From the Religious Education Coordinator

In our Church …… 

Gertrude, a Benedictine nun in Helfta, Saxony, was one of the great mystics of the 13th century. Together with her friend and teacher Saint Mechtild, she practiced a spirituality called “nuptial mysticism,” that is, she came to see herself as the bride of Christ. Her spiritual life was a deeply personal union with Jesus and his Sacred Heart, leading her into the very life of the Trinity.

But this was no individualistic piety. Gertrude lived the rhythm of the liturgy, where she found Christ. In the liturgy and in Scripture she found the themes and images to enrich and express her piety. There was no clash between her personal prayer life and the liturgy. The Liturgical Feast of Saint Gertrude the Great is November 16.

Reflection

Saint Gertrude’s life is another reminder that the heart of the Christian life is prayer: private and liturgical, ordinary or mystical, but always personal.

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-gertrude-the-great

 In our Community…. 

Year 10 Reflection Day

Last Friday, we held our Year 10 Reflection Day centred on Jesus’ question; “Who do you say that I am?”. Our response focused the day on the value of FAITH and IDENTITY. Students focused on this question throughout the day, with a focus also on: Who am I? Who do people say I am? who do I say I am?

On Friday 10 November, Year 10 participated in a reflection day located at Holy Name of Mary. The day consisted of a range of activities all surrounding the theme of identity and was a great end to a week of examinations. Throughout the day we had opportunities to learn more about each other, ourselves and our goals for the final years of high school. We were also able to write letters to our future selves and complete some fun clay modelling. It was great to connect with teachers and students and we had lots of fun. Thank you to the teachers who organised this amazing experience for our grade. By Charlize Petracca and Angelina Sesar Pratelli

A huge thank you to the following teachers for making the Year 10 Reflection Day such a memorable experience for our students: Samantha Ison, Carolyn Criss, Angus Bray, Matthew Iskander, Joanne George, Adrianna Tesoriero, Karin Anthony, Liam Story, Kate Sinclair, Veronica Barbagallo and Melinda Alvarez. And a huge thank you to the Year 10 Students for having a go and being part of a special day which will benefit them especially moving along their journey to Year 11 and beyond.

Year 9 & 10 Youth Afternoon

Year 9 and 10 students participated in the Youth Afternoon held at Marist College Eastwood. The theme of the afternoon was “Are we there yet?” which focused on a call to meaning, vocation and purpose. Students had the opportunity to connect with other schools from the local area and listen to an inspiring guest speaker, Tomasz Juszczak, from Donum Ministries who facilitated reflection and prayer activities centred around the theme.

The next Youth Afternoon is in Term 1 2024 and will be targeted to Year 11 and 12 students from Marist Sisters’ College Woolwich, Holy Cross College Ryde, Domremy College Five Dock and Marist College Eastwood. 

For this year’s Christmas Appeal, the MSCW community is supporting two organisations including St Vincent de Paul and Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation. The focus of the Vinnies Appeal is the continuing impacts of the cost-of-living crisis in Australia, including rental and housing affordability. Baabayn is located in the Blacktown area that works with the Aboriginal community, providing many young people with support to services that help them heal from the past and nurture their sense of confidence and pride in the future. 

As an annual tradition at the College, MSCW has collected Christmas presents for the children of the Baabayn community and food, toiletries and sanitary items for St Vincent de Paul. The collection of these items will occur in Week 6 and 7. Students are to take their items to their Tutor Group in each morning.

Please refer to the doc for more information. Your support of the MSCW Christmas Appeal this year means we can help individuals and families who are struggling with living costs to experience a bit more joy, dignity and hope.

Ms Jenny Vu, Youth Ministry Coordinator

In our Curriculum 

Year 10 Curriculum

Throughout Term 3 and Term 4, every Year 10 student undertook their study of the Sacraments at the Service of Communion based on Micah 6: 8; “to love kindness”. In this topic, students learnt to appreciate the baptismal call to love and serve God and one another, understand the nature and importance of the Sacraments of Holy Orders and Matrimony in the lives of the faithful and the Church, and investigates the range of ways through which baptised persons can live out their vocation. In this topic, students completed a variety of activities such as a think, pair, share on Grace, and reflected on the quality of leadership by exploring the life of a priest, and the contributions of MSCW House Patrons. To apply their knowledge and skills, students completed their Assessment Task 2 In Class Exam consisting of multiple choice and short answer style questions.

Currently, every Year 10 class has begun their study of Ecumenism and Interfaith Dialogue based on Micah 6:8; “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?.” In this topic, students have learnt to appreciate both the challenges and opportunities associated with religious diversity, detail the core beliefs and practices of the major Christian denominations and some of the non-Christian faith Traditions and analyses aspects of commonality and difference between the Christian denominations, and also between the Abrahamic faiths. To demonstrate and apply their understanding, students will be creating Interfaith Dialogue event to promote social cohesion, and personal and social transformation.

Thank you Year 10 for your continued efforts in Religious Education this year! Thank you to the Year 10 Religious Education team for their ongoing commitment:

Ms Samantha Ison, Mr Federico Manica, Ms Carly La Rossa, Ms Ellie Bonus, Ms Irena Jajcevic, and Ms Veronica Barbagallo.

Ms Samantha Ison, Assistant Religious Education Coordinator

This article on College life meets The Archbishop’s Charter for Catholic Schools – Charter #1, #2