Mission and Identity 

• Easter Liturgies
• Centacare Visit During Holidays

Easter Liturgies

Term 1 concluded with the College marking the beginning of the Easter season with Liturgies that recognised the Stations of the Cross. Using resources from CARITAS three Liturgies were conducted with students dramatising selected Stations of the Cross. Each Station provided students the opportunity to reflect on not only the manner in which the passion of Jesus was marked by his dearest and closest friends turning their backs on him, but also what the story of that Station is telling us today in a contemporary context. The liturgies also provided the first chance in 12 months for us as a community to sing together, joining in one voice as a form of prayer.

Our liturgies would not have been possible without the efforts of Ms Penny Lindley who prepared the students to act out the Stations, along with the Performing Arts Department for their preparation of music and the choir which provided such reverence to the day.

The selected photos provide an insight into our fitting conclusion to Term 1.

Centacare Visit During Holidays

As a way to complete Edmund Rice Service Hours, during the holidays, 30 of our our students worked at Centacare, an organisation that provides meaningful employment for adults who have intellectual disabilities. This opportunity provided a valuable insight for the students into the lives of those people who live with a disability. During our orientation to Centacare a video clip highlighted for the boys the ways in which those living with a disability can feel as though they are invisible. After safety and evacuation procedures were covered, the students were put to work with a buddy, doing everything from packing paint sets, to building hinges, to shredding paper and attending living skills classes.

The day certainly took students out of their comfort zone, but by the end of their time there many of the boys wanted to volunteer for future visits. One highlight was the touch footy game at lunch that invariably started when you give a group of boys a football and some space to play. The game was played in great spirit and was very much enjoyed by the employees at Centacare. The photos provide a small insight into the day and how St Pius X College views the manner in which Edmund Rice Service Hours are to be completed – working with those on the margins. 

Our Edmund Rice Service Hours (formerly CIP) program from 2021 has been adopted as an opt-in program. While students will not be obliged to complete a certain number of hours, if students wish to apply for university Early Entry Schemes or Scholarships without completing any service they may find it difficult to highlight how they have met criteria related to outreach and service to others.

We look forward to continuing our visits to Centacare in the next school holidays.

Mr Nathan Mulheron - Assistant Principal, Mission and Identity