Mission and Identity
Youth Ministry
- Commencement of Lent
- Alpha Youth Series for Students in Years 9 and 10
- Mercy College & St Pius X College Youth Mass
Commencement of Lent
The season of Lent in the Catholic Church is really a time of penance and preparation for adherents, to ensure that every effort is made to renew for the true celebration that is Christ’s victory over death – Easter. Our Lenten period of renewal can take place in a number of ways, Catholics can either “give up” that which prevents us enriching our relationship with God or we may “take up” further actions in our lives that will help repair our relationship with God. It is this message that students will hear at the Ash Wednesday liturgies that will take place in Periods 5 and 6 on Wednesday 6 March.
To mark this time in our liturgical calendar, here at St Pius we will mark Shrove Tuesday 5 March, by selling pancakes before school. The community is encouraged to support our fund raising for Caritas during Lent by purchasing pancakes which will be prepared by: Year 12 students, our Year 11 Eucharistic Ministers and students in the Edmund Rice Society. Pancakes can be purchased from 7.45am, with prices starting at $1 for one and $3 for two. All students are encouraged to arrive early so as not to miss out.
Following Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, our school will commence our Lenten Collection for Caritas each morning in homeroom. Students are encouraged to think about something we could do without, a chocolate or drink purchased on the way home from school. The money that would have been used for this could be donated to improve the living conditions of others both in Australia and around the world. With everyone playing their part, St Pius can make a sizeable contribution to the Caritas Lenten Appeal. In 2019 Caritas is asking for Australian Catholics to “Give Lent 100%.” As members of a unified St. Pius community, our efforts can make a difference in the lives of others.
Mr Nathan Mulheron - Assistant Principal Mission & Identity
Alpha for Youth Series on Wednesday Afternoons
Throughout Term 2 our St Pius X College students in Year 9 and 10 will be given the opportunity to attend an ‘Alpha for Youth’ series on a Wednesday afternoon throughout the term from 3:30pm until 5pm each week in the Parish meeting room area on Kirk Street. The series will begin on Wednesday 1 May and will conclude on 26 June. It will be run through our Chatswood Parish and in partnership with Mercy College, with the Mercy College students in Years 9 and 10 also invited to attend.
Alpha is a fun and social opportunity for students of this age to engage with their faith, to ask questions and to share ideas and experiences with their peers. When we last ran the program in 2017 it was an extremely positive and engaging experience for students from both Colleges.
Each session will begin with an afternoon tea and a chance for our students to mingle and come to know each other in fellowship and community. During each session students will watch short inspirational and educational videos on faith (which can be sampled here; http://alpha.org/alpha-youth-series/) and will be given a chance to discuss these videos with their peers, raising questions and seeking a deeper understanding of the Catholic Faith through relationship amongst themselves.
If you would like more information please consider the information and permission forms below. Please don’t hesitate to contact Mr Adrian Brannan via phone or email as below if you have any queries.
Alpha Letter to Parents and Carers
Alpha Medical Information and Permission Form
Alpha Youth Series Poster
Mr Adrian Brannan - Youth Ministry Coordinator
Phone: 0414 826 326 or email: abrannan@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Mercy College & St Pius X College Youth Mass
As Father Jim mentioned at our Opening College Mass, students from St Pius X College and Mercy College have been invited by Fr Jim to attend the Youth Mass this Sunday Evening at OLD Church. The details are:
- Date: Sunday 24 March
- Mass: Youth Mass
- Time: 5:30pm
- BBQ and Social Activities: 6:30 – 8:00pm
If you would like to be involved in the ministries for the Mass such as reader, music, offertory procession, Eucharistic Minister etc. you will need to arrive between 4:30pm and 5pm. Further details can be found in the flyer below. Please email Mr Adrian Brannan if you will be attending or have any questions.
Mr Adrian Brannan - Youth Ministry Coordinator