Catholic Identity 

The election of a new Pope, along with the rituals and ceremonies that accompany such an event, can sometimes feel distant from our day-to-day lives here in Gippsland. However, at Catholic College Sale, we strive to look beyond ourselves and recognise that we are educating citizens of the world for the future. As such, global events are an integral part of our learning and celebration.

This term, we have mourned the passing of Pope Francis I. Our classes explored his heritage, following in the footsteps of St Francis of Assisi, focusing on his commitment to caring for the poor, yearning for peace, and protecting our environment as a way to honour all of creation.

Our new Pope, who has taken the name Leo XIV, draws upon this tradition of social justice for our modern world. The Church’s previous Pope Leo lived during the Industrial Revolution and firmly embedded Gospel values into the context of his time. Similarly, Leo XIV challenges us today to consider how we might live out Gospel values in an age where Artificial Intelligence threatens to replace much of the work we currently do. He calls attention to political systems that encourage us to lose our sense of care for one another and invites us to follow Jesus’ example by caring for others, reaching out to the poor, and standing against societal attitudes that dismiss the dignity of the human person.

Recently, a number of our staff had the privilege of hearing journalist and theologian Stan Grant speak about society’s loss of a sense of “magic” in the world. He encouraged us to bring a sense of wonder and hope to our students and to celebrate the success of every person we teach.

As we approach Catholic Education Week, we pray that the message of Jesus continues to live in our lives and that together we foster a genuine sense of belonging within our school community.

Jeff Hobbs 

Director of Religious Education