Faith Formation and Mission

As we journey through the 2025 Season of Creation, we are invited to pause, reflect, and renew our commitment to caring for our common home. The Season of Creation is an annual, ecumenical celebration from 1st September—the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation—through to 4th October, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi. The beauty and fragility of creation remind us that every act of stewardship, no matter how small, is an act of love. Let us take time to notice the wonder around us, to listen deeply to the cry of the Earth and the poor, and to nurture a sense of gratitude and responsibility in our children. May this Season of Creation inspire us to “be on earth the heart of God,” fostering hope, justice, and peace for all living things.

Some of our Year 9 students have spent this time reflecting on sustainable initiatives which can help us as a community care for our common home. This week they presented their creative and insightful initiatives.

Valedictory Mass 2025: Sharing Our Part of the Sacred Heart

The Valedictory Mass celebrated on Thursday, 25th September 2025 was a heartfelt farewell to the graduating Year 12 class. The central theme, “Share Your Part of the Sacred Heart,” was woven throughout the evening, inviting reflection on the past, celebration of the present, and hope for the future. As the Class of 2025 moves forward, we await with anticipation the many ways these graduates will continue to “share their part of the Sacred Heart” in the world, confident that their gifts have been nurtured and inspired to flourish. Keep an eye on our socials - photos will be shared soon!

Year 8 Retreat – “Jesus Calls Us to Walk with Courage”

In Term 3, our Year 8 students participated in an enriching retreat at St Mary’s Towers, Douglas Park. Centred on the theme “Jesus calls us to walk with courage,” the retreat invited students to explore the MSC heritage and the spirituality that underpins life at Chevalier College. Through prayer, storytelling, and immersive experiences, students were encouraged to reflect on their own journeys, the values they live by, and the legacy of those who have shaped our community. The Emmaus story (Luke 24:32) provided a powerful scriptural foundation, reminding students of the presence of Christ in everyday encounters.

Investiture Assembly - Celebrating Servant Leadership at Chevalier College

The 2025 Leadership Investiture Assembly at Chevalier College, held on 10th September, was a profound celebration of servant leadership, the core value guiding the College’s approach to student leadership. The ceremony began with gratitude for the outgoing Year 12 leaders, acknowledging their commitment to leading with love, hope, and faith, and their legacy of service to the community. Throughout the assembly, the message was clear: leadership at Chevalier is not about titles or badges, but about humble service to others. The ritual washing of hands, performed by outgoing and incoming leaders, powerfully embodied this call to serve. As new College, House, and Portfolio Captains were invested, they pledged to lead by example, inspired by the values of kindness, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility to the community.

Please see the Wellbeing section of this newsletter for the full list of captains and photos of the day.

Diocesan Catholic Mission Launch

On Thursday 11th September, fresh from their investiture the previous day, our two new Social Justice Captains – Grace and Nina – travelled to Magdalene College, Narellan, to join other Catholic Schools form across the diocese for the 2025 launch of Catholic Mission Month. It was an opportunity for Chevalier to join with the other schools in a wider spirit of family and to consider how out collective efforts can help improve the lives of others. This year, the focus of Catholic Mission Month is the region of Mpika in Zambia. Zambia is currently in a serious famine due to the impact of drought, inflation and falling crop yields. The money raised by Catholic schools across Australia will be used to support the Maize Mill Project which is a locally driven initiative that promotes food security, economic dignity, and care for creation. It also contributes to gender equality providing opportunities for local women, many of whom were previously excluded from traditional economic roles.

We were also lucky to have Fr Roger Purcell msc, Director of the MSC Mission Office, visit the college in Week 10 and speak to our Year 7 and 8 students. Fr Roger expressed his gratitude to the college for the fundraising efforts we achieved in Term 2 which have provided clean water for communities in Papua New Guinea. He shared with the students the stark reality of many people he encounters around the world who have no clean water, no opportunity for an education and no source of regular nutrition. He encouraged the students to think of the many ways – both large and small – we can make a difference in the lives of others.

Heartworks@Chev Movie Night

On Friday 12th September we held our most recent Heartworks@Chev gathering. The September gathering was a movie night complete with a proper popcorn machine. Year 12 students had chosen Shrek as the film to watch, and the evening saw roughly 40 students from across various year levels gather for a night which fostered out college’s spirit of family. Unfortunately, the recent wet weather meant that the evening had to be moved indoors. Students were asked to bring in a gold coin donation to support Catholic Mission.

Legacy

During Legacy Week, students volunteered their time to help sell badges and other items in Bowral. This year, students from Reid House and Clancy House were invited to volunteer as a way of building a greater connection with their patrons (Fr Harry Reid msc was a long serving army chaplain whilst Br Ken Clancy msc was a long serving member of Amnesty International). By assisting to raise funds to supports families effected by war, the students were able to gain a deeper insight into the values and lived experiences of their wonderful house patrons.

Laity of the Chevalier Family National gathering.

The National Council of the Laity of the Chevalier Family invite all to the 2025 National Gathering taking place this November.