Mission & Identity, Social Justice and Youth Ministry

• Mission & Identity
• Social Justice in Action
• Youth Ministry

Mission & Identity

The holidays are but a memory but I hope you and your sons have managed to get some quality time together over the break.

We have jumped straight into another busy term with the Commemoration Liturgy for Anzac Day which was held at our Assembly on Monday. As always, our men were respectful as they stood to attention whilst the Last Post and Reveille were played by trumpeter Lachlan Chue. As is our tradition, two Year 5 students represented the College community and brought the wreath forward to our sacred space. This year we highlighted the first two of our old boys who were killed in battle, Jacob De Sisto (SPX 1937-1941, killed Bougainville 1944) and Anthony Gillespie (SPX 1937-1940, killed Germany 1945). Both of these young Pius men were keen to sign up to defend their country and gave the ultimate gift of their lives so that we may enjoy the rewards of peace. Not much older than our present Year 12 students, their names appear on the Remembrance Board in our College Foyer together with the many other Pius men who have served our country.

Edmund Rice Feast Day is on 5th May and we will celebrate the legacy that has been bestowed to us by Blessed Edmund Rice through the Christian Brothers. We continue to pray and give thanks for the wonderful work that the brothers do in educational and other ministries throughout Oceania.

Next Friday we have two very special events. At 7.30 am we have the Senior Mothers' Day Breakfast and Liturgy in the College Gym and at 10.30 am we will celebrate the Junior Mothers' Day Mass at Our Lady of Dolours Church. These are wonderful opportunities to recognise not only the important roles of mothers but also the deep and loving relationships between our men and their mothers.

Next week Our Lady of Dolours Parish are privileged to host the Broken Bay Pilgrimage Cross in this Year of Youth. There are many events organised for next week so I encourage you and your sons to participate. I would particularly highlight the event on  Wednesday 9th May from 7:30-9:30pm when acclaimed author Robert Falzon will address the crucially important roles of fathers in our society in his seminar ‘The Father Factor’. This seminar is open to all mothers, fathers, uncles, grandparents, anyone who may be interested. Please see the itinerary of these events in the Youth Ministry section below.

Ms D Dempsey - Assistant Principal Mission & Identity

Social Justice in Action

Support staff as well as teaching staff and their children took up the Matthew Talbot mantle over the holidays to continue with the St Pius X College ongoing commitment we have with St Vincent de Paul Society and the homeless men of Sydney. Now that Term 2 has begun it  is once again up to the students to carry on this great social justice initiative.

Throughout Term 1 Year 10 students have been accompanying Mr Listo with the weekly visits to Willowood Aged Care Facility. Reports from both Mr Listo and Willowood were that this group of students were so engaged, responsive and respectful when talking to residents that the popularity of our boys' visits has increased dramatically.

This term we will be offering a new CIP opportunity on Thursday afternoons for students at the Salvation Army store in Spring Street Chatswood. Each Thursday from 3.30-4.30pm two students will assist with a variety of tasks within the store such as sorting donations and displaying goods on shelves.  All three CIP opportunities above will be offered to Years 10 and 11.

The Edmund Rice Society will meet for the first time this term next Wednesday 9th May at 1pm in LC3. The society have been discussing ways we can help our neighbours, especially in The Philippines. I look forward to hearing reports on their progress.

The Junior School society members are busy getting ready to run their annual Fair Trade Chocolate Stallon Friday lunchtimes to raise money for our Papua New Guinea neighbours at Callan Services. 

Mr D Blake - Social Justice Coordinator

Youth Ministry

'YEAR OF YOUTH' PAGE

“Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

During the coming week, from the 5th until the 11th of May, Chatswood Parish will be hosting the Broken Bay Pilgrimage Cross, making its way around the parishes of the Diocese marking in a significant way the 2018 Year of Youth in the Australian Catholic Church. It is now a decade years since Sydney hosted the community of young Catholics in an amazing event at WYD 2008, and we now celebrate the fact that the church belongs to our young people, Pope Francis and Archbishop Fisher remind us that the youth are not the church of the future, they are our now! YOU are our NOW! Christ calls you to live with faith and joy!

Pope Francis challenges us as young believers to “blaze trails that open up new horizons capable of spreading joy, the joy that is born of God’s love and wells up in your hearts with every act of Mercy. To take the path of the ‘Craziness’ of our God.”

'YEAR OF YOUTH' PRAYER

EVENTS

• Celebration and acknowledgment will occur at all our Masses; from Saturday 5th May 5:30pm Vigil Mass, and on Sunday 6th May 7:30am, 9.00am, 10:30am. The Year of Youth Prayer will be prayed at each of the Masses.
• Special celebrations and processions of the Cross will be held at the Filipino Community Chatswood Parish Mass at noon on Sunday 6th May and at the 5:30pm Youth Mass that evening.
• On Tuesday 8th May at 8.00am the Cross will be present for the Chapel Mass at Mercy College.
• On Tuesday 8th May from 7.00 - 9.00pm we will hold a seminar and conversation for those who are 16 years and older on Healthy Relationships called ‘Becoming the One’ in the Bishop Barry Room. This is a conversation that will help you recognise your true worth and know therefore how to look for authentic relationships. Please come along.  For more information please contact abrannan@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
• On Wednesday 9th May the Cross will be presented at a Mercy College full school assembly at 10.00am in Harrington Hall.
• On Wednesday 9th May from 7:30 - 9:30pm the Pilgrimage Cross will be present as acclaimed author Robert Falzon addresses the crucially important roles of fathers in our society, providing a practical guide on being an intentional father with his seminar ‘The Father Factor’. This seminar is open to all - mothers, fathers, uncles, grandparents, anyone who may be interested - as we all should be in this matter of such importance to our youth.  Please go to the Student & Parent Matters page for further details and the related flyer.
• The Cross will visit us again in our Chatswood community in the week of 23rd to 30th June. A Praise and Worship night on Friday 29th June will be open to all youth in our community and the Diocese, incorporating a fun and creative celebration of our faith through music and joy. On Saturday 30th June we will hold fun activities and a Pilgrimage Walk as we walk the Cross to the Lower North Shore Parish of St Thomas’ in Willoughby.
• This week marks an ongoing invitation for our youth from this parish and ultimately from Our Lord Jesus to live our lives in faith and hope and celebrate and share with one another as we find the JOY in our lives.

Mr A Brannan - Youth Ministry Coordinator