Mission and Identity
- Year 10 Reflection Day
- Chapel Mass
- Youth Mass
- SPX Winter Appeal
Year 10 Reflection Day
Last Friday Year 10 were given the opportunity to go to Oxford Falls, leaving their studies for the day, to consider the relationships in their lives. In particular, the boys were challenged to consider their relationships with themselves, their family and friends and with God.
Mr Di Sano commenced our day, putting it into context as to where time for reflection fits into our faith life. He also connected the day to the first Reflection Day held earlier in the year. Perhaps the most pertinent point was about authentic relationships as opposed to relationships that many think they have through social media.
Our guest for the day was Mr Brett Hunt, a singer, songwriter and extraordinary story teller. Brett composed a performance titled 'Dust Off'. This piece tells the story of his father, a Vietnam veteran, who was wounded on active service. The performance draws together the relationships between Brett’s father, Francis, and his fiancé (later wife), along with his relationships with his fellow soldiers, but more poignant is the relationship between Brett and his father as both try to better understand each other following the war. Of note is that Brett’s father was the subject of the Red Gum classic “I Was Only Nineteen”, his father being Frankie who kicked a mine the day that mankind kicked the moon. The young men of Pius were provided with the intimate details of how relationships can be challenged by external forces, but that through hard work and effort quality relationships can still flourish.
Our day concluded with time for the students to journal on their own lives at the moment, considering the relationships that they have in their lives at present. In particular, the students were asked to note their own personal “takeaways” from the day so that in time to come their can recall the details that were valuable to them.
A special thank you to Mr Kovacic for organising this opportunity, along with Mr Di Sano’s input and the staff who provided supervision on the day. We look forward to all that Reflection Day #3 has to offer.
Chapel Mass
A special thank you to Mr Davidson’s Year 9 Religious Education Class 5 for hosting this fortnight’s Chapel Mass. Fr Joey reminded us all that questioning and challenging our faith will help us to grow as Catholics. He noted that many Doctors of the Church, such as Thomas Aquinas, had sought clarification on their own faith that only served to strengthen their faith. We look forward to our next Chapel Mass in a fortnight’s time which will be hosted by Mr Davidson’s Year 9 Religious Education Class 6.
Youth Mass
This Sunday 28 May, Our Lady of Dolours will be hosting a Youth Mass for members of the St Pius X College and Mercy College communities. Mass commences at 5:30 pm and St Pius X College will be represented by Year 11 and 12 students who will take on roles such as: reading, special minister of the Eucharist and offertory. Youth Mass always concludes with a Year 12 student from each community provided a brief run down on recent happenings and upcoming events. All are welcome.
Mr Nathan Mulheron - Assistant Principal, Mission and Identity
SPX Winter Appeal: Supporting St Vincent de Paul and Jesuit Refugee Services
Week 6 of this term marks the start of our annual SPX Winter Appeal, with the College collecting goods for St Vincent de Paul and Jesuit Refugee Services. In this difficult time, those in need have found themselves pushed further into the fringes of society, with many volunteer organisations not able to cater for those who are less fortunate. Students are encouraged to consider the plight of those around us, and to act by giving to the poor in handfuls.
Driven by Year 9, the appeal will run from Tuesday, 24 May until Thursday15 June (Week 8, Day 4). Student volunteers will be collecting goods during homeroom.
We are in need of the following items:
Thank you in anticipation of your generosity.
Mr Ryan Balboa - Social Justice Coordinator