Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care

Mission and Service hear the voices of our students

Training to be Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist

The Eucharist is at the heart of our Catholic traditions. Over the past two years, students from Santa Sabina have participated in the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney program for training students to be Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. Both the training and service at lunchtime and whole school Masses have provided them with a profound understanding of the Eucharist.

Student reflections:

‘The training we undertook gave me a renewed sense of reverence for the Eucharist, and the ministry itself is truly a beautiful and powerful way to accompany others in their faith.‘
Olivia Santangelo
Year 12

‘Being entrusted to distribute the Body of Christ has enabled me to intimately participate in Mass through service and connection with other members of the school community.‘
Zara Ters
Year 12

‘Completing the course helped me understand the responsibility that comes with sharing the Body of Christ. It reminded me of the importance of serving with humility, reverence, and a deep love for God. I am thankful for this opportunity to grow in faith and to strengthen my relationship with God.‘
Chloe Boustani
Year 11

Special Religious Education Classes

Additionally, students from Year 11 have continued to seek opportunities to serve others in the community by participating in Special Religious Education (SRE) classes in a local public school. Students volunteer their time to teach Religious Education at Croydon Park Public School a few hours each term, in the hopes of bringing Christ to others. 

Student reflections:

It’s been such a pleasure to help out at Croydon Park Public School and spread God’s word, especially to such bright, eager students! So many of these students were so excited to learn about the Scripture and the Catholic tradition, and it was great to see that even though they only get a limited amount of time each week, they are still so engaged and enthusiastic about learning more about their faith!
Hannah Chan
Year 11

‘I’ve loved finding creative ways to bring the scriptures to life for the kids, turning bible stories into something exciting for them. Teaching young children about God forces you to look at your own beliefs through simple and more joyful eyes.‘
Monique Francis
Year 11

Year 9 RE Curriculum – Church History in Australia

This term, Year 9 students studied Church History in Australia, including the introduction of the Eastern Catholic Churches and their contributions to the Catholic Community. Students were able to experience an Eastern Catholic liturgy from the Maronite Church where Fr Ron Hassarati, from St Joseph’s Maronite Catholic Church Croydon, presided over the Thursday Lunchtime Mass for students to experience the traditions of an Eastern Catholic Church.

Student reflections:

‘The Mass was not only enjoyable but also helped me to learn the similarities and differences between the Maronite Divine Liturgy and a typical Roman Catholic Mass. Some of the things I noticed were how the ‘Peace be With You’ was handed down from the Eucharist and passed on instead of being passed on by choice and how the congregation is more engaged with the priest. In conclusion, The Maronite Divine Liturgy was a helpful and enjoyable experience that helped to deepen my faith by learning how other Rites of the Catholic Church celebrate mass while at the same time reflecting on what we have been learning about in the classroom.‘
Mia Bonanno
Year 9

‘This term we’ve been studying the history of the Church in Australia, and have been focusing on the Eastern and Western Churches. The Maronite Divine Liturgy not only strengthened my faith, but put the lessons learnt in the classroom into practice. I was able to notice the differences between this liturgy and others, and noticed that the congregation is more involved and engages in dialogue with the priest and recites songs and prayers. Overall, I think the Maronite Divine Liturgy was a beautiful experience, and by learning more about the Eastern Churches beforehand, I was able to have a deeper understanding and spiritual reflection.‘
Jade Lahoud
Year 9

Melanie van der Meer
Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care