Faith and Mission

Student Seminar

Every year presents new challenges within global, and local, contexts. In response to emerging and ongoing issues of injustice, Kildare Ministries’ schools strive towards shaping young people to make a positive and lasting impact in our world. The annual Educating for Justice student seminar - held at the Edmund Rice Centre, Amberley - grants our student justice teams a chance to become more aware of wider approaches, and ideas, regarding how to promote and implement awareness raising and educative activities within our various school communities. 

It was an honour to hear from Sr Brigid Arthur csb, as she explained some of the issues facing those seeking asylum within Victoria; students were then encouraged to think about how these issues could be applied within a social justice framework, developed by Kildare Ministries. This new framework was used as a key model for teams to refer to as students were challenged to plan social justice activities that not only provide opportunities for people to be charitable, but also how to integrate a stronger focus on justice. With this in mind, a major theme for the seminar centred around the ideas of being open to listen to others, as well as being courageous enough to speak and act.

Having enjoyed a full day of input, the Marian justice teams underwent some productive planning time for the rest of the year, including: the development of a revised cultural diversity week, initial plans and ideas regarding the student seminar - to be held at Marian, on May 21, and preliminary organisation for refugee week in term three; a busy year awaits, and we are all looking forward to it!

Matthew Baker

Education in Faith Leader