Education In Faith

From the Director of Catholic Identity

True reconciliation and recognition

This week our school celebrated Reconciliation Week. This week is a time where across the nation we stop to pause and reflect on our past actions and commit to change in the future.

Across the year in our events at school we take time to acknowledge the first peoples of the land. In the Hobson’s Bay area we acknowledge the Yalukit Wilum people of the Boon Wurrung country, of the Kulin nation. The acknowledgement is a sign of the College’s commitment to continue to work towards reconciliation and recognition of Indigenous Australians.

During reconciliation week we remember significant events in the struggle for reconciliation. The week begins on the 27 May, the anniversary of the 1962 referendum where discriminatory clauses were removed from the Constitution. The week concludes on the 3 June, the anniversary of the Mabo Decision, a significant move forward for indigenous land rights.  Hopefully sometime in the future, we will celebrate another referendum giving recognition to Indigenous Australians in the Constitution.

Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods supported the local indigenous communities in their early ministries, and throughout the 150 year history of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, they have continued to support remote communities across Australia. As we continue to support the reconciliation movement this term, we also continue to support St. Joseph’s primary school in Kununarra, Western Australia, a school supported by the Josephite sisters.

During our celebrations of Reconciliation week our students have been challenged to make a difference. There are two small things that our students can do to make a difference to this cause. Firstly, I encourage families to sign up to the Recognise campaign calling for the recognition of Indigenous Australians in our Constitution http://www.recognise.org.au/.

We also continue to support another Josephite school in Kununarra, WA, St Joseph’s. In the past the College has supported the school through footy boot drives and stationery drives. This year we held a pancake lunch to raise fund for the schools upcoming trip to Canberra where they seek to send 30 students to the capital to learn more about the history of our country.

I leave you now with the words of Saint Pope John Paul II when he visited Australia in 1986. His address highlighted the value and contribution of the Indigenous community to the Church in Australia and recognises the need for reconciliation in our country. We pray that the spirit moves the government to call for a referendum to recognise indigenous Australians.

Your Christian faith calls you to become the best kind of Aboriginal people you can be. This is possible only if reconciliation and forgiveness are part of your lives. Only then will you find happiness. Only then will you make your best contribution to all your brothers and sisters in this great nation. You are part of Australia and Australia is part of you. And the Church herself in Australia will not be fully the Church that Jesus wants her to be until you have made your contribution to her life and until that contribution has been joyfully received by others.

(Pope John Paul II, 1986)

Danielle Fairthorne

Director of Catholic Identity

Year 10 Retreat

On May 22, Year 10 students from Emmanuel College (St Paul’s Campus) and Mount St. Joseph Girls’ College came together to focus on the topic of Respectful Relationships at Encore Events Centre in Werribee. Students learned respectful relationships are founded on the concepts of dignity, love, acceptance, respect and trust; shown to us in the person of Jesus. We explored themes related to consent, respect, support,  and trusting  one another to ensure relationships we have are healthy and safe.

Throughout the whole day, students were split into small groups to complete small activities such as categorising situations that are unhealthy, healthy and abusive as well as getting to know one another by participating in icebreaker games. The students were fortunate enough to participate in and watch Steve Angrisano perform. Steve is a ministry leader from the US. He also had a  special guest Joshua Angrisano, his son with him. Together they performed their songs and told us stories about experiences they have encountered. The retreat came to an end with a debrief, group photos and everyone said their goodbyes and student were off back to school.

Written by Michelle Locsin, Year 10. 

Bishops Forum Reflection

On Tuesday the 22nd of May, a Bishops Forum was held at MSJ in the MMC. The day was a great experience with many schools all coming together to share an energetic and interesting forum that discussed and grew our faith. There were eight different schools attending with around 20 students from each ranging from Year 9 to Year 12. Everyone had something to add and was eager to engage in the forum. The forum was held to celebrate the Year of Youth and allowed the Bishop time to speak to the young people in the Western region.  

The day started off with a welcome by Steve Angrisano, an American musician, with his music and some pretty cool lyrics, and choreography. He then spoke to us about his work and what he does and how he uses his joy of music to spread his love for Jesus. Oh, and don’t forget the singing competition, that we crushed, against the boys. Then we moved into our discussion groups of seven students from different schools, a leader and a listener. We discussed aspects from what we want to achieve in life to what worries us about our world. Lastly, the day concluded with a question and answer session with the Bishop, where anyone could ask Bishop Mark Edwards questions about the Catholic Church’s views. We sadly ended up running out of time because our discussion became so deep but, overall the day was a great experience and I’m sure everyone took at least one thing away from it.

Written by Libby McIntyre, Year 9.

Interfaith Dialogue Panel

On Thursday the 24th of May, MSJ held its first student interfaith dialogue panel. Interfaith dialogue refers to cooperative, constructive, and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions. It involved a range of students from different faith or non-faith backgrounds including Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, Agnosticism and Atheism. They each had a turn to answer a range of questions, such as how their faith impacts the important decisions they make, what it is like coming to a Catholic school, the similarities between all religions, and how the media portrays people of their religion and whether or not this has an impact on how others view them.

It was a respectful discussion that allowed students to gain an insight into other faiths and to start a dialogue about the importance of overcoming religious differences and forming meaningful friendships with one another. One of the major Catholic beliefs is to recognise the dignity within each and every human person and this panel allowed that to come to light.

Written by Madeline Bateman, Ministry Captain 2018.

Catholic Education Today

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