Mission and Identity

• Jesus running to Mum - New Stained Glass

• Hub of Hope Launch: A Celebration of Gifts, Talents and Identity

• SPX Winter Appeal: Supporting St Vincent de Paul and Jesuit Refugee Services

• KAIROS Retreat

• Sacrament of Confirmation at Holy Spirit, North Ryde

Jesus running to Mum - New Stained Glass

We have been gifted a beautiful stained-glass panel by the Christian Brothers which has special significance in the Month of May. 

The panel features the Icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and is a feature of Christian Brother monasteries world wide. Yesterday as I was cleaning it and gently scrubbed the glass up close, I was drawn to the two most notable features of this icon. Jesus’ dangling sandal and his fingers gripping His mothers hands so tightly. 

“The icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help captures a tender, childlike response to fear in Jesus. This is symbolised by the small detail of His loose, dangling shoe - an element in iconography that traditionally signifies deep fear or sorrow. 

The image portrays Jesus having glimpsed something that deeply disturbs Him, prompting Him to run into the arms of His beloved Mother. Clinging tightly to her fingers with both hands, He glances anxiously over His shoulder. 

When we follow His gaze, we understand the source of His fear. In the corners of the icon, the Archangels Michael and Gabriel appear, bearing the instruments of the Passion. Michael, on the left, holds the spear, the wine-soaked sponge, and the crown of thorns; Gabriel, on the right, carries the cross and the nails.

Though the Child Jesus, in His divine nature, understands that these sufferings are essential to His mission, His human nature recoils from the pain they represent. So great is His distress that even His shoe slips off as He flees to His Mother for comfort.”

As I finished cleaning I was struck by the calm strength and constancy of Mary’s gaze - I was reminded of how safe one can feel when offering whatever troubles us through prayers of intercession through Mary. Jesus ‘running to mum’ is such a beautiful reminder of our fragility and muscle memory to do the same when we were young. In this month of May dedicated to Mary, may we continue to hand over to Mary our Mother all that troubles and worries us.

A beautiful reminder from the Christ child – We can all ‘run to our heavenly mum’.

Thank you to the Maintenance Team for repairing the panel and we look forward to having it blessed and placed in the Chapel next Tuesday during the Chapel Mass.

Hub of Hope Launch: A Celebration of Gifts, Talents and Identity

On Monday afternoon, 35 students from St Pius X College, Mercy Catholic College, and Brigidine College St Ives gathered for the launch of the Hub of Hope - a new inter-school initiative that seeks to unite young people in faith, service, and community.

The afternoon focused on the theme of Gifts, Talents and Identity, with students reflecting on the meaning and value of their names, and the unique qualities they bring to the world. Activities invited participants to name and celebrate their strengths, while exploring how they might use these gifts in service of others.

Inspired by the words of the prophet Isaiah, 'Then your light will break forth like the dawn... your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday' (Isaiah 58:8–10), the group considered how their identity is not only something to be discovered, but something to be shared. The energy and authenticity brought by each student made for a deeply moving and hope-filled afternoon.

We are excited to see the Hub of Hope continue to grow. The next gathering will take place on Monday of Week 6, and students are encouraged to sign up via the Canvas Calendar. All are welcome, and we look forward to seeing even more light shine.

SPX Winter Appeal: Supporting St Vincent de Paul and Jesuit Refugee Services

Week 5 marks the start of our annual SPX Winter Appeal, with the College collecting goods for St Vincent de Paul and Jesuit Refugee Services. In this difficult time, those in need have found themselves pushed further into the fringes of society, with many volunteer organisations not able to cater for those who are less fortunate. Students are encouraged to consider the plight of those around us, and to act by giving to the poor in handfuls.

Driven by the Edmund Rice Society, the appeal will run from Tuesday, 27 May until Wednesday, 18 June (Week 8, Day 3). Student volunteers will be collecting goods during homeroom.

 We are in need of the following items:

   Thank you in anticipation for your generosity.

KAIROS Retreat

This past weekend 4 Year 11 students participated in a student formation retreat led by Waverley College.  The Kairos Retreat as it is called, is a voluntary retreat for Year 11 students. The three-night retreat has become a staple of spiritual formation in many Catholic schools and universities worldwide. It is student led, experiential and based upon story telling. Many past participants of Kairos report it to be among the most significant experiences of their lives. Kairos, adapted from Greek meaning 'God’s Time,' is geared toward deepening one's faith, identity, relationships, and connection to God's place in our lives. This retreat is an opportunity to find meaning in the highs and lows of life, like a journey of the heart, mind, and soul.

Over the course of the retreat participants heard from peers, and were invited to share their own story, as well as enjoy affirmation and companionship among the group. The Pius participants all cited Kairos as a transformative experience and are keen to be the pioneers of voluntary Kairos retreats at St Pius X. We look forward to training these first participants as retreat leaders to bring Kairos to their peers later in the year.

We are grateful to Waverley College for extending an invitation to join them in order to commence our Kairos journey, to our student leader Bertie, a Waverley old boy, as well as staff from Waverley College, Ms Suzanne Walsh and Mr Thomas Kennedy for their leadership.

Mr Daniel Petrie - Assistant Principal, Mission and Identity

Sacrament of Confirmation at Holy Spirit, North Ryde

Bishop Danny Meagher will confir the Sacrament of Confirmation in our parish at Holy Spirit North Ryde on Saturday 13 September 2025.

Parish children from local public or other schools will be prepared in the parish to receive this sacrament.

If your child is in Year 6 or above, has been baptised, received their First Reconciliation and First Communion, then they can complete their Catholic Initiation and be confirmed. 

You can register your child via Trybooking: https://www.trybooking.com/DBMRM 

Or the QR Code   

Registrations open on Monday 9 June and close Friday 4 July 2025.

For further enquiries please contact the Sacramental Coordinator at sacraments@holyspiritnorthryde.org.au 

OR visit the parish website: www.holyspiritnorthryde.org.au