Religious Education News

Our school motto, The fruit of the Spirit is Love was chosen to replace the mottos of the founding schools of O’Connor - De La Salle College (Esto Vir - Be a Man) and St Ursula's (Serviam - I will serve). Both De La Salle and St Ursula’s taught their students that giving, not taking, is a key aspect of our Christian faith, and this was represented through their mottos. Both schools taught that by being the best versions of themselves, their students would grow into caring and compassionate members of society. 

Here at O’Connor, we encourage students to show love for themselves and each other at all times. Jesus taught that we should love others just as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39). In his letter to the Galatians (in central Turkey), St Paul wrote that the fruit of the Spirit is Love - from this we take our motto. 

Love takes on many forms - it is shown through respect, reverence, care, compassion, kindness, acceptance, a desire to serve others, and so on. We encourage our students to show love for their fellow classmates through being people who respect the rights of others to learn in a calm, settled classroom environment. We encourage them to show love for the school through the way they treat all members of the school community as well as the school grounds. 

I spoke at length to our year 11 students on their recent retreat at Coffs Coast Adventure Centre about our motto, and how they can take it with them as they begin their final year of formal schooling here at O’Connor, and today after year 10’s class mass I had a similar conversation with the students who were there. Our mass today was a wonderful example of students taking our motto to heart, showing tremendous reverence during the Mass celebrated by Father Clarence, one of our visiting Filipino priests. 

The next week will provide students with many opportunities to live out our motto. Our Vinnies Winter Appeal sleepout is this Friday, with almost 40 students indicating that they’ll be in attendance. A HUGE thank you to the students and the staff who have put their hands up to participate in this annual event!

Next Thursday our Year 8 students will gather at the Armidale Jockey club for their annual retreat, with our Year 9 retreat on the following day. Both retreats will focus on helping students understand our motto, and what it means for them in real life. 

Thank you for your support for our College’s faith formation program. I encourage all parents to ask your children what they’re learning about in Religious Education this term, and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s RE teacher or myself. 

Mr Andrew May

Religious Education Coordinator

Our Founders - St Angela Merici and St John Baptiste De La Salle

Saints Mary and Joseph Cathedral Parish

Keeping in touch with what is happening in the Cathedral Parish is easy through their website and Facebook pages.

With such a difficult year and a half it has been harder for parishioner's to give to the parish through the plates, particularly when the church is closed as it is at present. The Parish account details are available on the Parish bulletin. 

Cathedral Parish Website

Information about our founders

La Salle Website

Ursuline Sisters Website