Mission and Identity

• Feasts of All Saints and All Souls

• Student Reflections: Catholic Schools Broken Bay Student Leader Formation Day

• Ecology Symposium, Waverley

• Reminder: 1 Peter 4:10 St Pius X 2025 Christmas Appeal

Feasts of All Saints and All Souls

What some call 'liminal space' or 'in between space' is a very good phrase for those special times, events, and places that open us up to the sacred and holy.

It seems we need special or sacred days to open us up to all days being special and sacred.

What became All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day (November 1–2) were already called 'thin times' by the ancient Celts in Ireland.

The veil between this world and the next world, or this life and the afterlife, was considered most 'thin' and easily traversed during these times. 

On these days, we are invited to be aware of deep time - that is, past, present, and future time gathered into one especially holy moment. A time when our relatives in Heaven feel the closest and nearest to us.

We are reminded that our ancestors are still in us and work with us and through us. We call it the 'Communion of Saints.'

Deep time, or the communion of saints, means that our goodness is not just our own, nor are our mistakes just our own. We carry the lived, the unlived and the unhealed lives of our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents as far back as DNA and genomes can trace them.

The Feast of All Saints and All Souls remind us that we are not just a body, but a living and breathing temple that carries a soul. As a result, choices we make in this life matter.

The soul is the blueprint inside of every living thing that tells it what it is and what it can become. When we meet anything at that level, we will respect it, protect it, and love it. 

The soul is a fragment of God within us and fused with the unique elements that make us who we are as individuals. The soul is a fusion of God and us. This is why we are called Home to Him, because a piece of Heaven lives and breathes within us. Like a boomerang, what is sent out must come back. As St Mary MacKillop wisely stated, we are all but pilgrims here. Our homeland is Heaven.

As we celebrated All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day last weekend, we were reminded that death is not the end. 

During our All Saints and All Souls assembly, we commemorated all the faithful who have passed on from this earth, and we recognised the great hope we have of resurrection. The assembly reminded us that our relationship with God needs nourishing and that Death is not the end, but truly a beginning. God desires for all of us to be in union with Him for all of eternity. It is up to us to say yes to this call or not. 

After a moving personal reflection by Mr Callow, students and staff were invited forward to light a candle in loving memory of loved ones who have gone home to God.

Student Reflections: Catholic Schools Broken Bay Student Leader Formation Day

Last week we shared a brief overview of the humbling experience watching student leaders engage with the Ephpheta centre as part of their formation into servant leadership at Catholic Schools Broken Bay. Students engaged in learning AUSLAN through games as a means of widening their understanding of inclusivity as servant leaders. Fr David Ranson’s homily and presentation on authentic servant leadership spoke to the importance of enabling others to grow, and dying to oneself so that others might live.

Below are some student leader reflections on their takeaways from the day:

Regan: My main takeaway from the CSBB Leadership Day is the importance of acceptance and community. When listening to stories from the Ephpheta Centre and hearing the struggles of those affected by hearing loss, I found myself growing more and more grateful with each word. While I cannot say that I truly understand what it would feel like to lose my hearing, I began to imagine the silence, the isolation, and the frustration that might come with it. Yet, what stood out most was the incredible resilience and positivity that so many people showed despite their challenges. It reminded me that we often take the simplest things – like sound, communication, and connection – for granted. Ultimately, I learned that life is unpredictable; people do not choose their impairments or circumstances, and it’s up to us to respond with empathy, understanding, and acceptance.

Additionally, I found many similarities between the other Year 12 leaders, forming genuine bonds in the short time we spent together. Despite coming from different schools and backgrounds, we quickly discovered shared experiences, values, and hopes for our communities. We spoke about the pressures and responsibilities that come with leadership, but also the excitement of being able to make a difference. It was comforting to realise that, even though our environments might differ, we are all navigating the same journey of growth and responsibility. This sense of unity and shared purpose made the day not only inspiring but also deeply reassuring.

Luke: The Catholic Schools Broken Bay (CSBB) Leadership Day was a powerful and inspiring experience that deepened my understanding of leadership guided by faith. Father David’s talk was a standout as he spoke about this love and passion for his work and how important it is to keep that inner fire burning, even when challenges arise. He reminded us that people will always criticise or doubt us, but if we trust the process and make our decisions with integrity and faith, we can look back with confidence knowing we acted rightly. The message from Ephpheta, a centre that supports people who are deaf and hard of hearing, reminded me of the importance of inclusion and ensuring everyone feels valued and supported. The day also emphasised that setbacks are inevitable, but by staying strong, connected, and guided by the gifts God has given us, we can overcome them. Most importantly, I learned that leadership is about more than guiding from the front, it’s about noticing those who are struggling, reaching out to help them, and staying with them on their journey. Overall, the day encouraged me to lead with humility, compassion, and a heart open to God and others.

James: The Servant Leadership Day was a meaningful and inspiring experience. The day began with a Mass and homily that reminded us that true leadership is about humility, selflessness, and helping others to grow rather than seeking recognition. We then watched a servant leadership video that showed how genuine service can create positive change in others’ lives. One of the most powerful parts of the day was hearing from the Ephpheta Centre, where we learned about the challenges faced by people who are hard of hearing. Their testimony encouraged us to be more inclusive and reminded us of the importance of communication, understanding, and the use of AUSLAN to make everyone feel valued and included.

Ecology Symposium Waverley

On 30 October, 7 students from Year 7 to 10 represented St Pius X at the Waverley College Ecology Symposium. Together with representatives from over 15 schools, they listened to experts and inspirational ecologists and collaborated to develop a plan to be put into place at the school. Having listened to the well-renowned sustainability leader and founder of 'Banish', Lottie Dalziel, the students were enthused with optimism and bright ideas that were shares with all of the schools in attendance. They also listened to an inspirational panel of ecology activists which included TV’s Costa Georgiadis, the Australian Youth representative to the UN and former Young Australians of the Year and chaired by Julia Zamero. Listening to PhD students who are currently making breakthrough discoveries that will have an impact on our futures rounded off a great day.

Reminder: 1 Peter 4:10 St Pius X 2025 Christmas Appeal

'Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace.' 1 PETER 4:10

As Christmas draws near, we are invited to put our faith into hard-working love. 

The 1 Peter 4:10 Christmas Appeal is how our College community shares God’s grace with others - through simple, generous acts that bring hope and dignity to those in need.

Every student is asked to bring one complete hamper or gift to support this appeal. Together, our small efforts create a big impact.

The appeal will take place Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays - Weeks 3 to 7 this term. Students are asked to bring their donations to homeroom where student volunteers will assist in bringing the collections to the collection points in the College foyer.

Below is the Year Group distribution and focus lists for the appeal this year:

Years 5 & 6 — St Vincent de Paul Woy Woy:

Supporting Vinnies Van and Central Coast families who are struggling this Christmas.

Donations Required:

• Vinnies Snack Packs: Non-perishable snack food items (chips,popper juice, tuna etc).
• Christmas treats (biscuits, chocolates, pudding, lollies)
• Toiletries (soap, deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo)
• Please ensure the above is packed in a zip-lock bag

Year 7 - St Mary’s Bowraville:

Donations Required: 

• Toys, clothing, sport equipment

• Items suitable for primary-school aged children:

  • Toys, Clothing

  • Sports Equipment

  • Books

  • Items will be wrapped by our Year 10 Bowraville Immersion Pilgrims and distributed while on immersion

Year 8 and Year 9 - Jesuit Refugee Services (Standing with refugees and people seeking asylum who are rebuilding their lives in Sydney):

Donations Required: 

• Nonperishable food items: Staple food items (rice, lentils, cooking oil, pasta, long-life milk, canned meals)

• All donations go toward the JRS Refugee Pantry

Year 10 - Personalised Present for A Centacare Employee:

• A handwritten Christmas Card

• Hampers with items personalised to the employee’s interests.

• These presents will be presented to the employees personally by Year 10 Greater Sydney Immersion Pilgrims

Year 12 - Family Hamper for St Michael’s Meals, Darlington (Providing food and toiletries to those facing food insecurity this festive season)

• Non-perishable meals (tins, soups, stews, beans, pasta, rice)

• Snack foods (biscuits, crackers, muesli bars, chips)

• Toiletries (toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, shaving cream)

• Reusable grocery or enviro-bags for packing

Mr Daniel Petrie - Assistant Principal, Mission and Identity