Social Justice

• Mission & Identity
• Social Justice
• -   The Edmund Rice Society; Christmas Giving Tree; Matthew Talbot Hostel
• -   Christmas Giving Tree - St Joseph's Walgett​
• -   Frenchs Forest Catholic Parish Christmas Hamper Appeal 2017

Mission & Identity

The 2018 theme is ‘Stewards of Creation’. This theme is aligned to the wonderful encyclical by Pope Francis released in 2013. This document which now forms part of the Church’s Catholic Social Teachings is addressed to all people and integrates scientific viewpoints about the environment with Catholic beliefs and teachings. Its essence is based on Creation being a gift from God and as the Book of Genesis instructs us, we are all called to care for creation. It also views creation as being linked to our relationships and the earth as well as issues of Justice and Peace. The theme will be introduced to students at our assembly next Monday and officially launched at our commencement Mass on Tuesday 13th February.

Homerooms are taking up the challenge of designing Creation Projects and discussing ways they can change their behaviours to live a more sustainable life that brings about what Pope Francis calls an ‘ecological conversion’.

The end of last year seems a long time ago but I would like to report that Mrs Deb Cummins (Year 6 Red) kindly delivered the wonderful gifts our families donated to the Walgett community. (See the article below.) Thanks you to Mrs Cummins and her husband for travelling such a long way and making such a personal delivery for us.

Lent is almost upon us and starts with Ash Wednesday on 14th February which is a day of fasting and no meat is allowed. Our College community will commemorate this important liturgical season with a liturgy: Years 5-8 (1.40-2.15) and Years 9-12 (2.30-3.05). All are welcome.

Our first Mass in the Christian Brothers Chapel will be Tuesday 27th February at 8.00am.

May this year be one that strengthens our faith and truly recognises the important role we have been given to care, protect and nurture creation.

Ms D Dempsey - Assistant Principal Mission & Identity

Social Justice

As the 2018 school year begins we welcome all our students and  our new St Pius X College families. There will be plenty of social justice activities this year for students to be part of, starting with the Edmund Rice Society, our school's voluntary social justice group. This year the Edmund Rice Society will be meeting at lunchtime on Day 2 and Day 8 from 1.00pm in LC2. All students are welcome and encouraged to come to a meeting and find out more about social justice at the College.

A huge thank you to Ms Cummins for taking some of the Christmas presents from the Christmas Giving Tree to St Joseph’s Primary School Walgett.

Also a big thank you to all of the teaching and support staff of the College who continued to feed the homeless at Matthew Talbot Hostel every Wednesday evening over the Christmas holiday period.  Your efforts in keeping our obligation going at Matthew Talbot over this and every holiday break is truly inspiring and indicative of the devotion shown by all staff within our great community.

Mr D Blake  -  Social Justice Coordinator

Christmas Giving Tree - St Joseph's Walgett

During the first week of the holidays I had the privilege of collecting all the Christmas Giving Tree gifts that had been kindly donated by St Pius X families. After filling my car with 6 huge bags of wrapped presents, I then travelled to Walgett, a 6 hour drive north west of Sydney. Arriving early in the morning at St Joseph's Primary, I was warmly welcomed by the Principal and staff and some of the pupils who happily assisted with taking the bags of presents into the school. The gifts were then distributed to some very excited boys and girls. I just wish those who had contributed to this appeal could have seen the looks on the faces of the students as they eagerly opened their special gift. Well done and thanks to all in our St Pius community!

Mrs Claus (aka Mrs D Cummins)

Frenchs Forest Catholic Parish Christmas Hamper Appeal 2017

It seems like a year has passed, but only 6 weeks ago on 10th December the Christmas Charity Hampers collected by Year 9 2017 from, and on behalf of, our school community were blessed by Fr Jose Philip and Deacon Peter at St Anthony in the Fields Church Terrey Hills, for delivery to those groups in need over Christmas.

We were well represented at the Mass by Sam Barrell (Year 10 2018) and William Thomson (Year 9 2018), pictured left with Fr Jose and Deacon Peter after Mass. Sam worked with Tim St John and Tristan Farnworth in transporting the Hampers to Terrey Hills earlier in the week, while Hamish Alexander and James Miller (Year 11 2018) assisted our Parish Youth Liaison Officer, Mr Adrian Brannan, in delivering the Hampers on Tuesday 12th December.

This was a great example of a team effort by members of the local Parishes, our College and students in support of this worthy initiative of social justice in action. The young men involved deserve our highest admiration for giving up their holiday time to reach out to connect with, support and sustain others in need.

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Head of Student Services