Faith and Mission
Indigenous Culture
‘Warami Mittigar’ – which means “Hello friends... welcome!” in the local Darug language.
Celebrating Indigenous Student Leadership & Culture in 2026
Last week, our senior Indigenous students from Years 11 and 12 had the opportunity to meet with Uncle Ted from Jarara to begin planning initiatives for the year ahead. This was a meaningful time of collaboration, where students were able to share ideas and take leadership in shaping how Indigenous culture is celebrated and understood within our school community.
One of the first projects we are focusing on is working with students in K–4 to learn the St Luke’s Acknowledgement of Country. More importantly, we want younger students to understand the why behind the Acknowledgement—recognising the deep connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to the land and showing respect for this enduring culture.
As part of this, our senior students will be working alongside junior students to lead learning experiences for the School of Foundations on Multicultural Day, March 30. This is an exciting opportunity for students to learn from one another and to continue building a culture of respect, understanding, and connection across our school.
We look forward to sharing more of this journey with our community throughout the year.
Faith and Formation
Liturgy
In the past couple of weeks, Stage 3 and Stage 2 classes have had the opportunity to attend morning Mass in the parish with the rest of the parish community. Students and teachers have reported very positive experiences, with students participating respectfully and reverently. At the end of Mass, students have also had the opportunity to ask Fr Gayan questions about the celebration of Mass and other faith-related topics.
During prayer this term, we have also introduced the Prayer of Peace by Saint Francis of Assisi. At the beginning of the year, Pope Leo XIV declared 2026 a “Special Year of St Francis”, honouring the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis.
In his decree, Pope Leo XIV encouraged every Christian, “following the example of the Saint of Assisi, to become a model of holiness of life and a constant witness of peace.” The Pope recognised that the example of Saint Francis: a life of humility, care for others, and peace, is needed now more than ever in our world.
Faith Formation
Faith In Action
Social Justice Friday Mufti Day - JSS
On Friday 6 March, students from K–12 participated in our Social Justice Friday Mufti Day by donating pantry filler and toiletry items to support the Jesuit Social Services Ignite Food Store in Emerton. This initiative gave students the opportunity to put their faith into action and connect with the Catholic Social Teaching principle of the Dignity of the Human Person.
Students in Years 5–12 also participated in a Kindness Wall activity at recess, where they shared thoughtful reflections on ways they can support others and promote justice within our school and wider community.
K-6 Disco
On Friday 13 March, students in K–6 participated in our K–6 Disco. This exciting event gave students the opportunity to come together, have fun with their peers and enjoy a joyful afternoon as a school community. Most importantly, the disco was held to support Caritas Australia, helping students understand the importance of giving back to others and supporting those most in need. Through this initiative, students were able to put their faith into action and show that even small acts can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
K-4 FIA Reflection Journals
In K–4, we have introduced a Faith in Action (FIA) reflection journal, giving students the opportunity to reflect on the initiatives we hold each term. Through these journals, students consider the purpose of our Social Justice Friday days, as well as our Jesuit Social Services and Caritas fundraisers.
Students complete both pre- and post-reflections for each initiative, helping us understand their grasp of why these events are important. This process encourages students to see how they put their faith into action and make meaningful connections to the Catholic Social Teaching of Dignity of the Human Person.
Water Walk
At the end of this term, students from Years 5 to 12 participated in Caritas Australia’s Big Water Walk as part of their Religious Education and Faith In Action. This powerful experiential activity invited students to step into the reality faced by millions of people across Africa, Asia and the Pacific who do not have reliable access to clean drinking water. During the walk, students carried buckets of water around the school grounds. While the buckets initially felt manageable, many students quickly discovered how heavy and challenging they became after just a few minutes. This simple experience helped students appreciate the daily struggle of those who must walk long distances to collect water for their families.
Following the walk, students engaged in reflection, exploring how access to clean water impacts health, education and human dignity. They also considered how this issue connects to Catholic Social Teaching and our call to care for those most in need. One student reflected, “Now I understand how people must feel after walking such long distances for water. We should be grateful for how easily we can get water.”
Young Christian Students (YCS) :
Our YCS student leaders - Sudeep, Anshdeep, Atharv and Japraj - together with Wellbeing Portfolio Leaders Joshita and Kuldeep, were recently given a wonderful opportunity to meet with Mrs Bauer, Principal of St Luke’s Catholic College. During this meeting, YCS leaders confidently presented their 2025 Annual Report and shared an inspiring vision for their initiatives in 2026.
This conversation was a powerful example of student voice in action—students not only reflecting on their journey of leadership and service, but also actively shaping the future of wellbeing and faith life within our community.
Flowing from this vision, Joshita and Kuldeep, in collaboration with the YCS team, have launched an exciting student-led wellbeing initiative focused on supporting students with academic stress and the transition into senior school.
As part of this initiative, fortnightly Senior Advisory Workshops will be held during recess. These sessions will provide a space where senior students can share practical insights and lived experiences on:
- Subject selection
- Study strategies
- Time management
- Exam preparation
- Balancing school commitments
To ensure these workshops are meaningful and relevant, a student survey has been created to gather input from students across Years 7–12. This will help tailor the sessions to meet the real needs of our learners.
We warmly encourage all students from Year 11 and Year 12 to take a few moments to complete this survey and contribute their voice to this important initiative. The survey link for other SOL and SOE classes will be shared with students soon.
A special thank you to Mrs Bauer for her continued support of YCS and student leadership. Her willingness to listen, encourage participation, and create spaces for student voice reflects the heart of our shared Mission-walking together as a community. This beautifully aligns with the vision of the synodal journey of the Diocese of Parramatta, where every voice matters and contributes to the life of the Church.
This is a powerful witness to our students living out faith in action-supporting one another, building community, and responding with compassion to the needs around them.
From our Parish Community…
Our Parish, Our Story – St Luke’s 2025
We’re excited to share this special booklet featuring highlights of parish life and reflections from our ministry teams.
Click the link to view: https://redirme.com/2sahhe
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER MASS SCHEDULE
28/29 March- Palm Sunday – Masses will be in the Church.
Saturday Vigil 5.30pm, Sunday 8.00am, 10.00am & 5.30pm
2nd April - Holy Thursday – 7:00pm (Performance Hall)
3rd April - Good Friday – Stations of the Cross – 10:00am
Good Friday Service – 3:00pm ( Both at Performance Hall)
The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available after the 3:00pm
service.
4th April- Easter Vigil – 7:00pm (Performance Hall)
5th April- Easter Sunday – 8:00am, 10:00am, and 5:30pm (Performance Hall)
Sacramental Program
Thank you for participating in our Parish Sacramental Processes last year at St. Luke’s Catholic Parish Marsden Park.
Dates and registrations for our sacramental processes for 2026 are now open. Please use QR code or log on to our parish website:https://stlukesmarsdenpark.org.au/
Contact Ged at the Parish Office on the details below for any assistance in regards to the Parish sacramental process or email: sacraments@stlukesmarsdenpark.org.au
Parish Contacts
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: ged@stlukesmarsdenpark.org.au
Parish Secretary Ph: (02) 7261-0246. Mobile: 0422 724 160
Website: https://stlukesmarsdenpark.org.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stlukesmarsdenpark