DIRECTOR OF CATHOLIC IDENTITY
MARY MACKILLOP PLAY
On May 27, Year 8 students were fortunate to watch a play about St Mary MacKillop. There were three people playing different characters. The performers were from Blue Whale Theatre in Sydney and the play was divided into four different parts. The play was an interactive play, so after each section we were able to ask questions, as one of the actors stayed in the character of Mary.
The play started off with Mary as a little girl. We were taught about how Mary MacKillop started off as a child who grew up in Melbourne and became a Nun. Mary and her father opened the first free catholic school in Penola in 1866. The play then went on about Mary’s life. I learnt a lot about Mary’s life I really enjoyed watching the play.
Anastasia Vagelatos
Year 8
CATHERINE MCAULEY PLAY
On Wednesday morning we (the Year 7 students) travelled to the Mercy Campus to enjoy a play that taught us about Catherine McAuley’s life and dedication to the Catholic faith.
Catherine was a very selfless woman that always put others before herself. Although she had experienced many hardships, she was always finding more ways to assist the people of Dublin. The play taught us to be kind and thoughtful of one another. Or as Catherine once said, “We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us”. We also enjoyed being able to share questions with the actors about Catherine’s life, this way we learnt deeper about her faith and her aspirations. Overall, it was a great experience and we all definitely learned something valuable.
Rosetta Senior
Year 7
SEEDS OF JUSTICE 2021
On May 21, a group of Year 11 students from the Mercy Action Group represented our college in the Seeds of Justice Online conference. The main topic of the conference was female empowerment and women rights. We obtained a lot of knowledge about the strong women in our community and how we can work to support them.
We student representatives formulated ideas about how we can promote the empowerment of women in Sunraysia and within the St Joseph’s College community. These ideas involved conducting speeches, activities and presentations for the students at this school to promote the involvement of women and remove the stigma surrounding the female reproductive system.
We gained a lot of knowledge and experience, but we also look forward to changing things at our school for girls now with the motivation the program has given us. Our minds have been opened to things we would have never thought of.
Georgia Phillips, Emily Burns, Skye Kempton and Jemma Fanshaw
Year 11
CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK 2021
Across the Diocese of Ballarat, some sixty-four schools educating 18,500 students celebrated Catholic Education Week from 23-29 May.
The first Catholic school was established in Parramatta in October 1820. Since then, Catholic schools all over Australia have worked hard to make a difference in young people's lives by educating them and instilling them with faith. Catholic Education Week is a faith-based initiative, and it is an opportunity to recognise the impact that Catholic schools makes in school and the wider community.
In recognition of 200 years of Catholic education in Australia, Catholic Education Week 2021 aligned with school communities across Australia in celebrating this landmark event. The theme for the week was Faith in the Future which speaks of the essence of hope in faith, so needed against the backdrop of this year. Catholic Education Week provides a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate the contribution that our schools make to the Sunraysia community.
The college celebrated its Catholic Identity in its Mercy Tradition with students in Years 7 to 9 involved in the Blue Whale Theatre Company presentations of ‘A Bright Light in the Darkness’ (Catherine McAuley’s Story) and ‘Mary -A Story of Courage’ (St Mary MacKillop’s Story). Our Year 11 Business Management Classes and VCAL Classes offered an array of delicious foods and drinks to celebrate Catholic Education Week and fulfil their assessments of planning, conducting and evaluating small business ventures.
On Friday 28 May, our Year 8 Students at the Mercy Campus would normally have hosted our Combined Schools Mass with our local Catholic Primary Schools. COVID restrictions prohibited this from happening, but we hope this Mass can be celebrated later in the year to celebrate 200 years of Catholic Education. However, our Religious Education Classes had the opportunity to be involved in class liturgies celebrating Catholic Identity during the week.
Miss Paula Cox
Director of Catholic Identity