blindfould Flynn , and directing him to pichup numbers. I also enjoyed when the Year 6 classes came. I loved it so much that I would put it down as one of my best memories.
Liturgy
This term, our SOF students have been participating in class Masses led by our new parish priest, Father Gayan.
These special gatherings provide a meaningful opportunity for students to familiarise themselves and learn about the Catholic Mass, its structure, and its significance. Through reading, singing, and active participation, students are deepening their understanding of how Jesus is present in the body and blood of Christ, as well as in our neighbour. These masses also provide students with the opportunity to engage at a deeper level with their faith and relationship with God.
Social Outreach
Social Justice Friday – Thank You for Your Generosity!
On Friday, 7th March, St. Luke’s proudly hosted a Social Justice Day to raise awareness and support for the incredible work of Jesuit Social Services (JSS) Ignite Food Store.
Thanks to the generosity of our school community, students brought in a wide range of donations that will go directly to stocking the shelves of the food store and supporting those in need.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our families for your kindness, compassion, and continued support. Your contributions are making a real difference!
Vinnies Sandwiches
Every month our students come together during their lunch time to make sandwiches that get donated to the Vinnies Van nightly service in Mount Druitt and Parramatta.
Project Compassion
The Project Compassion Lenten Appeal assists many vulnerable people on a global scale. From providing resources to attain fresh water for a community to supporting adults getting an education.
If you would like to support this appeal, you can make a donation through the QKR App. by selecting the ‘Project Compassion’ option. You are able to donate as much or as little as you like.
K-6 School Disco
Caritas - Project Compassion
Tonight, Friday March 28 we are holding our K-6 Disco to support Project Compassion. Tickets have sold out, which is a fantastic result for Project Compassion.
Parents please pay attention to the drop off and pick up areas for the night. Parents will need to drop and pick up their children and will be required to sign them in and out.
We look forward to having our K-6 students in attendance!!
We will include photos of the Disco in the next edition of The Net in term 2.
From the St Luke’s Parish Community
Stage 1 Church Building Project
Dear one and all,
If you've recently visited or passed by the school, you may have noticed some activity on the lot in front of it. After receiving approval for the Development Application (DA), the Parish has begun construction on the first stage of the church building project. This phase includes the Parish Hall, Parish Office, and amenities. The Parish Hall, with a seating capacity of 200, will serve as the church until the permanent church building is completed. The project's first stage is expected to be completed by August 2025.
Fr Gayan Thamel
Sacramental Program:
The details for families interested in the Sacramental program for 2025 are here for you. Please register via the Google Form link of the specific sacrament you wish for your child.
Weekday Masses:
Wednesday at 7.30 am
Friday at 6.30 pm
Held in the temporary chapel next to the Parish Office (Temporary Office in the demountable building at the western end of the carpark within St Luke’s Catholic College, Frontier Avenue, Marsden Park)
Parish Youth Group
Our youth group meets every second Friday of the month at the Hub—come along for fun, faith, and friendship! The next session is on Friday, 28 March, from 7-8 pm. We’d love to see you there!
The Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross will be held every Friday during Lent, following the 6.30 pm Mass in the Parish Chapel.
Lenten Discussion Group:
Discussions focus on the Sunday Gospels.
Thursday evenings up to April 10 from 7- 8:00 pm at the Parish Office.
All are welcome.
Contact
Should you need to contact the St Luke’s Parish Community the contact details follow here:
Fr Gayan Thamel: gayan.thamel@parracatholic.org
Parish Priest
Ged Oblea: marsdenpark@parracatholic.org
Administrative Assistant
Ph: 02 8530 0173 Mobile: 0422 724 160
Website: https://stlukesmarsdenpark.org.au/