Faith, Justice and Formation

National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June)

What does reconciliation mean to me?

To me, reconciliation is about being all in — all in for identity, all in for faith, and all in for justice, just like our school values.

Identity means embracing who you are and where you come from with pride. For me, that means being proud to be Aboriginal, proud to speak my family language, and proud to share the continuing stories and culture of my people. Being all in means standing strong in our identity and respecting the identities of others.

Faith means believing we can create a better future together. This connects perfectly with this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme, “All In.” It means believing healing can happen when we walk together with honesty, respect, and understanding. We saw this spirit on 28 May 2000, when over 250,000 people walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge — Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people side by side — showing they were all in for reconciliation and change.

Justice means standing up for what is right. It means challenging discrimination, listening to First Nations voices, and making sure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are respected and included in schools, in history, and in the future of this country. Being all in means not staying silent when change is needed.

As the next generation, we are the bridge between the past, present, and future. Through our voices, actions, and choices, we can help create real change — but only if we are all in. Because reconciliation does not end with one speech, one week, or one walk. Reconciliation lives in the way we learn from one another, stand beside one another, and move forward together.

So, let’s all be all in for a more united and reconciled Australia.

Marcus D | Year 8 Student

Papua New Guinea Immersion – Donations Requested

A group of Year 11 students will be travelling to our hosts, the Edmund Rice Life Training Centre, in Rabual, Papua New Guinea (PNG) next holidays with students and staff from Ambrose Treacy College in Brisbane. We are very much looking forward to getting back there after some time away, as this is our longest running Immersion Program.

The Year 11 Justice Partnership is for the hosts in PNG and our hosts on the Alice Springs Immersion, St Joseph’s Catholic Flexible Learning Centre. They are currently collating donations for all boys on the two immersions to take with them. In addition to this I am putting it out to the community to donate any/all of the following that you may have laying around:

Old / used prescription glasses (males predominantly, plus female) – many of us who use glasses often have a few older pairs around.
Football boots in decent condition and tied together as a pair – maybe last year’s pair or the others have been outgrown already this season.
Old mobile phones – remove the data and these can be used with new sim cards in PNG.

You’d be surprised by how many things we think are not good enough but are still exciting and useful for others. Clean out the cupboards this weekend and drop in what you can. Please don’t drop off other items.

If you would like to donate any of these please drop them into the Front Office in the Hickey Building by Wednesday 10 June.

Thank you in advance.

Winter Appeal Thank You

Thank you for your generosity in last week’s SPC Winter Appeal. It is greatly appreciated by so many. All toiletries will be made into packs for Vinnies Vans during our Winter Sleep Out. All other items have been delivered to four of our ongoing partners – St Vincent de Paul, a domestic violence shelter, St Merkorious’ Charity and the House of Welcome.

Thank you so much to the following parents who delivered all of these items on Monday: Tina and Thai Vu, Sarah and Stephen Cabot, Anna Le, Sandra Sollazo, Elaine Rahme, Madhavi Gupta, Lucy Kassis, Victoria Bavaro. And of course, thanks to Raja Touma for coordinating deliveries and doing many herself, as well as Frances Spagnuolo who connected with the partners to arrange times.

We are indeed a lucky community for so many reasons. It is our responsibility to support those in greater need. This is just one way we have done this. Again, thank you! It was a true community event.

Gillian Daley

Director of Identity

Our Lady Help of Christians Mass 

On Monday 25 May, seven Altar Servers from Year 6, travelled to St Mary’s Cathedral to celebrate Mass for the Solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians, Australia’s Patroness. Schools, both Catholic and Independent, from the Archdiocese of Sydney attended the Mass. 

A big thank you to Ms Daley for coordinating and Mrs  Spagnuolo who assisted with the day.   

The Altar Servers that attended the day have written a short reflection each.  

The day was great. I went with my peers (all altar servers) and had lots of fun. The Cathedral was beautiful and the entire Mass was good. Seeing all the schools was nice. Celebrating Our Lady Help of Christians was awesome as it was my first time ever. It was an amazing day.  Vincent Y - 6 Red 

At the Cathedral, we met some of our old friends from our primary school. The day went by fast but was very fun and exciting. The architectural detail was astonishing. Visiting the Cathedral was one of the things that I would keep on my bucket list.  Lucas H - 6 White

This was an amazing day which brought us all together as altar servers. It was an amazing atmosphere because all the Catholic schools were gathered to celebrate Our Lady Help of Christians Mass.  Karson C - 6 White 

A beautiful day with an amazing atmosphere at the Cathedral and a great experience with my friends. It was an amazing day.  Antonios M - 6 Orange 

The Mass was the most beautiful experience that I have ever felt, and the Cathedral was the most beautiful place I have ever been to and seeing other schools and students come together to celebrate a Mass was very good to witness. It was an amazing day. 

Christian B - 6 Orange

The Mass was a great experience showing what Mary, our mother, did and why the day is important. The Cathedral is nothing short of amazing, and the architecture is fantastic. 

Liam D - 6 Green 

Jacinta Young

Head of Religious Education (Stage 3)