Religious Education News

In St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (a Greek colony on the west coast of modern day Turkey), he wrote that we are created to do ‘good works’. At O’Connor we strive to give our students every opportunity to live this teaching out in many practical ways. It’s no coincidence that the phrase ‘Good Works’ is also the motto of the St Vincent de Paul society. 

One of the ways in which we do this is our Assistant Catechist program, where our Year 10 students are given the opportunity to work in our local public schools, helping with the Scripture classes. Over twenty Year 10 students have been involved in the program this year, and have represented the school with pride. I look forward to next year’s Year 10 as they too step up to take on this important role in our Parish community. 

Another way our students can do ‘good works’ is through the Lasallian Youth Leader program. Recently twenty of our Year 10 students were appointed as LYLs, a role which they will carry through with them into Year 11. As LYLs they will serve as mentors to our young students, lead small groups for STEP Days and yeargroup retreats, as well as assist in planning and running many of our charity activities throughout the year. 

Good works were exhibited earlier this term, with over $1100 being raised for Catholic Mission, and we will continue to support local charities with the Vinnies Christmas Appeal being launched this week. We are calling for donations of non-perishable food items as well as toiletries, which will be distributed to local families in the lead up to Christmas. Our St Vincent de Paul group met with our school Captains and LYLs today to plan our efforts in support of the Christmas appeal over the course of the next three weeks. Thank you to the students in our 8/1 RE class who designed posters which will be put up around the school in the next few days to advertise the appeal!

Our school liturgical program has continued throughout the term, with our Captain’s Commissioning Mass in Week two, followed by Year 7, 8 and 9 Masses in our College Chapel. Our end of year Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral on Wednesday December 3rd, and we will have a final Christmas liturgy (not Mass) on Wednesday December 10th, in the last full week of school. All parents and friends of the College are warmly invited to our Masses and liturgies. 

Finally, next week we will bid farewell to seven of our Year 11 students who will be attending the Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Melbourne, from the  28th of November to the 3rd of December as part of the Armidale Diocesan group. Mrs Emily Smith will be accompanying the students, and we wish them all the very best as they undertake their pilgrimage together with thousands of other young people from all around Australia and New Zealand.  

Mr Andrew May

Religious Education Coordinator

Our Founders - St Angela Merici and St John Baptiste De La Salle

Saints Mary and Joseph Cathedral Parish

Keeping in touch with what is happening in the Cathedral Parish is easy through their website and Facebook pages.

With such a difficult year and a half it has been harder for parishioner's to give to the parish through the plates, particularly when the church is closed as it is at present. The Parish account details are available on the Parish bulletin. 

Cathedral Parish Website

Information about our founders

La Salle Website

Ursuline Sisters Website