Cambodia Pilgrimage

On the 21 September, 13 students travelled to Cambodia to embark on a life changing experience. Arriving in Siem Reap we received a warm welcome from Sister Denise. We travelled to the Thai border, constructing a home for a family affected by landmines placed during the Civil War. The group then journeyed to Father Rajat’s in Battambang, working hard in fields where we planted mango trees. We were extremely grateful to develop meaningful relationships with the local children and elders; experiencing their welcoming nature and kindness.

As part of Cambodia’s yearly Buddhist festival to commemorate their ancestors, the pilgrimage group attended a community mass and gave offerings to monks. After an 11-hour journey, we arrived in the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. Here, our understanding of the destructive reign of the Khmer Rouge was deepened through our visit to one of many war prisons in Cambodia, Toul Sleng which was then followed by a sombre walk through The Killing Fields. We were confronted with the significant lasting impact of the mass genocide on the Cambodian people. This experience has reminded us of the importance of justice, compassion, human dignity and forgiveness; and we hope to carry the stories of the people and continue our acts of justice throughout our lives.

India Pilgrimage

On the 21 September, 13 students and three teachers kissed their families goodbye to embark on a wonderful journey. From the first steps out of the airport it wasn't long until we walked into oppressive heat and stifling conditions. we were inundated with the sights, sounds and smells of exotic India. The first word we heard was ‘welcome ‘ and we most certainly felt it throughout the whole journey. At every destination, we were drowned in flowers and immersed in the strong differences in culture that varies between each community and tribal area.

Throughout our trip there were many key moments that will stay with us for our lives. Some of the most memorable would include visiting the children at the Mary Ward Society Activity Centres, CINI India (Child in Need Institute) and teaching the students at St Joseph's and St Teresa's High Schools about Australian animals. Facial expressions and hand gestures were our bridge over the language barrier and through reflection we found that Saint Ignatius Loyola's words rang true when he said “Love ought to show itself in deeds more than in words”.

Northern Territory Pilgrimage

Our pilgrimage started in Darwin where we were welcomed into the St Marten De Porres community for Sunday mass. All our nerves about the journey were put to rest as soon as the first song came on. We all experienced the strong sense of community and faith.

Next we travelled to Beswick, where we were immersed in the culture of the Jawyon people. The members immediately accepted us by giving us each traditional skin names which established our place in the community. The elders taught us about their culture, including teaching the girls how to strip and weave pandanus and the boys to craft a didgeridoo. A member of the community, Darryl, educated us on the Indigenous spirituality and importance of land by showing us artwork and taking us to a sacred site, the Beswick falls. The community put on a traditional ceremony with dancing and body paint and included us by teaching us what they were performing. We formed strong relationships with the children as well. They were excited to spend time with us and were enthusiastic in telling us about their culture. It was very sad for us all to leave Beswick and the people we encountered.

Our last stop was Kakadu where we learnt about the connection to the land and marvelled at the ancient rock art. We reflected about all we learnt while watching the sunset on the rock, over-looking Arnhem Land.

Overall, it was a unique and exciting opportunity for us all to learn about our First people’s and their culture and spirituality.

Timor-Leste Pilgrimage

The pilgrimage experience was one that influenced and moved each of us uniquely. It is something that we will always remember and will be immensely grateful for. At first we were apprehensive about stepping out of our comfort zones, but this allowed us to learn and experience things that expanded our view of the world and developed our understanding of such a rich culture.

Our journey began when we were thrown into the bustling capital of Dili. The people welcomed us with broad grins and open arms despite being complete strangers. We departed Dili on a four-hour drive to Baucau, the second largest city in Timor-Leste. We stayed there for just over a week, immersing ourselves in the profound culture. This included experiences like visiting local schools, teaching primary classes and practicing conversational English. It was great to see the joy of everybody and their eagerness to learn.

One of the great inspirations we had were the Loreto Sisters; Sister Margi, Sister Selvie and Sister Itien. It was encouraging to see the work that the sisters do outside of Australia. Pilgrimage gave the whole group a new perspective on life and shaped our mission of being men and women for others.

2019 Media Night

The John XXIII College 2019 Media Night took place last night and was a great success, with the GBLT very close to full and an amazing atmosphere in the room. The reception to our students’ work was extremely positive, and congratulations again to all of the award winners. The night ran smoothly thanks to all involved with setup, A/V, catering, etc. Many thanks to staff, students, families and friends involved for supporting Media at the College in 2019 – very much looking forward to what we have in store next year!

Rob Di Giallonardo

Media Teacher

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