FAITH
DEVELOPMENT
I complete five years of service, in Faith
of the human encounter that happened
shares a range of learning activities similar
Development, at the end of this year.
between God and Mary on this day, when
to those in other key learning areas that
1 here have been many changes and
a young girl of great strength and courage
focus on linguistic, social, cultural and
developments in this aspect of College
responded to God in the most perfect way.
aesthetic development of our students.
life.
Our Lady then becomes the role model for
Faith Development within our College, or
any Catholic College, gives meaning and explanation to our very existence. With
this in mind I have sought, in this role, to
provide this for all staff and students. This has been accomplished in many ways.
all our students. Her great love is
evidenced in the way our students respond
to one another and to their teachers. This is the very ‘thing that Faith Development
seeks to give meaning to in our College, something I hope that I have achieved.
This year has seen Ave Maria College provide an enhancement of the VCE
courses. Texts & Traditions 3 & 4 have been introduced giving students a wider
choice in Year 11. The Church’s ‘Option
for the Poor’ was integrated into the Religion & Society 3 & 4 course, using Fr
Through regular celebration of the
I have been privileged to serve in this role,
Brian Gore’s experiences in the Philippines
Eucharist, Retreats and Reflection Days at
and to be assisted by my family, students,
as a case study. Also the guest speaker
all year levels. Development of the Society
staff and the College chaplains.
program at Year 12 was expanded to allow
of St Vincent de Paul at Year 9, the Social
Mrs Mary Hennessy
Justice Group at Year 11, the extension of
the Liturgy Group at Year 10, faith-based
Faith Development Coordinator
Liturgical Art Group at Year 8. The
The academic study of Religious Education, provides our students with the
seminar program at Year 12 and the development of Holy Week Liturgies, the
a wider reflection on the issues covered.
framework for a deeper understanding and RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
involvement in the wider dimensions of the religious and faith dimensions of Ave
Elders Liturgy at Year 7 and Reconciliation
Catholic schools are founded on the
Week. All these activities have engaged
premise that religious education is a
staff and students from all year levels and
constitutive dimension of education. At
many curriculum areas. These programs
Ave Maria College Religious Education is
have now reached out from the College
one of nine Key Learning Areas.
into the wider community and allow the
Religious Education as a Key Learning
and skills made them dynamic participants
students, and the staff, an exciting
Area is to be distinguished from the wider
in these areas of the life of the College.
opportunity to actively engage in their
religious dimension, ethos and activity of
faith. It is encouraging to see the presence
the school. Religious Education as a school
of God's spirit alive in so much prayerful
subject finds its usual context in the
activity.
learning environment of the classroom and
Staff professional development days have engaged presenters from Catholic
Education Office in Sydney and Melbourne and from the Carmelite Order. In the Year of rhe Jubilee Fr Brian Gore
enlightened and challenged staff to live the Gospel and "bring good news to the
poor".
There have been many highlights in this final year, one of which was the Mass at the Cathedral, celebrated by Archbishop
Dr G Pell. The College celebrated our
feast, the Annunciation in our beautiful St Patrick’s Cathedral. The Archbishop spoke Year 8 Reflection Day at Brimbank Park
18 Ave Maria - Vidian 2000
Maria's overall curriculum. This
relationship was clearly seen in the
involvement of many students in social justice activities, community service and liturgy, where their increased awareness
Mr Patrick Platt
Religious Education Coordinator
