Religious Education  

Our first unit, Walk in the Light:Confirmation, serves as the final sequence in the Confirmation preparation journey for Year 6 students. Shifting from an internal focus on theology and the fruits of the Spirit, this unit looks outward, inviting candidates to recognize themselves as fully initiated Christians commissioned to carry the light of Christ into the world through active commitments to justice and peace.

This unit begins by analyzing the Johannine "sign story" of the man born blind (John 9:1-38), contrasting his journey toward spiritual sight with the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees. Students then trace the scriptural development of Christ as the true Light of the world—from Simeon’s prophecy at the Presentation to the Transfiguration and the profound theology of the Logos in the Gospel of John. Grounded in the Beatitudes and Catholic Social Teaching (Gaudium et Spes), students discover that walking in the light requires active discipleship. They learn that Confirmation strengthens them to serve the marginalized, confront discrimination, utilise modern technology to spread truth, and actively live out a global mission of compassion.

This unit, O Come Emmanuel, introduces students to the ancient and poetic "O Antiphons" of the Catholic Church, traditionally prayed in the final week of Advent from December 17th to December 23rd. Through exploring the Liturgy of the Hours and the scripture origins of the season, students examine the seven prophetic Old Testament titles for the Messiah found in the Book of Isaiah: Sapientia (Wisdom), Adonai (Lord), Radix (Root of Jesse), Clavis (Key of David), Oriens (Radiant Dawn), Rex Gentium (King of the Nations), and Emmanuel (God with Us).

Students analyse the scriptural contexts of these titles, connecting them to pivotal biblical narratives including the creation account of the Logos, Moses at the burning bush, the Davidic lineage, the Benedictus of Zechariah, and the fulfillment of Isaiah’s virgin birth prophecy in the Gospel of Matthew. The unit captures the escalating tension of Advent—waiting in joyful expectation for the mystery of the Incarnation—and invites students to respond through liturgical prayer, reflection, and sacred art.