Mission & Identity, Social Justice and Youth Ministry
- Mission & Identity
- Social Justice: - Project Compassion
- - Matthew Talbot Hostel and
- - Willowood Aged Care
- Youth Ministry:
- - Lenten Bible Studies
- - 'The Light is on for You'
Mission & Identity
This week has been one of the most liturgically rich weeks of our year. Our Commencement Mass was an opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate our Catholic identity in the context of our 2018 theme, Stewards of Creation. Our new Parish Priest, Father Jim McKeon, celebrated the Mass and reflected on the Gospel reading from 2 Luke, encouraging students to exercise and be healthy, to make wise choices, to show respect and to make God proud through their lives!
This week also begins the season of Lent and our Ash Wednesday liturgies highlighted the need to ‘Repent and open our hearts to Creation’ as we identify those things in our lives that separate us from God. Students in Years 5-10 will begin a focus on Lent in Religious Education classes. Year 12 will lead us in our Project Compassion campaign. The Caritas theme of ‘For a Just Future’ calls all to be active in helping those less fortunate in the world.
This Saturday night we have the P&F Mass. This is a great opportunity to get to know the families and staff of the College and welcome our newest members. Mass begins at 5.30 pm at Our Lady of Dolours Church Chatswood and there will be a light supper afterwards in the College grounds. To help the P&F to organise the catering please RVSP by clicking on this link!
A reminder that our first Mass will be celebrated in the Christian Brothers' Chapel on Tuesday 27th February at 8.00am. All welcome.
Ms D Dempsey - Assistant Principal, Mission & Identity
Social Justice
Project Compassion
Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal, Project Compassion, brings thousands of Australians together in solidarity with the world's poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.Project Compassion starts on Ash Wednesday and will run in Homerooms throughout Term 1.
As this is our one big charity fundraiser for the year I urge all students to get involved and to please give generously. Each homeroom is challenged to raise $505 for Caritas Australia with a lunchtime pizza party being offered for the Homeroom who reaches the target first.
http://www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion
Year 11 students have been attending Matthew Talbot Men’s Hostel on Wednesday afternoons, and students from Years 10 and 11 will be returning to Willowood Aged Care in Week 5.
Mr D Blake – Social Justice Coordinator
Youth Ministry
LENTEN BIBLE STUDIES: The Grace of Forests
Breaking open the Gospel word and contemplating and meditating on the beauty and fragility of our Australian native forests. Inspired by the weekly Gospels of Lent and the Stewards of Creation – Creation is a gift from God, theme; we will hold weekly Bible Discussion on a Monday lunchtime commencing 1pm on Monday the 19th of February in the Christian Brothers Chapel.
The Weekly discussions will run through until Easter and all students and staff are very welcome. Please contact Mr Adrian Brannan for further details: abrannan@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
THE LIGHT IS ON FOR YOU
Churches of the Diocese of Broken Bay will be open on Fridays in Lent, 7pm - 8pm, for quiet time and prayer, with the Sacrament of Reconciliation available.
Fide et Labore
Mr A Brannan - Youth Ministry Coordinator