Faith and Mission
Year 12 Retreat
As part of Flying Start, our Year 12 students of 2024 enjoyed their Retreat Day this Monday. The day's focus was to prepare for the year ahead. Among the various activities of the day, one was to consolidate their House and Year level identity.
Blessed by beautiful weather, the day's activities included a beach walk to Parkdale, beach sports and a solidarity line, challenge exercises, a professional magician’s show and lunch!
In the afternoon, our 2024 College Leaders Archie, Tom, Lucas and Hugo addressed their peers, sharing their vision for the cohort and the whole college for the year ahead. They invited the Year 12s to get involved in all activities in their final year, especially Mission Action Day.
Fiji Service Tour & Immersion Program
On 5 December, our group of 2023 Year 12 students and accompanying staff made their way to Fiji for our annual Service Tour and Immersion Program.
The purpose of the tour is to assist with building repairs, maintenance, gardening, painting as well as assisting with educational programs in village schools.
Our tour group has arrived safely in Nadi, Fiji and will be travelling through the Coral Coast.
This year's group consists of the Class of 2023's Dylan Collins, Tyler Connolly, Lucas Karvonidis, Jackson McCahon, Dylan Myers, Ben Smith and Cooper Quigley, who are joined by teachers, Ms Rachel Urquhart and Ms Kylie Paterson-Zigouras.
We ask for God’s blessing and protection as they leave the comfort of family life to shine God’s love in the world.
Loving God, we pray for our Fiji Service Tour group.
Inspired by our Guiding Principles, help them to conduct themselves
so that they may reflect your presence in the world.
As they undertake the program, open their eyes so they may see
the face of Christ in everyone they meet.
And, at the end of their journey may they return to us with zeal
and a sense of purpose in teaching us what they have learnt.
May God, the Creator of all, guide them, protect them,
and support them in all that they do.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, the friend of all.
Amen.
You can follow along with the group's journey here at their daily tour blog.
Year 10 Retreat
In late October, students in Year 10 participated in their Retreat Day - a day of prayer, reflection and activities.
The major activity of the day included The Little Long Walk, a return beach walk from St Bede’s College Mentone to the Derrimut Weelam Gathering Place at Mordialloc. The Little Long Walk is an adaption of the Michael Long Walk – an act of solidarity and cultural awareness. Michael's daughter, Michaela Long visited and spoke to our Year 10s about the significance of the event. In addition, the day was filled with Leadership Formation activities.
In preparation for the Little Long Walk, a student representative group worked with Indigenous artists to create banners. On the day of the Retreat, students walked to the Derrimut Weelam Gathering Place in Mordialloc. There we were welcomed by the staff of the Gathering Place, members of the City of Kingston Youth Services, and Deputy Mayor of the City of Kingston, Mr Chris Hill. Cr Hill was heartened to see our students participate in the Little Long Walk, to which he said there is no doubt that this will help to build greater compassion in our students.
Below is the address by Cr Hill to our students on Retreat Day.
Congratulations on your walk this morning. I’m delighted the sun shone for you (or despite the drizzly weather, you’ve all done well.) It is heartwarming to see you all engaged in this impactful and meaningful act.
I’m sure in preparation for today, you’ve been discussing Michael Long's Long Walk to Canberra. Michael’s historic trek – to raise his concerns about the plight of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – was from his home in Melbourne all the way to Parliament House in Canberra.
Your walk this morning may be much shorter that Michael’s 650 kilometres but your message is as loud and clear.
You care, too.
I am proud to see our younger community members showing support for First Nations Peoples and cultures. This morning you are thinking about – and doing something meaningful for - other people. It is fitting that you walked to this beautiful Derrimut Weelam Gathering Place.
This has been created as a safe place for First Nations people to get together and develop ideas, enhance cultural identity, social inclusion and improve health and wellbeing.
When you walk through this morning, there will be information stands for you to discover more about this space. Kingston Council is committed to First Nation Australians and we acknowledge their rich and continuous connection to this area. If you’d like to find out more about our commitment to reconciliation, there’s plenty of information on our website.
As you all know, the motto of St Bede’s is Per Vias Rectas (By Right Paths)
You have lived up to that today – showing that strong values underpin your path in life.
Again, well done and enjoy your tour of Derrimut Weelam Gathering Place.
Advent and Christmas
The season of Advent is about waiting. Waiting takes up a large part of our lives, often we see waiting as non-productive, as a waste of time and we are frustrated.
But the season of Advent reminds us that waiting is more productive, we are called to be people of action and service as we wait for the most mysterious and wonderful coming of all – the coming of Jesus Christ.
So, with the people of faith who have gone before us, and the people of faith who are with us … we wait, and we hope and love what we wait for - God’s second coming, and God’s peace.
A Reading from the Gospel of St Matthew
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men* from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising* and have come to pay him homage.’
When King Herod heard this, he was frightened. He secretly called for the wise men* and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.
Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’
When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising,* until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped,* they were overwhelmed with joy.
On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Reflection
Just like the wise men presented gifts to the Holy Family, we too offer gifts this Christmas. Over the past few weeks, we have all been asked to contribute to the Vinnies Christmas Appeal. Many have responded to the call to help our neighbours in need with generosity. By doing this we have made God’s presence a reality in the lives of others.
Soon we will present these Christmas Hampers and gift vouchers to the various Vinnies Conferences in our area. Vinnies members work tirelessly to ensure that people experiencing disadvantage have someone to turn to for help. We thank them for their work and commitment in helping others. Through their good works, we are restoring hope to many people who are finding it difficult to celebrate during the Christmas season.
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Wise men travelled for miles to bring you the first Christmas presents.
So, may we, too, remember with thankful hearts the love that comes with each present we open.
We also thank you for the amazing love you have for each of us,
and we thank you for the many gifts that you give us.
We ask your particular care for those who do not experience the love
and presence of dear ones.
Amen.
Blessing
As we prepare for the great holy day of Christmas, may each of us help to make our home a place of joy, love, peace and safety.
May we be generous and considerate, helping others to enjoy the blessings of Christmas.
May we, and all our family and friends, find relaxation, refreshment and enjoyment in the coming summer holidays.
St John Baptist de la Salle. Pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts. Forever!
Save the Date - St Bede’s College Family Mass
Tuesday 19 March 2024
6pm at Mentone Campus
Principal Celebrant: Bishop Anthony Ireland
Ria Greene
Deputy Principal - Faith and Mission