Faith and Mission
Our Boys Shine During Catholic Education Week
Last week we acknowledged Catholic Education Week, an opportunity for St Bede’s College to join all 334 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese and celebrate our distinctive Catholic identity, achievements, and the role our College plays within parish and local communities.
A group of our Senior Years Students represented the College at the Cathedral Mass and Young Speakers Colloquium for Secondary School Students on Friday 20 March.
College Vice-Captain Daniel Athaide, Public Speaking & Debating Captain William Aufner, Lasallian Captain Ethan Thredgold joined alongside our Year 11s
Joel C, Ryder D, Oscar F, Zane K and Luca R.
Throughout the day, the students engaged thoughtfully with the broader Catholic education community and had the opportunity to converse with church dignitaries and politicians, including Member of Parliament Brad Rowswell, Shadow Minister for Education. Zane K shares his experiences.
"I was privileged to attend the Mass of St Patrick at St Patrick’s Cathedral on a beautiful sunny day, which made the experience even more uplifting. The Cathedral was filled with students, teachers, and families from schools across the Archdiocese, all gathered together to celebrate our shared faith. Being part of such a large and joyful celebration reminded me of the strength and unity of our Catholic community. One of the highlights of the Mass was seeing the banners of so many schools on display and joining in the responses with great energy and conviction. It was inspiring to witness the reverence of everyone present, from primary students to senior students, all participating with respect and joy. I felt extremely honoured to represent St Bede’s and contribute to such a meaningful occasion.
After the Mass, we moved to the Youth Leaders Symposium at the Catholic Leadership Centre. The guest speakers shared incredibly powerful messages about leadership, compassion, and the importance of putting faith into action. They encouraged us to reflect on our personal values, how we can positively impact our communities, and the amazing opportunities that lie ahead for young leaders. Hearing about past students’ experiences, including trips to Rome and London, highlighted how embracing these opportunities can strengthen our faith and broaden our perspective on the world. Overall, the day was truly inspiring. It reminded me of the importance of faith, community, and leadership in our lives. Representing St Bede’s at this event was an absolute privilege, and the lessons I learned will stay with me long into the future." Zane K, Year 11
"Attending the Mass of St Patrick at St Patrick’s Cathedral was a great experience and it was special to be part of such a large gathering with students from so many other Catholic schools across the Archdiocese. The atmosphere in the Cathedral was very respectful and uplifting and it was a meaningful way to come together in faith as a wider community.
Following the Mass, the Young Speaker’s Colloquium provided an engaging and insightful continuation to the day. It was particularly interesting to hear from students who had participated in the Rome and London trip, as well as those who attended ACYF, as they shared their personal experiences and how these opportunities had impacted their faith and leadership. The day was both enjoyable and valuable, offering a chance to connect with others and learn from a range of inspiring perspectives." Joel C, Year 11
“We arrived at St Patrick’s Cathedral amidst a swarm of Catholic school students, both primary and secondary. I was fortunate enough to carry the school’s banner alongside Ethan T in the opening and closing processions. Waiting in line, we saw so many familiar faces and schools, with waving, smiles and laughing everywhere – it truly was a joyous occasion. When we walked into the Cathedral with our banner, it was only then we began to realise the magnitude of the occasion, with a packed Cathedral, hundreds of banners and thousands of school representatives. It was great to see everyone across the Melbourne Archdiocese, especially meeting others from different regions and schools that we don’t often encounter.” Will A, Year 12
All students were outstanding ambassadors for our College, demonstrating the respect and community spirit we value so highly as a Catholic and Lasallian school.
Mission Action Day
St Bede’s College Mission Action Day (MAD) is a special day when the whole College Community puts our faith into action. Your support via donations to your sons' Mycause page will contribute to our goal to improve the needs of schools and communities in great need.
Since 2005, our MAD fundraising has contributed just over one million dollars to projects in Catholic and Lasallian schools in Pakistan and Papua New Guinea.
The outcomes of these projects provides students with:
- Clean drinking water
- Safety from life-threatening diseases
- Safe, secure and comfortable classrooms
- More inclusive education, especially for female students
- Safer, cleaner bathroom facilities
- Improved wellbeing for students
- Better places to learn and play
We will be welcoming donations up to 26 April, 2026.
Holy Week Reflection
Holy Week is an extra special week in the Church’s year recalling significant and solemn events in the life of Jesus; his suffering and death. But the week is not only about memory or history; it is an invitation for us to shape the way we live our lives today and into the future influenced by the witness of Jesus.
The highpoint of Holy Week is Good Friday, a time to reflect on the Passion and Death of Jesus. While it is important that we meditate upon the Passion and Death of Jesus, we know that this story of suffering and sacrifice leads ultimately to a story of hope and optimism based on the Resurrection.
The suffering of Jesus reveals his humanity and speaks to each of us who have experienced personal suffering or loss. Consider this moment from the Passion, where Jesus, exhausted and burdened, is aided by a bystander: They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). Mark 15:21-22
Reflection
The Cross of Christ is the single most sacred symbol of the Christian faith. For all of us as members of a Catholic school community we recognise and honour what it represents. In the figure of Simon of Cyrene, we see a powerful reflection of what it means to be part of a community. Simon literally shoulders the heavy burden of another.
When we venerate the cross we are doing two things: Firstly, we acknowledge the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of humanity through his passion and death. Secondly, we can take to the Cross our own sufferings, burdens and disappointments and place them before Jesus, just like those who have come before us. Just as Simon helped carry the Cross, we are reminded during Holy Week that we are called to help carry the burdens of others: our children, our families, our friends and our colleagues.
Take some time now to read this short message about supporting one another from the teachings of St Paul: Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Jesus. Galatians 6:2
Ritual Action
Next time you are in front of a cross, touch it lightly, bow before it, or simply stand before it. Then pray…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Taking the Lasallian Spirit to the Streets with the John Paul Companion Van
At St Bede’s College, our Lasallian call to serve is not confined to the classroom or the school yard; it extends directly into our local community. One of our most impactful "Faith in Action" initiatives is our ongoing partnership with the John Paul Companion Van.
Up to twice a term, a dedicated group of St Bede’s students and staff volunteer their evenings to operate the van, serving hot drinks and freshly toasted sandwiches to members of our local community who are doing it tough.
However, as our boys quickly learn, the food and warmth are only part of the mission. The John Paul Companion Van operates on a "ministry of presence." The toasted sandwich is often just an icebreaker for a much more important offering: a conversation, a listening ear, and the simple dignity of being seen and heard.
In our modern world, the poverty of loneliness and isolation can be just as difficult as physical hunger. By stepping out of their comfort zones to serve and chat with people from all walks of life, our students are moving beyond simple charity. They are practicing true Lasallian solidarity—learning that we receive just as much as we give when we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our neighbours.
To truly understand the impact of this initiative, it is best heard directly from the young men who have experienced it. Our Year 12 volunteers T'Zario, Keiren and Dylan reflect here on what their time with the Companion Van meant to them.