Religious Education

Sagrada Familia

Another wonderful term of learning, growth and discovery has come to a close for both our students and staff. I love learning!  That is why I am an educator.  Recently I was travelling overseas and the learning I acquired was immense to say the least. I would like to share one experience I had in Barcelona.

Sagrada Familia is the tallest church in the world measuring 172m. The reason that this basilica is important to me is that Sagrada Familia means Holy Family, our namesake, so I had to find out all about it.

On 19 March 1882, construction of Sagrada Família began under the architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. However, he resigned only after one year in the job and an engineering graduate, Antoni Gaudi applied and got the job as lead architect at the age of 31. His gothic and art nouveau style is famous throughout the world.  In 1926 at the age of 73, Gaudi died after a tragic accident where he was hit by a tram in Barcelona. He devoted his life to the project, and is buried in the church's crypt. Antoni Gaudí famously said about the slow construction of the Sagrada Família, "My client is not in a hurry," referring to God. 

The building of Sagrada Família is solely funded through private donations. Construction was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War and in July 1936, anarchists set fire to the crypt and broke their way into the workshop, partially destroying Gaudí’s original plans.  

In 2014, it was anticipated that the building would be completed by 2026, the centenary of Gaudí's death, but this schedule was interrupted by work slowdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

There are 18 towers in total and the central Tower of Jesus Christ was completed on 20 February 2026. It was inaugurated and blessed by Pope Leo XIV on 10 June 2026 during his visit to Spain, coinciding with the centenary of Gaudí's death.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that one of the stained glass windows in the basilica was dedicated to our very own St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. This amazing teacher and nun from Fitzroy, Victoria is commemorated half way around the world in the Sagrada Familia.

The basilica has three magnificent facades — the Nativity Facade, the Passion Facade and the Glory Facade, which is still under construction. Standing inside the basilica was truly breathtaking. There was something incredibly moving about being surrounded by a structure that is unfinished, yet somehow feels so intentional and complete in its purpose.

I found myself reflecting on Gaudí’s belief that the completion of the church should ‘not be a hurry’. Rather than seeing the cranes and ongoing construction as a sign of incompleteness, I found them deeply comforting. They are a reminder that Gaudí’s vision was never simply about one man or one lifetime. His life’s work has been treasured, protected and carried forward by generations of people who continue to believe in his vision and celebration of the Holy Family.

Religious Education Leader

Vicky Pejic

6L Religious Education

Throughout Term 3 the Year 6 students were exploring the concepts of sacraments and sacramentality. Sacraments are the visible and tangible ways of experiencing God, whereas sacramentality is connecting with God in the everyday moments.

Students were tasked with identifying moments of everyday life that reminded them of God as the creator, God’s mercy, God’s compassion and God’s love (grace). They then had to connect these everyday moments to the values that underpin each sacrament. The following work is titled ‘God’s Goggles’, showcasing the student’s understanding of both concepts.