Religious Dimension

Welcome to Week 3 - Term 4

Dear Families,

Our trial of the new RE Curriculum continues across all classes from Foundation to Year 6, with students engaging in learning that deepens their understanding of our Catholic faith and how it guides the way we live today.

This term, our units are helping to prepare students for our Christmas Market on Tuesday, 6 December at 2pm, which will have a strong focus on sustainability,social justice, caring for others and being stewards of God’s creation. As we learn to care for one another, we are also reminded of our responsibility to care for the world that sustains us and enables all of creation to flourish.

Across all year levels, students are exploring the meaning of Catholic Social Teachings and how its principles can be put into practice through our everyday choices and actions. Through these learning experiences, we hope to strengthen students’ understanding of why we are called to continue God’s work in the world and how our faith can make a meaningful and relevant difference in the lives of others today.

Our current RE units are:

• Foundation/Prep: All Are Invited to God’s Family and Church

• Years 1/2: Jesus Grows in Wisdom

• Years 3/4: The Sacrament of Reconciliation and God Is Revealed to Us

• Years 5/6: A Believing People

The Seven Core Themes of Catholic Social Teaching

1. Life and Dignity of the Human Person: The foundational principle; every person is made in the image of God and possesses inherent sacredness from conception to natural death.

2. Call to Family, Community and Participation: Humans are social by nature, and society must support and strengthen marriage and the family while allowing all people to participate in the civic and economic life of the community.

3. Rights and Responsibilities: Every person has a fundamental right to life and the conditions required for decency (food, health care, education, work), paired with a duty to respect the rights of others and the common good.

4. Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable: A moral requirement to put the needs of the poor, marginalized, and defenseless first when making social, political, and economic decisions.

5. The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers: The economy must serve people rather than profit; workers have the right to productive work, fair and living wages, private property, and safe conditions. 

6. Solidarity: The realization that we are one global human family; we are bound together regardless of national, racial, economic, or ideological differences.

7. Care for God's Creation (Stewardship): A requirement to protect the planet and practice integral ecology as a sacred trust handed down to us.

Melinda Buscema 

(Deputy/REL/Teaching and Learning)

mbuscema@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au

Live Your Best Life in Love...A Marriage Encounter weekend is for you…

Take some time-out to nurture your most precious relationship away from life's busyness and distractions.  

As a couple the two of you will come away from your weekend feeling more deeply connected and with tools to help keep your renewed intimacy alive.

No group sharing is required.

The weekend is based around Catholic values. Couples of all faiths are very welcome.

Our next weekend is coming up...

Please check our website for more details and to book your special weekend:

November 6 - 8th 2026

St Paul's Retreat Centre, Wantirna South.

Starts Friday evening at 7pm and finishes Sunday afternoon around 4:30pm

Information/Bookings: Phone Mercy & James 0409 183 676 or

Email: vicbookings@wwme.org.au    Website: wwme.org.au