Catholic Education Week

As part of our Catholic Education Week celebrations, we asked our staff what it means to work at a Catholic School and we asked our students to describe someone who they think epitomises the spirit of the Catholic Church in their everyday works.

Here’s what we found out….

I choose to work in a Catholic school because…..

I have always loved going to Mass. But over the past few years, I have found it hard to regularly attend because of other commitments on weekends. I miss it.

Being a teacher at a Catholic school helps me to still feel continually connected to God. We do get to celebrate actual liturgies sometimes but it’s much more than that. We see physical reminders and symbols of God every day as we walk around our school. We get to welcome our days by talking to Him through prayer and we get to work in an environment where everyone is open to God but still allowed to have their own opinions and feelings about religion. I kind of feel in a way, like I now get to go to Mass every day when I come to work. It’s a great feeling to be able to have.  

Helen Fontana

Staff Member

I think Father Rob Galea is a great representative of the Catholic Church and the great work that the Catholic Church and its schools do to foster the growth and development of its young people.

Father Rob Galea

Father Rob Galea is a singer, songwriter and priest. He was born in Malta on the 14 November 1981, and he has been fundamental in including younger people in the church and adapting its practices with his stronger youth program. 

As a teenager, he left home at the age of 14 and became involved in drugs, nightclubs, stealing and alcohol. He then began learning music at 17 and was introduced to a youth group. After meeting a priest while performing in Italy, he entered the Seminary at 21 and began studying priesthood. He now “[has] been relentless in trying to give hope to other people,” just like how hope was given to him. 

In 2008, he and the late Bishop Joe Grech started a program in the hope that younger people would be able to connect with God in a more modern and personal way. The first event they set up was a weekend retreat that was attended by 8 people, and since then it has grown into large events and youth groups attracting over 350 people every month. His work has impacted thousands of teenagers all over Australia and even internationally. He presents religion and the gospel in a new way that is more relatable to teenagers. The aim of these events and groups is to inspire young people to step up and be the next generation of Christians.

He has also gained popularity with his music career and has used his talent to attract people to the youth rallies and spread his message. He has written a number of Christian songs, such as Love You, Alright, Living Hope, Reckless Love, I Surrender To You, Faith In The Future, Shelter and many more for many events and used them by schools, churches and other youth groups. He has performed for the Pope and half a million pilgrims in Sydney on World Youth Day. He also was a contestant on The X Factor in 2015, where he later left the competition. 

I listened to him speak and sing at a youth rally in primary school and he was really nice, he spoke from the heart and really tried to connect with everyone in the room. His youth rallies and groups have helped young people connect with other people and form meaningful relationships and support, and it has also helped them connect to their faith in a way that they want to.

The Catholic Church's primary mission is to spread the kingdom of God, and he does so with the younger generation. He connects with them on their level and encourages them to participate and pursue their faith in their own life.

Renee Gould

Student