Catholic Identity & Mission News

Stations of the Cross

Each year the Year 11 Youth Ministry classes are entrusted with preparing the ‘Stations of the Cross’ for us, which are then presented at assemblies on the second last day of term. The Stations of the Cross are based on the ‘Via Dolorosa’ or ‘Way of the Cross’ in Jerusalem. There are 14 ‘stations’ that mark out the journey that Jesus took from the time of being sentenced to death, to his death by crucifixion at Golgotha (sometimes referred to as Calvary) and his burial in a borrowed tomb. There is no script or format handed on from year to year for this, it is up to each Youth Ministry class to determine how they respond to the events of Good Friday and how they will present them to the school community. As such, each year our presentations are unique.  

With the skillful facilitation of their teachers, Elouise Johnson, Matthew Hocking, Patrick Barton and David Fini, our students this year have responded by making connections to Catholic Social Teaching and how the journey that Jesus took on that day relates to the journeys of those who suffer now in our world, and the responses we can make, inspired by the lived example of Jesus. In different ways, both presentations beautifully reflected our annual theme, ‘Therefore prepare your minds for action’. The ‘therefore’ of this theme is really the ‘because’ – because of Jesus we are called to learn, to grow, to see, to respond and to act to work for love and justice in our world. Collaborating with students in Music and Art Ministry, the presentations featured live action, song, art, film, and photography. They were the culmination of a term’s work and in being so multi-faceted, invited a wide variety of ways that staff and students could engage with this vital Easter story. 

Last week the Vatican released a new document on Catholic Education called ‘The Identity of the Catholic School for a Culture of Dialogue’ and I will write on it further in Term 2, but based on my initial reading of this document, there is a sentiment that resonated particularly as our students presented the Stations of the Cross. It is that Catholic schools also have the mission of preparing students “to exercise their freedom responsibly, forming an attitude of openness and solidarity”. The choices and freedoms that students have to engage in the RE curriculum, the ministry efforts within and outside the College, and the emphasis they increasingly place on their concern for, and solidarity, with others is a good news story, a Gospel story, that emphasises our Mission.

We are a multi-faith community and I wish all our families celebrating Easter a wonderful time of reflection and celebration as we commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus. I also wish our Muslim students and their families journeying through Ramadan, many blessings as they fast and pray during this very important time for them. And wishing all a wonderful, well-earned Term 1 break – I pray we will all return happy and refreshed in a few weeks time. Enjoy the holidays! 

Fiona McKenna

Deputy Principal - Catholic Identity & Mission