Christian Service

Mrs Marya Stewart Director of Christian Service

What is the purpose of Catholic Education in the Edmund Rice tradition? Phillip Pinto, congregational leader of Christian Brothers 2002–2014 made this statement: “Our schools exist to challenge popular beliefs and dominant cultural values, to ask the difficult questions, to look at life from the standpoint of the minority, the victim, the outcast and the stranger”.

How does Christian Service respond to this challenge? Christian Service aims to convert students through active service to a Christ-like view of the world and its people, based on respect for the human dignity of each person, love of neighbour and a fundamental option for the poor.

Christian Service invites students to be involved in experiences which involve:

• growing in awareness of needs of others • responding by acting to alleviate those needs • building ongoing relationships with people in need • making sacrifices of time, energy and resources to help others • being challenged to grow beyond our comfort zones • being challenged to look at the world differently • working together with others to make the world a better place.

Programs at Trinity College

• The Edmund Rice tradition and Gospel spirituality is embedded in all the programs: • Junior School: focus on class projects to visit the elderly or fundraise for community groups • Year 7 – Serving to Belong: focus is caring for our environment • Year 8 – Our Neighbour: focus is caring for the needs of our families and neighbours • Year 9 – Restoring Relationships: focus is caring for younger children in need • Year 10 – Experience Counts: focus is caring for the needs of elderly people • Year 11 – Sharing Gifts: focus is reaching out to the wider community • Year 12 – Senior Project: individual choice of placements and time of service

A representative from SAIL and Mr Banks sign the contract for Sudanese student scholarships at Trinity

Students re-create a Refugee Camp in Centenary Park

A re-created refugee camp

Senior Project

The Senior Project, because it is a project students choose to do in their own time, involves a wide variety of activities. Many students give up hours of their time to assist with retreat programs, playing leadership roles to the younger students which often build relationships that last over the ensuing years. Others commit to regular volunteer programs like Red Cross soup patrol or Street Soccer. Involvement in Edmund Rice Outreach activities like the Winter Sleepout or Fast for Caritas can also be included in the hours which make up the project. Above and beyond this school related service, every student who registers for the Senior Project must commit to completing at least 40 hours of service to a community group outside the school. Most students complete these hours at the end of classes in Year 11. Some students do this at an elderly residential centre, some at local primary schools, special education centres, shelters for the homeless or with refugee families. Others commit to Edmund Rice Camps for Kids over the January holidays.

This year, 64 young men in our College took on many of these opportunities to be involved in Christian Service in their senior years. Nine students received honours for Christian Service as recognition for over 60 hours they served the school community as leaders in Campus Ministry: Bryce Balestra (12.7), Mitchell Bristow-Stagg (12.1), Joshua Houwen (12.1), Gianluca Lenzarini (12.3), James Ludovico (12.7), James Newcombe (12.5), Liam O’Neill (12.4), Aiden Richards (12.6) and Benito Velho (12.1).

Five students received half colours for Christian Service as recognition for over 80 hours they have served the school community as leaders in Campus Ministry and Christian Service: Jason (Yiming) Dong (12.4), Adam Gileno (12.2), Alex Ishida-Livings (12.5), Kieren Munrowd-Harris (12.2), Adam Rosato (12.2).

The majority of students received full colours for Christian Service completing more than 100 hours of service both within the College community and with organisations which care for the needs of others in our society: Mitchell Askey (12.5), Tyler Bormolini (12.5), Joe Borowiec (12.7), Hayden Da Rui (12.1), Joshua de Souza (12.3), Daniel Eng (12.5), Keiran Evans (12.1), Jackson Flematti (12.5), Nicholas Gillespie (12.4), Christopher Goi (12.6), James Godfrey (12.5), Jason Gonsalves (10.1), Alex Gordon (12.1), Jordan Hands (12.5), James Heald (12.2), Rory Kendell (12.7), Mark Leung (12.4), Alex Mancini (12.2), Alexander Michelon (12.5), Nicholas Moulton (12.7), Brayden Murphy (12.3), Jack Newman (12.7), Kenneth Njoo (12.2), Justin Randle-Rai (12.3), Jake Reid (12.5), Carlos Soares (12.3), Joseph Teakle (12.6), Zachary Ting (12.1), Nick Valentini (12.6), Michael Wright (12.3), James Turibaka (12.2).

There are also many voluntary service opportunities and immersion experiences in which students can become involved during their time at Trinity College.

Students learn about the ecology of the Swan River in the Sustain Our Swan Program

Winter Sleepout for St Vincent de Paul

Students drink a cup of soup from the Red Cross soup patrol van before they bed down for the night at the Winter Sleepout

A group of 14 students received full colours (certificate of excellence) for Christian Service for completing more than 200 hours of service: Jack Catanach (12.4), Sheldon Dias (12.7), Reece Drudi (12.7), Connor Engelbrecht (12.6), Daniel Gileno (12.3), Michael Hayes (12.1), Jed Herne (12.3), James Loughnan (12.5), Daniel Martinez (12.7), Jarrod Ng (12.6), Stephen Pover (12.6), Tom Salleo (12.4), Beau Salvia (12.4), James Valentine (12.4).

The final group receive full colours (outstanding achievement) for Christian Service for completing more than 300 hours of service: Callum Dewsbury (12.5), Liam Fernandes (12.3), Lachlan Harders (12.6), Nathan Sparks (12.4), Jesse Vivante (12.5).

Lachlan Harders (12.6) completed over 700 hours of service.

Student Reflections

Written reflections from journals give an insight into the breadth of the program. Ryan Gonsalves (12.7) wrote this conclusion in his journal. “The call to Christian Service is important as it reinforces the original message of Jesus himself ‘to love one another’ just as he has done and to be servants to each other as Jesus demonstrated at the Last Supper through the washing of the feet. Jesus showed that service is a fundamental element of the Gospel message and thus a key task for his followers, the Church and consequently all students of Edmund Rice schools”.

Michael Wright (12.3) reflected “my Christian Service has really identified to me that I can make a positive effect on not just other’s lives but the world around me. If or if not I was asked for help I would easily be able to give and not expect anything in return”.

Edmund Rice Camps

Carlos Soares (12.3) wrote about his time on Edmund Rice camps: “my first impression was that the kids were misbehaving and would be difficult to work with. My attitude changed as I grew closer with the kids and they were able to open up more, then I could see the innocence and goodness in them. Christ’s light showed me that every kid had goodness in them, even though they might try to hide that side of themselves.”

James Loughnan (12.5) also wrote that at first he was apprehensive because the children were close to his own age and he felt a little scared of how they might react to him but “over time on the camp I began to love the children with everything I had; this change occurred with the aid of other more experienced leaders. Christ’s light shone through me as He was able to find love in me to share and give to other children who were lacking love in their lives”.

Daniel Martinez (12.7) offered this poignant reflection: “one child was telling me about the dynamics of family life at her home and then went on to say that she wished the Edmund Rice camp would never end”.

Bedding down for the night at the Winter Sleepout

Mr Michael Murphy with Kimberly Immersion students

Students serve breakfast to homeless people

Red Cross Soup Patrol

The presence of homeless people in our society will always demand that we examine our attitudes and responses to their plight. “I noticed that many of the people we served were not unlike me and by looking at them you would have no clue they were homeless. I tried to be kind and not to judge them as I did not know their situation.” Nicholas Moulton (12.7)

“I felt confronted as it was an eye-opening experience so I felt shock as well as sympathy. I could see the pain in their body language and from brief conversations I had an idea of what caused the pain so I was able to picture their lives and challenges. I was able to brighten their day a little and the experience helped me to see more distinctly how poverty has its impact and consequences.” Nathan Sparks (12.4)

“As I handed the food over to them I felt a sense of accomplishment by giving to others. It has helped me become more compassionate in a way that it has made me want to continue to help the poor.” Beau Salvia (12.4)

Aged Care

Working with elderly people who, because of physical or mental limitations, live in institutional settings, can be a very challenging but mostly rewarding experience. “Through the experience I felt that I gained the ability to really communicate with those who have disabilities, either mental or physical. This allowed me to really come to see a person’s personality past their outward appearance. I learnt that no matter how a person seems on the outside, there is always a deep and thorough story and individuality behind that. They are human and a perfect creation of God.” Michael Hayes (12.1)

Reflections of the Kimberley Immersion 2014

Immersion experiences are often intense and confronting experiences which challenge previously held views of others. “I learnt I should not ‘judge a book by its cover’ where I couldn’t take a preconditioned view on people based on my cultural beliefs. One example of an experience which made me re-examine my attitude to Indigenous people was playing basketball and football with them. They accepted me into their community where I felt fully a part of it, in contrast to people in Perth rejecting them from society.” Jackson Flematti (12.5)

“One night, walking down the street in Broome, we saw a large group of men sitting around in a park, drinking. All of us thought that it was going to ‘get ugly’ as we approached. Much to our surprise the men wanted to talk to us and get to know our story and background. In our heads we thought they would abuse us, but they did the opposite!” James Valentine (12.4)

Relaxing at Cable Beach after a busy day

Kimberley Immersion students

Fun Run to raise funds for our India Missions

Peer Ministry

Over half our Senior School students participate in mentoring younger students through the Year 8 Quest retreat as Peer Ministers or Cadre or the Year 7 Becoming Brothers as Senior Ministers. “An experience which really inspired me was that after the day of being with the Year 8 students, deep bonds were formed between the leaders and younger students. This was evident through the reflection time where the Year 8 students really spoke about their true feelings and some of their struggles. I found this inspiring as it showed how bonds between two different age groups can be formed through the work of helping others.” Alexander Hoang (12.4)

“As a Cadre member I felt that we did minister like Jesus as we nurtured both the Year 11 and Year 8 students. We took the life and teachings of Jesus and applied this to the younger years, teaching them what it is to live a Catholic teenager’s life.” Tom Salleo (12.4)

“People believe that life is to only work for yourself and to provide for yourself; however, each person was born to serve, not to be served. Through Peer Ministry, I am able to see that it is more worthwhile to give than to receive.” Hayden Da Rui (12.1)

“Seeing the boys enjoy the canned food collection so much inspired me to participate in more aspects of Trinity College. Watching them gain such joy in the task made me realise that Christian Service doesn’t have to be a chore or a burden but rather the opposite.” Nick Gillespie (12.4)

“I feel that by being an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, it can provide inspiration and motivation to those in the College community, to become closer to God, and that is in my mind a blessing to others.” Sheldon Dias (12.7)

Mrs Marya Stewart Director of Christian Service

Fun Run for India

Fun Run for India