Faith and Mission

Class of 2024 Graduation Mass

Amidst the varying activities, emotions and feelings that are associated with the final days of Year 12, it is important that time be given for reflection and thanksgiving. So, we gathered for the Class of 2024 Graduation Mass on Tuesday 22 October. 

It was a time to pause and to give thanks to God for the many gifts and opportunities that have been enjoyed by each of our Year 12 students over their years of schooling, and for the support offered to them at those times of greatest need.

We thank Father Andrew Jekot as Principal Celebrant at Mass, and to our students, families and staff for their engagement. 

A Prayer for the Graduating Class of 2024

Loving God,

Bless the St Bede’s College Graduating Class of 2024.

Inspire and guide these graduates as they reach this end,

and as they chart new beginnings.

As men of faith, service and community

may they remember all that they have learned

during their many years of schooling

for these teachings will enrich their life and the lives of others.

May they always act with honesty, compassion and kindness.

May they love with fidelity;

May they serve others,

especially the poor, the marginalized, and those who suffer;

and to always seek the greater good.

Surround them with love and grant them confidence

about their future because you are always present to them.

And, may God bless you in the name of the Father,

and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Year 9 Retreat Day – The Rite Journey

As part of The Rite Journey and our Faith Formation program, all Year 9 students were given the opportunity to spend a day outside the classroom for The Rite Journey Retreat; a day of prayer, reflection and activities. 

To highlight the importance of this endeavour, we took our students to the Don Bosco Retreat Centre at Lysterfield. The program included a walk up the hill through the paddocks to the great granite boulders, cooperative team games, mindfulness activities, creative arts, discussions, and recreational games. The program aimed to be the capstone experience of The Rite Journey; a program that accompanies students on the journey from childhood to early adulthood. 

"The Year 9 Retreat was a great experience for everyone who went. We did many great activities over the day. We had some mindfulness activities and some fun activities. The 4 activities included a short hike up to the boulders where we had a great view from at the top of the hill. My personal favourite activity was passing the sticks; we all formed a circle to see how many times we could pass the sticks without dropping any. The last two activities were mindful colouring from a great view of the paddocks and the great green earth, and our final activity was writing a letter to a person we look up to and our future selves. We finished off our great day with a Mass that let us reflect on the day." Ryan S

"The Year 9 Retreat was an enjoyable experience which enabled us to just enjoy the day with our friends. The activities that we did were engaging yet relaxing. For example, the walk we did up to the big hill was relaxing, with fresh air and great views. We also played some teamwork games in small groups and as a class to help to establish our relationships with our peers. Additionally, we spent some time in nature and sketched God’s Creations, which was a calming activity. Finally, we also wrote a letter of gratitude. This was to help us practice being thankful for small and big things." Aaron S

"The Year 9 Retreat was a good day to reflect and think about our impact on nature and God's creation. We started the day with the walk to the boulders, we were able to look upon the view and experience 5 minutes of personal time. Personally, I enjoyed the drawing where we looked around at the paddocks and hills and were asked to draw them. We were to be in complete silence as we listened to the sound of nature and drew our images. I found this activity calming and being able to have complete silence was perfect for reflecting. Lunchtime was also a great time to soak up sunshine as we ate food and talked about our mornings. To finalise the day we wrote a letter of gratitude to both our parents and ourselves. I believe the day was a great time to reflect, play and create as we talked about the impact of our actions." Oscar A

Remembrance Month

In a very special way, the month of November is dedicated to the memory of our deceased family members and friends, and all who have gone before us.  

Beginning with All Saints Day and All Souls Day, and continuing throughout the month, we hold in prayer those who have died.

To mark the special way the Catholic tradition responds to death, St Bede’s College has a Perpetual Memorial Book at our Mentone Campus Chapel, as an invitation to others to join you in praying for your deceased relatives and friends.  

If you would like to add the name/s of any family member or friend to our Perpetual Memorial Book, please email Ria Greene atrgg@stbedes.catholic.edu.au. Those whose names have already been included always remain. 

Les Twentyman Foundation – Back to School Program

The Back to School Program redistributes used educational resources to students who would otherwise be unable to afford them. In 2024, the Les Twentyman Foundation was able to assist over 500 students to access the supplies required to attend school.

St Bede’s College is collecting the following donations:

• Years 7 to 12 textbooks and study guides published since 2018
• English novels and literature texts (i.e. novels / plays / poetry /DVD’s)
• Atlases, dictionaries (English and foreign language), and thesauruses 
• Calculators 
• Laptops 
• Stationery (either physical donations in good condition or via the purchasing of vouchers from companies like Officeworks)

Donations will be received at each Campus (Student Services and/or Reception) up to Thursday 5 December 2024. Please contact Ria Greene with any questions.

Pope Francis’ Prayer Intention

A Shared Mission “All contributing in their little way regardless of vocation”

Pope Francis' monthly prayer intention for October is for "a shared mission."  

The Pope invited the Church to pray for this intention in this month's  The Pope Video, which is entrusted to the entire Catholic Church.

Pope Francis’ message emphasises his invitation to each and every Christian “to walk together, taking the path of synodality,” explaining “we are co-responsible in mission, we participate and we live in the communion of the Church.”

Ria Greene

Deputy Principal - Faith and Mission