Faith and Mission

On Friday, our College community was privileged to welcome the Migrant Jubilee Cross as part of its national pilgrimage across Australia. The Cross was received during a Community Mass, presided over by Fr Sean Fernandez, with Deacon Greg Lowe assisting, in a prayerful celebration that drew together students, staff and families in gratitude for the rich diversity of our community and the enduring call of the Gospel.

The Migrant Jubilee Cross is a powerful symbol of the faith, resilience and contributions that migrants bring to the Church and to Australian society. Crafted from Australian timber and mounted on a boat-shaped base, the Cross evokes the migrant journey by land and sea and the Church’s vocation to be a place of refuge and welcome for all people. It forms part of a national pilgrimage launched in October 2025 to mark the Jubilee of Migrants within the wider Jubilee Year, inviting reflection on mercy, inclusion, pilgrimage and renewal. 

Australia’s story is deeply shaped by migration. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 31.5% of Australia’s population, around 8.6 million people, were born overseas, one of the highest proportions in the world. These figures are not just statistics; they represent families, stories and cultures that enrich our classrooms, parishes and neighbourhoods every day. 

The Church has long upheld the Gospel imperative to 'welcome the stranger' (Matthew 25:35). This call is grounded in Scripture and Catholic Social Teaching, which consistently affirms the dignity of every human person and urges communities to respond to newcomers with compassion, justice and solidarity. As an immigrant Church, Catholic communities are invited not only to hospitality, but also to mutual enrichment, learning from the gifts and experiences migrants bring. 

This message resonates strongly with Pope Leo XIV  2026 World Day of Peace message that calls the world to embrace a peace that is 'unarmed and disarming', grounded in dialogue, humility and the recognition of our shared humanity. His appeal reminds us that peace begins in our local communities when fear gives way to encounter, and when welcome replaces exclusion. 

The visit of the Migrant Jubilee Cross was therefore more than a ceremonial moment. It was an invitation to prayer, to gratitude for Australia’s multicultural identity, and to renewed commitment to being a community where every person is known, valued and welcomed. As the Cross continues its journey, may the seeds planted during its time with us continue to bear fruit in lives marked by faith, hospitality and peace.

Janeen Murphy

Deputy Principal Faith and Mission

Community Mass

Thank you to the many families who shared their culture, language, food, and participation in this morning’s liturgy, where the Migrant Jubilee Cross was a powerful and visible symbol. It was a blessing to hear many languages and accents during our liturgy and to share specially baked treats at morning tea. We were also blessed with the participation of many Homeroom Leaders, SRC members, and Year 8 students who prepared this liturgy.

Next Friday, 1 May, all are welcome to come and celebrate with Year 7s as they prepare Community Mass for the first time. While Cross-Country events will commence later on, we will begin the morning with Community Mass, as usual.

If you are a Year 7 parent who is new to the College, you are especially welcome, whether or not you are familiar with a Catholic Mass. All the responses are on a PowerPoint, and there is no reserved seating. Just come to the Chapel at 8:00am. There is usually a reminder bell a few minutes beforehand.  

Do not be afraid to ask if you have any questions regarding Community Mass. Contact: Mary-Anne Lumley: mary-anne.lumley@johnxxiii.edu.au

Sacraments

Do you have a child in Year 3, 4 or 6?

Families are encouraged to enrol their child in their parish without delay. Next week, many parishes will be closing their enrolments for 2026. The College website has links to sacrament program information from some of our local parishes. 

Students will be preparing for the sacraments of Reconciliation in Year 3, First Holy Communion in Year 4 and Confirmation in Year 6. 

Preparing for the sacraments is a three-way collaboration of family, parish and school. This means that parents exercise their right in choosing to enrol their child in the parish; the school provides the learning experiences to prepare the children, and the parish arranges the celebration of the sacrament. Parishes require that students be enrolled.

Parents often have questions about the Sacrament program, so please don’t hesitate to ask. Below are some useful points of contact: 

• The priest or sacrament coordinator in your local parish
• John XXIII College website
• The Archdiocesan website: Parishes & Mass Times

• Mary-Anne Lumley: mary-anne.lumley@johnxxiii.edu.au  or via phone on 

  08 9383 0513