Faith and Mission

This Saturday, 24 of our Year 11 students will depart on the John XXIII College Pilgrimage to Far North Queensland, accompanied by staff members Tim Chaney and Rebecca Marquardt.

In partnership with Red Earth, our pilgrims will spend time in remote First Nations communities, where they will be welcomed by Traditional Owners and invited to learn from their deep connection to Country, culture and community.

Pilgrimage holds a special place in the Catholic tradition. It is more than a journey to a place. It is a journey of the heart, inviting reflection, encounter and transformation. Pilgrims step away from the familiar and open themselves to God’s presence in new experiences, people and places.

This spirit is deeply connected to our Ignatian heritage. St Ignatius of Loyola understood himself as a pilgrim, setting out with trust, seeking God in all things and allowing each experience to shape his response. Mary Ward also lived as a pilgrim, courageously travelling into the unknown with faith and a deep commitment to God’s mission.

In this same spirit, our students are invited to walk as pilgrims, to listen deeply, reflect honestly and grow in their understanding of justice and reconciliation.

In preparation, students have engaged in formation experiences to help them approach the journey with openness and respect. While away, they will take time each day for reflection, noticing where God is present in their encounters and considering how they are called to respond.

We ask our College community to keep our pilgrims in your prayers,  that they may travel safely, listen with open hearts and return enriched by the people they meet and the stories they hear.

We thank Mr Chaney and Ms Marquardt for their generous commitment to accompanying our students on this journey.

Janeen Murphy

Deputy Principal Faith and Mission

Community Mass

All are welcome next Friday, 3 July, to the last Community Liturgy for Semester One.  It will be prepared by Year 8 students, and we look forward to seeing them and their families.

Thank you to Year 12 students and families who gathered in great numbers for Community Mass this morning – and to the students who prepared this liturgy. 

If you have any questions, contact Mary-Anne Lumley.

Community Mass details 

• College Chapel
• All welcome!
• Fridays in term time
• Starts at 8:00am; concludes at 8:30am.

Sacraments

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
• The Archdiocesan website: Parishes & Mass Times

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

  08 9383 0513