Faith and Mission
Community Service Program 2022
One of St John Baptist de La Salle’s greatest sayings was: “lead by the example you give to others”. In other words, walk the walk and inspire others through your actions - actions speak louder than words. In 2022 the College has embarked on a program to inspire Year 7 and 8 students create a culture of giving back and undertaking “community service” throughout the year. All Year 7 and 8 students cross-campus have been invited to take part in the mission to serve our fellow sisters and brothers by completing service hours and random acts of kindness. On pages 152, 153 and 154 of student dairies, it specifies that each Year 7 and 8 students will be required to complete 10 hours of community service to be spread throughout the year. The College aims to introduce the community service program across the whole College in 2023. Students are invited to take time to engage in community service around their families, extended families, local clubs they are involved with and take up community service opportunities at school. We encourage parents and care-givers to also have conversations with their sons about how they plan to undertake these 10 hours and get them signed off. The Year 7 and 8 students are working together with their homeroom class teachers to dialogue, check-in and discuss their progress throughout the school year. Parent, care-givers, coaches, tutors, teachers and school staff can all sign off on student community service hours in their diaries.
Some examples of Community Service opportunities students can participate in:
School service
- Working around school – lunch times with bags and gloves to pick up rubbish
- Garden support
- Canteen support and clean ups around canteen area
- Lasallian Youth Leaders
- Working with class captains and teachers
- Assisting staff around the College; assisting teachers with classroom clean-ups
Local community club service
- Preparing and packing up equipment at sporting clubs
- Preparing and cutting up the oranges for your teams
- Mowing lawns
- Gardening and cleaning up fields
- Parish and local church support
Family service
- Gardening and cleaning up fields
- Washing the car
- Vacuuming
- Ironing
- Cleaning up the garage
- Gardening
- Mowing the lawns
- Cooking or helping to cook dinner for family
- Visiting your elderly grandparents or creating cards for them
Local Clubs
- Preparing and packing up equipment at sporting clubs
- Preparing and cutting up the oranges for your teams
- Mowing lawns
- Gardening and cleaning up fields
We are reminded of our Catholic and Lasallian ethos of faith, service and community – together with the guiding principles of the College and to strive for “right paths”. Our inclusion as part of the Council of International Schools promotes our global citizenship, whilst also aiming to boost our commitment to local citizenship. The Catholic Social Teachings principles of working for the common good, participation, solidarity and working for human dignity reminds us all of the importance community service. Students will also benefit from community service as employers regard such experience as vital and life-giving.
For more information, consult student planners and Br Lewis.
Student quotes:
Josh Year 8 - “Community Service is at the heart of why we are Lasallians”
Lucas Year 8 – “Completing community service is a natural act helping others”
De La Salle Brothers Elect New Superior General and Leadership Team: 2022-2029
Every seven years, the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (De La Salle Brothers) hold their General Chapter at the Generalate in Rome, Italy. This year, approximately 100 delegates from around the world gathered for the 46th General Chapter since the beginning of the congregation in 1680 by St John Baptist de La Salle.
On Wednesday 18 May, the delegates elected the new Superior General – the 28th superior since St John Baptist de La Salle – in the person of Brother Armin Luistro. Brother Armin was born in Manila, Philippines, in 1961 and received the religious habit of the Brothers in 1981, before becoming an R.E./Homeroom teacher and campus minister. Since that time, his work and ministry appointments have been varied, including time as President (Vice Chancellor) of De La Salle University in Manila from 2004-2010 and Secretary (Minister) of the Department of Education during the presidency of Benigno Aquino III from 2010 -2016. Brother Armin has also held various positions in other governmental and intergovernmental organisations. In May 2019, he was appointed Brother Visitor (Provincial) of the Lasallian District of East Asia. For more: https://youtu.be/kFQZDUrnLlg or
Following the election of the Superior General, the delegates of the Chapter then focused their attention on the leadership team for the worldwide Lasallian family – of which St Bede’s College is a part - from 2022-2029. The elected members of the General Council reflect the rich diversity of the Institute:
- Br Carlos Gomez (Vicar General) (Colombia)
- Br Ricardo Laguda (Philippines)
- Br Anatole Diretenadji (West Africa)
- Br Martin Digilio (Argentina)
- Br Joel Palud (France)
- Br Christopher Patino (USA)
We pray for God’s blessings on these Brothers as take on leadership roles in the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools for the next seven years and ask that the Holy Spirit give them the Gifts they need to lead with passion, integrity and strength.
St John Baptist de La Salle: Pray for us.
Vinnies Winter Appeal 2022
Everyday, members of the St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies) visits homes of people who are in need in our neighbourhood.
For many years, St Bede’s College has supported the work of Vinnies through practical donations. We have been asked to continue our good works to support the Winter Appeal.
This year, the Vinnies Winter Appeal is focussing on specific items (listed below) that will be delivered into homes. If you can help, then please send your donations with your son to be collected in Homeroom and Tutor Group.
Can you donate?:
- Non-perishable food items? (cereal, pasta, canned food, tea, coffee, Milo, etc)
- Laundry liquid or powder, kitchen cleaning items (dishwashing liquid, etc)
- Personal hygiene items (soap, deodorant, razors, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc)Each small action of kindness and generosity has a great impact on those in need.Donations will be collected up to Friday 24th June 2022.
“The St Vincent de Paul Society envisions an Australia that prides itself on its strong sense of justice and compassion. We aim to stand in solidarity with people who are living in poverty and experiencing disadvantage.”
For more information, please contact Ria Greene, Deputy Principal, Faith and Mission
Ria Greene
Deputy Principal Faith and Mission