Director of Mission

Faith in our community

By Deborah Lubatti Email this article

Harmonious learning experiences.

Across the College our community has proudly shared our commitment to growing our understanding of the Mercy Key of Mutual Respect, through our daily actions and a number of special occasions and activities.

Over 3 days last month, our Arts and Social Justice Leaders supported us to celebrate Harmony Day. They created prayer flags for classrooms, and outdoor displays of student contributions that allowed our whole College community to reflect on the meaning of harmony and ways to actively create harmony in our lives.

Through a mass with our Year 11 students we warmly welcomed our new priest, Father Pastor, to our College community. His commitment to our students, and his wonderful sense of humour, is greatly appreciated and we look forward to seeing him again at future College events.

Our Year 12 SACE students made a sombre visit to the Adelaide Holocaust Museum and Steiner Education Centre (AHMSEC) and spoke with Holocaust survivor, Andrew Steiner OAM as part of their Spiritualities, Religion and Meaning course. Later that same day, they visited the St Francis Xavier Cathedral to light votive candles and pray for the alleviation of human suffering, making silent petitions for peace.

We were honoured to have Senior Kaurna leader, Uncle Mickey Kumatpi O’Brien, share his First Nations stories and connection with the land in a presentation to our Year 10 students, and delighted to welcome Interfaith Educators from the Abrahamic Institute of Peace, who shared their understanding of the Golden Rule within their religious traditions. These wonderful opportunities help broaden our students' understanding of spirituality and faith across the globe and we are very grateful to these leaders for making time to share their knowledge and experience with us.

It was wonderful to continue our journey through Lent as a whole-of-College community, even if electronically on Holy Thursday due to some wet and wild weather. Fortunately by Tuesday we were able to come together in person for a community prayer prior to lessons commencing. Thank you Deacon Andrew for joining this celebration of the Easter Season.

In Stage 1 SACE, 109 students have found service placements within the community and we could not be more proud of their contributions. One group of students, who share the goal of knitting cot blankets to donate to Louise Place for young mothers, were fortunate enough to have the expertise of Pru from dearpru, who shared her knowledge to help make them especially beautiful.

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As we are still in the Easter Season, until 28 May, we wish you a blessed and life-giving Easter Season and school holidays.

Deborah Lubatti
Director of Mission

with Sr Duyen Teresa Pepicelli, Therese Wilson and Helen Ayliffe
Catholic Identity and Mission Team