Mission & Identity, Youth Ministry and Social Justice

• Mission & Identity  
• Youth Ministry  
• Social Justice  

Mission & Identity

We are about to begin what is the biggest week of the Catholic Calendar, Holy Week. In churches across the world Christians remember the journey of Jesus in achieving salvation for all people. This week defines who we are as Catholics and is also the basis of the liturgical life of the College. Starting on Sunday 9th April we remember how Jesus was hailed a king as He entered Jerusalem and was then tried and crucified only a few days later by the very same people. Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday as it traditionally called, celebrates the Passover Meal or Last Supper which re-enacts the traditional washing of the feet by Jesus.

This week these events will be remembered as the Year 9 students present the Stations of the Cross to our Community. Special thanks to all staff and students involved in the Liturgy, particularly Ms Sarah Fernando, Ms Tracey Bates and Ms Felicity Whelan who have prepared the students.

We have travelled almost 40 Lenten days to prepare ourselves for these most significant events including Easter Sunday on 16th April. I would like to thank Mr David Blake and Homeroom Teachers for their efforts in organising Year 12 and Year 11 students to collect Project Compassion donations during this time. I also thank students and their families for their generous donations which to date total almost $12,000.

As we look ahead I pray that the Easter Triduum that awaits us will strengthen our faith and be hope-filled for you and your family.

God Bless.

                                                                                                      Ms D Dempsey - Assistant Principal Mission & Identity

YOUTH FESTIVAL

St Pius X College has been invited by Bishop Peter Comensoli to attend the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) in Homebush  from 7th - 9th December 2017. This is an event for students in Years 9-12 and is a national gathering of Catholic young people which allows them to attend workshops and activities and discern their own faith journeys.

If you are interested please return the permission form in the attachment below to Mr Adrian Brannan. 

Mr A Brannan - Youth Ministry Coordinator

Social Justice

This is the last week of Project Compassion and the final total will be counted on Thursday. SPX families should be proud that to date they have raised over $11,500 for Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. This tremendously generous group effort will go toward assisting our neighbours in Timor Lestre, Vietnam, The Philippines and Fiji. On behalf of our neighbours in these countries I thank you all for your support.

The Edmund Rice Society have concluded the term strongly and a photo of their last meeting is the masthead for this page of Woodchatta. In the meeting they discussed the topic of poverty, especially in Timor Lestre.

Following that discussion Oliver Tysoe gave a presentation on the 45 children still in detention by the Australian Federal Government and what we as a society and a school can do to help these children. This topic has been tabled as top priority for Term 2 so wait and watch to see what action we can take to assist these children who suffer from lack of health services, cramped living conditions and mental health issues.

The Society continues to make skateboard decks for The Haven Terrigal and indigenous jigsaw puzzles for St Mary’s Bowraville and St Joseph’s Walgett. The Society are very proud to announce that with their efforts and your support their Project Compassion Friday morning barbeques raised just over $1,000 for Caritas Australia.

Have a safe break, enjoy family activities and I look forward to seeing you all next term.

Mr D Blake - Social Justice Coordinator