R.E. News
As part of the Church’s Year of Jubilee, with the theme Pilgrims of Hope, our students have been taking part in pilgrimages.
On Monday, 1st September, the Grade 5/6 students embarked on a pilgrimage to Williamstown to deepen their understanding of what it means to be a pilgrim. During the day, students visited St Mary’s Church in Williamstown, one of the oldest churches in Victoria, where they were able to see a special cross made from wood left over from Mary MacKillop’s coffin. They also took part in a Christian meditation at the beach and created sketches of God’s creation in the Williamstown Botanic Gardens, before sharing a pizza lunch. It was a meaningful day filled with prayer, reflection, and community, offering our students a chance to connect with their faith specially.
Three of our Grade 6 leaders, Lucas, Vanshika, and Ashton, have shared their experiences below.
Our pilgrimage started early in the morning at St. Martin’s. Everyone was excited, though some of us were still a little sleepy, rubbing our eyes and yawning as we got our backpacks ready. We joked around a bit, while slowly making our way to the station. The walk was fun. Some people ran ahead, others lagged behind, and there was a lot of laughing along the way. By the time we reached the station, most of us were already a little tired, but everyone was excited for the day ahead.
The first stop was St. Mary’s Church, an old Church that was built in 1870. As soon as we walked in, it felt so quiet and calm. Sunlight came through the stained glass windows, casting colourful patterns on the floor. Some of us whispered our thoughts quietly, some just sat and looked around. Lucas, our Religion Leader, taught us many facts about the church. We took part in a Visio Divina which was a peaceful pause, giving us a chance to slow down and enjoy the moment before moving on.
Our next stop was a short walk to the Botanic Gardens in Williamstown, where nature and pizza came together for an unforgettable day! As we wandered through the gardens, we admired all kinds of plants and trees, searching for the perfect picnic spot. The pizzas came from the year 5/6's business money. The real hero of the day? Superstar Julie, who delivered a whopping 36 boxes of pizza in her car! “My car is never going to smell the same again,” she joked as everyone ate. Eating pizza in the Botanic Gardens was a highlight of the day.
After lunch, we walked to Williamstown Beach, where we had time to just hang out on the sand, and relax. Some of us kicked sand around, others dug in the sand, and some just lay back and soaked up the sunshine. We did a short Christian meditation, which was really calming and gave us a moment to reflect on the day. By this point, most of us were definitely tired, in a happy, joyful way where you knew it had been a good day.
Finally, we walked back to the station, caught the train to Laverton Station, and then walked the last part back to school. On the way, we talked about our favourite parts, laughed at little things that had happened. By the time we got back, everyone felt happy, tired, and full not just from the pizza, but from all the laughter, friendship, and little moments shared throughout the day.
In the end we walked about 15 thousand steps. Overall, it was a really memorable pilgrimage, full of fun, reflection, little adventures, and, of course, full tummies and tired legs. Definitely a day none of us will forget! A special thanks to our wonderful teachers Sarah, Alli, Simone, Lucas and Julie as well as all the parent helpers who made this journey happen.
Father's Day
This Sunday, we wish all our fathers, grandfathers and special males in our lives a Happy Father’s Day. As we celebrate Father's Day, let's also take a moment to honour the earthly father of Jesus, St. Joseph. A carpenter by trade, Joseph was chosen to be the foster father of God's Son. His unwavering faith, his love for Mary, and his dedication to raising Jesus serve as a powerful example of fatherhood.
St. Joseph's story reminds us of the importance of a father's love and guidance in a child's life. His example encourages us to be present, supportive, and loving fathers, just as he was to Jesus.
Father’s Day Prayer Service
We will pray for our fathers, grandfathers and special men at our Prayer service, Friday 5th September at 9am in the St Martin de Porres Church. This prayer service will be led by grade 5/6D and as always all families are welcome to attend.
Lucas Mangani
RE Leader