Faith, Culture & Community 

Walsh House Liturgy - Feast of the Sacred Heart

Today, our school community gathered for a beautiful liturgy to celebrate Walsh House Day and the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was a wonderful opportunity to come together to reflect on Jesus’ unconditional love and compassion, and explore the Walsh house charism of devotion.

As a school named after St. John, we looked to his incredible example of deep friendship and trust. The students learned how St. John leaned close to Jesus at the Last Supper, listening to His heart; a beautiful reminder that Jesus' love is real, safe, and big enough to forgive everyone. We talked about how the flames on the Sacred Heart burn bright like a warm campfire, and how we can fill Jesus' heart with joy every day simply by being kind, praying, and being a good friend.

To bring this message of devotion to life, our students will be working on a special project in their classrooms this week:

Our Little Hearts: Decorated by students to show how we are devoted to taking care of each other.

The String: Connecting all of our hearts together to remind us to love and forgive.

The Big Balloon: Representing Jesus and our big love for Him!

Thank you to all the staff and students who helped make this morning's celebration so sacred and meaningful.

The Character Project

Our senior school students recently participated in an incredibly engaging experience with The Character Project. Following a highly successful staff development session last year, we were thrilled to bring this workshop to our seniors. Designed to be authentic and inclusive of students at all different stages of their faith journeys, the workshop aimed to open minds to personal spirituality while strengthening the bonds of the entire cohort.

Having completed this experience, our seniors are now well prepared to take the knowledge, skills, and connections they gained and build upon them throughout their teen years!

Sessions focussed on building empathy, spreading love, and strengthening relationships by investing in our "Relationship Bank Accounts." Students unpacked the classic question, "Who is your neighbour?" and discovered how to love others through everyday actions.

Reframing life as a "hero's journey," students also explored what it means to be an everyday Saint. By looking at the lives of the saints, the cohort discussed the powerful impact of looking to serve others before being served.

Reconciliation Week - Majeda Beatty

Recently, our school community proudly recognized National Reconciliation Week. This year’s national theme, "All In," reminded us that reconciliation is not a spectator sport; it requires everyone to step off the sidelines and take meaningful action toward building respectful relationships, understanding, and shared futures.

To help bring this important week to life, we were incredibly fortunate to welcome special guest and acclaimed First Nations performer, Majeda Beatty, to our school for a vibrant and deeply engaging cultural presentation.

Majeda, a proud Wuthathi woman with roots stemming from Far North Queensland, captivated our students from start to finish. She took us on an interactive journey through Australia’s First Nations histories, traditions, and perspectives, beautifully balancing both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

During the presentation, students experienced:

• Storytelling & Language: Learning the significance of cultural pride, passing down traditions, and exploring Indigenous language and history.
• Instruments & Artifacts: A fascinating demonstration of traditional instruments, costumes, and the deep cultural significance of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.
• The Meaning of Ochre: An educational look into how traditional ochre is used and the profound meanings behind body paint designs.

True to this year's theme, our students didn't just sit and watch; they were truly "All In"! Majeda had the entire audience up on their feet, participating in traditional songs and learning inclusive dances. It was wonderful to see students across all year levels laughing, singing, and building a deeper, hands-on connection to Indigenous culture.

A huge thank you to Majeda Beatty for sharing her passion, energy, and stories with us. Her visit left our students not only more knowledgeable but also inspired to carry the spirit of Reconciliation into our everyday school life.

Legion Of Mary

In preparation for their upcoming Sacrament of First Holy Communion, our candidates recently received a very special visit from members of the St. John’s Legion of Mary. This beautiful presentation marks a wonderful step forward in building stronger, lifelong relationships between our school and this dedicated parish group.

To support our students on their sacred faith journey, the Legion of Mary generously presented each candidate with two beautiful devotional gifts: Rosary beads and a Miraculous Medal.  

The Miraculous Medal: This special medal serves as a powerful reminder of Mary’s maternal love, comfort, and protection. Originating from the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to St. Catherine Labouré in 1830, the medal symbolises the abundant graces Mary promises to wrap around those who wear it with confidence and ask for her intercession.

Rosary Beads: A sacred tool given to the children to help them slow down, reflect on the life of Jesus, and cultivate a personal, lifelong practice of prayer.

We are incredibly grateful to the Legion of Mary for their generosity and for investing so beautifully in the spiritual lives of our students.

As we continue to nurture our connection with the parish, we are already looking forward to welcoming this group back to our school in October, the Month of Mary. During this special month, members of the Legion will join our students to pray the Rosary together, fostering a beautiful tradition of shared faith and community.

Please keep our First Holy Communion candidates in your prayers as they approach this special milestone!