FROM THE LEADER OF LEARNING - RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Mission and Identity
A Prayer for Our Church
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
O God, we pray in union with the whole Church for the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the cardinals. Holy Spirit, we ask you to guide the cardinals through the conclave and grant them wisdom, courage, hope, and charity. We pray that the cardinals may listen attentively to you, and ask you to grant them the faith to discern your holy will.
Heavenly Father, we beseech you, protect and guide your Church during this conclave. Grant us, in your great love, a pope who guides your Church to grow in faithfulness towards you. May he be a shepherd of profound faith and hope, leading your Church ever closer to you.
We pray, in Jesus’ name, together with the intercession of Mary and all the saints.
“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.”
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Youth
Last Wednesday we welcomed 8 students who will be receiving their Sacraments of Initiation through the rite of Welcome Mass. Two students will be Baptised to become Catholic, one student who is Anglican will be professing his faith to become Catholic and the remaining students will receive the sacraments of the Eucharist and/or Confirmation. Students have been attending Sacramental classes with Fr Steve and Br Antonio every Wednesday in period 5 to prepare them in understanding more about their faith and what it means to be part of a Catholic community. We continue to pray for these students as they embark on this new journey.
What is the Rosary?
The Rosary is a popular form of Catholic prayer and devotion that helps the faithful meditate on the mysteries of Christ and the Virgin Mary. The term also denotes the string of beads used to keep track of the prayers during the contemplation. It is widely believed that in 1214 St. Dominic had a vision of Mary. She is said to have presented him with the Rosary, both the beads and the prayers to be enunciated. St Dominic had a tremendous devotion to Mary and the Rosary, which he promoted wherever he traveled. He encouraged Catholics to gather in small groups and pray together in what was an early form of the Rosary. It consists of a series of prayers, including the Apostle’s Creed, the Our Father, Hail Mary’s, the Glory Be, and the Hail, Holy Queen. These prayers are grouped into five ‘decades,’ each consisting of ten Hail Mary’s, preceded by an Our Father and followed by a Glory Be. Each decade is associated with a ‘mystery’ - a pivotal event in Christian history. These mysteries are divided into four sets: the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous Mysteries, which were introduced by Pope John Paul II in 2002 to evoke appropriate emotion based on the tone of each event.. The gentle repetition of these prayers helps us enter into the silence of our hearts and eschew worldly distractions. This practice can bring a great sense of peace, spiritual strength, focus, and connection to God and the Mystical Body of Christ.
The Rosary at Holy Cross
This coming Wednesday (the 7th of May), the Brothers in Christ will be praying the Rosary in the Chapel during lunchtime from 1.35pm-2.05pm. All students regardless of religious or cultural background are also invited to attend. Students will be guided through this traditional form of devotion by Father Steve, Brother Antonio and RE teachers.
Youth Ministry
Project Compassion - Thank you
For the duration of Term 1 the College worked to raise funds for Project Compassion. This social justice initiative takes place every Lenten season and aims to provide support to communities who are in most need. This year the college raised funds through money collection in homeroom and multiple fundraising events including sausage sizzles, mufti day event, lolly bags and guessing jars. On behalf of the College we would like to extend our thank you to all of those who took part and generously donated to a worthy class. For 2025 the College was able to raise a total of $5,112.10. This is a fantastic achievement which will make a huge difference.
The Social Justice initiative for Term 2 will be the Vinnies Winter Appeal. Details will be shared regarding this initiative soon.
Our Lady of Fatima Procession - May 10
The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney invites all schools and families to participate in the Our Lady of Fatima Procession. This event provides a meaningful opportunity for staff, students, and families to come together in prayer and honour Our Lady.
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, 10 May 2025
- Time: 6:00 pm – Vigil Mass, followed by a candle-lit Procession around the Cathedral Forecourt
- Location: St Mary’s Cathedral, St Mary’s Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
Arrival Time: We recommend attendees arrive by 5:30 pm and be seated by 5:45 pm. As this is an Archdiocesan Mass, seating will fill up quickly, so early arrival is advised.
If you are interested in attending please fill in the following Google Form
Miss Ashleigh Fayad
Youth Ministry Coordinator
"There are many people who spend their lives in the service of others. ... When you forget yourself and think of others, this is love!" - Pope Francis
Yours in Christ,
Ms Christina Breda
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COORDINATOR