Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care
Archbishop’s Award for Student Excellence
Tuesday 2 September saw Ms Beshara, Mission Co-ordinator, and Year 12 student Sophia Wong join with students and staff across the Sydney Archdiocese for the Archbishop’s Awards for Student Excellence. Sophia is the very worthy 2025 recipient of this award for Santa Sabina and we congratulate her. Below is Sophia’s citation delivered during the ceremony.
Sophia Wong is deeply engaged in the faith life of both her parish and the Santa Sabina College community. She actively participates in her parish youth group, serves in the music ministry, and contributes to the Rosary group, hospitality team, AV team, and Children’s Liturgy for Sunday School at the Chinese Catholic Pastoral Community in Ashfield. She has attended Catholic conferences and retreats, including the Ignite Conference and the Women’s Lenten Retreat.
Through her parish, Sophia also supports outreach initiatives, such as visiting nursing homes to share her musical talents. At school, she serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and provides music for College celebrations as part of various ensembles. She has been involved in St Vincent de Paul initiatives and fundraising for Dominican causes. Her commitment, leadership, and generosity reflect her strong faith and dedication to serving others.
Final weeks for Year 12, 2025
Graduation is in the air! Formal and all its fun is coming up followed closely by farewell House picnics, Graduation Assembly, Year 12 Concert and Graduation Mass and Dinner. Our Year 12 students are certainly aware of how much love and energy goes into these end of year events; so much so that they have shown their gratitude in a week full of fun activities and thoughtful gestures – GRAD-itude Week.
Monday was Gratitude for all the extras of our school life that have ensured wellbeing – students had fun by coming to school in their pyjamas in gratitude for all the ways their school experience has ensured they feel comfortable and loved.
Tuesday was Gratitude for their educational journey and how better to mark that than to wear their junior uniforms and have opportunities for students and staff to sign these with messages of hope and congratulations on nearing the completion of this journey.
Wednesday was Gratitude for the relationships and connections that have been made outside the school community. These connections with other schools at Sport, Debating, the Saint of Origin and a myriad of other experiences was marked by the donning of other jerseys – from other schools, other sporting clubs and other interests. It was definitely a colourful day.
Thursday was Gratitude for opportunities for growth. As the students look towards their futures they dressed as their dream occupations in recognition of the guidance provided by events such as The Career Women’s Breakfast and Careers Expos. They also took a moment to pray for each other, the school community and the wider community in a lunchtime liturgy.
Friday will see the last day of classes and Gratitude for teachers will be the focus with the students providing morning tea for the staff and then hoping to defeat those same staff in a student vs staff Soccer match.
Congratulations and Good Luck to Year 12 2025.
Season of Creation
Every year, Christians around the world, from across denominations, commit the month of September as a season to celebrate God’s beautiful Earth, and renew our shared commitment to preserving and restoring that beauty. For the liturgical amongst us, this is called the Season of Creation. We have been marking The Season of Creation across the College with prayer and reflection as well as a focus in many RE classes.
Prayer for the Season of Creation
by Michael McGirr
God of all life,
We thank you for the gift of creation,
For the water that keeps us alive,
For our food and shelter,
All of which come from the generosity of Earth.
We thank you for the very air we breathe
Which we share with every creature.
May we take good care of Earth
As our common home takes care of us.
May we work for justice for those
Most hurt by damage to our environment.
May we enjoy the beauty of nature
And pray that it be treated with deeper respect.
Jesus asked us to learn from the lilies of the field
And the birds of the air.
We ask this in his name.
Amen
Walking the Way of the Cross with All of Creation
Facilitated by Sr Jill Shrivington
When: Saturday 4 October 10:30am
Where: Stations of the Cross in Catholic section of Rookwood Cemetery
To celebrate the end of the Season of Creation and the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si, you are invited to participate in a special event at the outdoor ‘tations of the Cross at Rookwood Cemetery. It will be an adapted walk in a beautiful garden setting – “The Way of the Cross with All of Creation’. It will start at 10.30am; we are hoping for a lovely spring morning! The site is to the left of the main gate, in the Catholic Section. Some people find it easier to park up the top near the road and walk down the pathway to the gathering space.
Melanie van der Meer
Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care