Catholic Identity

Welcoming Pope Leo XIV

There is great excitement across the Catholic world following the election of our new Pope — Pope Leo XIV. For our school and parish community, this moment is especially meaningful. Not only is Pope Leo XIV a deeply spiritual and inspiring leader, but he also has a connection to our own corner of the world.

Pope Leo comes to the papacy with a strong Augustinian heritage — the same tradition that has shaped the story of St Patrick’s Tongala. The Augustinian values of community, truth, and love continue to guide our school’s mission, and it's incredibly special to see those same values reflected in the life and leadership of our new Pope.

In a wonderful twist of connection, Pope Leo XIV visited our own parish in 2005, long before his rise to global leadership. He spent time at St Augustine’s Church in Kyabram, where he experienced first-hand the warmth and spirit of our local Catholic community. It’s a memory many parishioners still speak of fondly — a reminder that sometimes global stories have local beginnings.

As Pope Leo XIV begins his new journey as the shepherd of the Church, we pray that he is guided by the wisdom of St Augustine and supported by the prayers of the faithful — including those of us here at St Patrick’s.

Caring for Our Common Home – Living Out Laudato Si’ at St Patrick’s

In 2015, Pope Francis released his encyclical Laudato Si’ – On Care for Our Common Home. This powerful document reminds us that we are all called to be stewards of the Earth and to care for creation with love, respect, and responsibility. Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, Laudato Si’ invites us to reflect deeply on how our actions impact the environment, the poor, and future generations.

At St Patrick’s, we strive to live out the message of Laudato Si’ through both our words and actions. Whether it’s through student-led environmental initiatives, our school veggie garden, recycling programs, or participating in Sandhurst Switches Off, we are working together to take meaningful steps that honour God’s creation. These moments help us pause, reflect, and make conscious choices to reduce our environmental footprint.

Our connection to the land is also deepened through our work as FIRE Carriers and our learning from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives. This aligns beautifully with Laudato Si’’s message, which highlights the importance of listening to Indigenous voices and recognising the wisdom they offer in caring for the Earth.

Throughout the year, we reflect on the themes of Laudato Si’ during our prayer services, Inquiry learning, and leadership programs. We encourage students to be “Ecological Citizens” who understand that caring for the planet is not just a job for others – it’s a shared mission that begins with each of us.

As Pope Francis reminds us, “The climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all.” At St Patrick’s, we are proud to be nurturing a community that embraces this message with hope, action, and faith.

Seven Catholic Social Teaching Principles

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is rooted in Scripture, formed by the wisdom of Church leaders, and influenced by grassroots movements. It is our moral compass, guiding us on how to live out our faith in the world.

The CST principles which inspire our work are:

• Human Dignity
• Common Good
• Solidarity
• Subsidiarity
• Preferred Option for the Poor
• Care for Creation
• Participation

Our faith calls us to love God and to love our neighbours in every situation, especially our sisters and brothers living in poverty. Following in the footsteps of Christ, we hope to make present in our unjust and broken world, the justice, love and peace of God.