Faith and Mission

Welcome to the Faith and Charism team as we reflect on a full year of normal school and what a great experience to be able to attend face to face. I would like to welcome our new College Principal, Dr Shannon and wish him every success in his new role as he leads our community into the future. I would also like to welcome Joshua Hunter onto our Faith and Charism team as the new Coordinator of Social Justice. It also gives me great pleasure to welcome our new youth ministers for 2022, Anthony Yong, Mateo Acosta Fernandez and Kyle Truong. I would like to wish Fr Giancarlo every success as he leaves us to take up his new Parish role in Perth.

The Faith and Charism team worked hard to bring an array of faith events and enhance the experiences of our staff and students during the 2022 school year. Our Year 12 students had a successful retreat in March when they accompanied their Coordinators and Homeroom teachers to different venues for the two-day event. The voluntary Year 11 retreat was also a very enjoyable experience. Twenty of our Year 10 students travelled to the Ignite Conference in Brisbane which took place from Thursday September 22nd to Sunday 25th September. The students and staff returned feeling a little tired but spiritually fulfilled. Thanks to all who made this retreat possible. Throughout the year there were several liturgies, and it was a delight to see the return of faceto-face Mother’s and Father’s Day Masses. Other liturgies included the Founder’s Day Mass and the many other great Liturgies we celebrated together. The school also celebrated our daily year level Masses and a big thank you to all the Homerooms and staff who helped prepare these Masses. It was also nice to see some parents able to join us for morning Mass. It was also pleasing to see Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation taking place in the school in normal circumstances.

This year we celebrated our Mission Action Day at the end of Term 1, which is a fundraiser and awareness day for Oblate missions in different parts of the world. I would like to thank all those involved in organising this exciting school event including the Year 12 student leaders.

It was also exciting to see the return of the Building Bridges program, where students and staff got the opportunity to meet students of other faiths and discuss their traditions.

I would like to extend a huge gratitude to the team in the Faith and Charism office, Cristiano Grosso (Staff and Student faith formation), Tina Giacco (Liturgy) and Joshua Hunter (Social Justice). I would also like to express thanks to the Youth Ministry Team who worked so well to foster all aspects of faith for the students and staff. I also wish to thank all the year level conveners who work so hard to oversee the curriculum.

I would like to recognise the dedication and hard work of staff who voluntarily give of their time to conduct faith youth groups. To Robert Zaar who coordinates MAYO, to Lydia St Ange who coordinates ALPHA, to the youth ministers who coordinate the Senior and Junior Oblate Youth Groups and the many teachers who volunteer to supervise for these groups.

Our dynamic Religious Education curriculum serves our students with a deep academic understanding of our faith, beliefs and develops the charism of our school community. We are continually reviewing our curriculum through our teaching teams.

On September 16 the school celebrated our staff retreat hosted by Fr Rob Galea. A huge thanks to all who helped organise this successful event.

Thanks to all the staff, students and all in our community who continually support our work.

May God Bless you all John Tighe