✝️Faith and Mission

Quote of the Day

“Follow the direction that God seems to indicate.”

- St Eugene de Mazenod

Year 9 Tempier and Grandin Pilgrimages

The Year 9 students from Tempier and Grandin Houses went on Pilgrimage this week to St Joseph’s Church in Subiaco, St Mary’s Cathedral and the new Boorloo Bridge. While on Pilgrimage they learned about the life and exploits of Bishop Salvado in the middle of the nineteenth century.

Dom Rosendo Salvado Rotea OSB (1814 – 1900) was a Spanish Benedictine monk, missionary, bishop, author, founder and first Abbot of the Territorial Abbey of New Norcia, in Western Australia.

Strongly desiring to labour in the foreign missions, his wish was granted after John Brady was consecrated as first Bishop of the Diocese of Perth. With his longtime friend Father Joseph Serra OSB, Salvado sailed from London with the Bishop's party and landed in Fremantle in January 1846. At Brady's instruction, Salvado and Serra, alongside a small party of their fellow Benedictines, journeyed deep into the Victoria Plains via ox drawn cart. On 1 March 1846, they founded "The Central Mission" in the midst of the bush, intending to convert the Aborigines to Catholicism. This was later renamed "New Norcia," after the birthplace of St Benedict.

The boys completed the first leg of the Camini Salvado pilgrimage. The pilgrimage generally retraces Dom Salvado’s footsteps of 1846 when he founded Australia’s unique monastery town of New Norcia. All up, the boys completed 9km of the pilgrimage.

The boys and staff offered the day up to Mary Immaculate, with a prayer to Our Lady at the start of the day. This was followed by several reflections while on the walk as well as midday Mass at the Cathedral.

We had a wonderful day weather wise, and it was clear that both staff and students enjoyed each other’s company, while being out in the open air and sunshine. Thank you to Fr Michael, Mr Voakes, Mr Newman, Miss Aguilar and Mr Keogh who accompanied the boys on pilgrimage.

Grandparents’ Mass

This week saw our Grandparents’ Mass and morning tea. The Chapel was full, this has once again proven to be a popular community event. Fr Michael celebrated Mass and spoke about the importance of grandparents in helping to support and raise their grandchildren. The boys and their grandparents then joined in with a wonderful morning tea, lovingly prepared by the ladies in our College Canteen. Thank you to everyone who helped to prepare for the morning. Thank you to all the grandparents and boys who attended the Mass and morning tea.

Young Vinnies Christmas Appeal 2025

We hope that this year’s Christmas Appeal will be bigger and better than ever!

This year, Vinnies has decided to add some delicious items to each of their hampers to provide a special treat for families at Christmas. We might all take for granted that we can enjoy a peanut paste or nutella sandwich, but for many families these are luxuries that they cannot afford.

Each Form has been asked to fill items off the Hamper List which will then be added to the Vinnies Christmas hampers.

We also ask everyone in your Form to make a gold coin donation (or more if you can!) to your teacher, so we can also give the family a gift voucher so they can buy a chicken, ham or fresh fruit and vegetables etc. So instead of buying an ice-cream one lunchtime, give up your treat money to help someone less fortunate.

All donations for Years 7 - 10 must be in by the Wednesday of Week 7.

You can help bring a little joy to a family this Christmas – what a great gift!

Florina Recovers Her Sight

Joseph Gérard, OMI

Before a person can be inscribed among the Blessed, it is necessary that he or she accomplish at least one miracle, duly recognized by the competent authority. Father Joseph Gérard, O.M.I., who was beatified on September 15, 1988 by Pope John-Paul II, in Lesotho, certainly fulfilled this condition. In his case, the miracle approved by the Church was the instantaneous healing of a young blind girl, Florina Phakelo.

The Blind Child

Florina lived in a village near Roma, in Lesotho. As a result of an infection in her eyes, which doctors said was incurable, she became completely blind. The intercession of good Father Gérard, whose saintly death had occurred in 1914, was sought. He was called “rame-hiolo”, the father of miracles. A miraculous healing of the little girl’s eyes was obtained. She lived to the age of sixty with perfect vision in both eyes.

To read more go to the LINK.

Damian Wallis

Director of Faith and Mission