Religious Education

Normally, at this time of year we would have celebrated our annual Mission Action Day. Given the current restrictions, this special day unfortunately could not proceed. 

However, we were able to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption and also the special feast day of one of our iconic Lasallians, St Benilde, with a special Homeroom liturgy. 

During this prayerful occasion it was fitting that we took some time to reflect that it was Mary who said yes to God without fear and with tremendous courage. To quote Pope Francis, “Mary gave of herself to others”.

   The Story of St Benilde

Brother Benilde was born on 14th June, 1805 in Thuret, a small agricultural town in south east France. 

He started school later than most, but soon caught up with those younger than him, and helped to tutor them.  It was when he was 13, that he first saw some De La Salle Brothers in a nearby town.  The following year his parents decided to send him to a De La Salle Brothers’ school about ten miles away.

It was the practice at the time for those interested in becoming a De La Salle Brother to work as a teaching assistant in the classrooms of the Brothers’ schools.  While his father had reservations, both parents gave their consent to their son to join the Brothers, but the Brothers initially turned him down, wondering how effective he might be in class because he looked very young for his age. He was stooped over due to curvature of the spine, and being so small.  (He was still less than five feet tall at the time of his death).

Brother Benilde taught for the following twenty years in several different schools, and it became clear that he was a “natural teacher”. As time progressed, he became head teacher of several schools.

 In 1841 he was asked to open a new school in Saugues, and he would remain there until his death, twenty years later.  In Brother Benilde’s first years at Saugues he taught full-time, but poor health forced him to give up trying both to teach and run the school at the same time. This freed him to supervise the classes, give in-service training to the newer teachers, and stand in for any teacher who was ill. 

Rheumatism and arthritis eventually paralysed his left shoulder and then on 13th August 1862, he died, of cancer of the liver.

He was beatified on 4th April, 1948 and declared a saint on 29th October, 1967.

His feast is celebrated every year on 13th August.

It is these experiences of Mary and St Benilde, that provide wonderful examples for our students to “give of themselves for others”.

Martin Callanan

Religious Education Leader

A special message from our Archbishop

Archbishop Peter A Comensoli has recorded a special message of encouragement and support for students and families in Catholic schools. The Archbishop speaks about the challenges of supporting learning while balancing family life and work life during current restrictions.