Religious Education in Del Monte

Prayer of welcoming

Heavenly Father, guide me through this year in all our words and actions.
We give you our school – Santa Sabina College.
We give to you our staff who work here.
We give to you all the children who learn here. We give to you our families, who place their trust in the work we do here.
We pray that our school continues as a great place of acceptance, learning, discovery, adventure, and creativity.

Amen

Guided by our Prayer of Welcoming, we entrust this year to God’s care and ask for wisdom, joy and compassion as we learn and grow together.

In 2026, we are also invited to reflect on our College theme, ‘Accept the Invitation,‘ which encourages us to remain open to new possibilities, to growth and to the daily invitations God places before us in our learning and relationships. May our classrooms be places of curiosity, creativity and belonging, and may our relationships reflect the kindness and respect that are at the heart of our mission. I look forward to journeying with you throughout the year ahead, and we will continue to share more about how this theme will shape the experiences of our students and our community.

World Day of Peace 2026

We reflect on the focus for the 2026 World Day of Peace, announced by Pope Leo XIV: ‘Peace be with you all: Towards an “unarmed and disarming’”peace.‘ Celebrated on 1 January, this message invites us all – adults and children alike – to consider how we can help create a more peaceful world.

This year’s focus encourages us to imagine peace that isn’t built on fear or force, but on kindness, humility, and the courage to listen to one another. It reminds us that peace is both a gift we receive and a responsibility we share.

Some key ideas from the Pope’s message include:

  • Choosing peace over violence: We are invited to move away from attitudes of conflict and instead choose dialogue and understanding in our families, our community, and our world.
  • ‘Unarmed and Disarming’ hearts: True peace begins when we let go of anger, pride, and the desire to ‘win,’ and instead approach others with gentleness and respect.
  • Inspiration from St Francis of Assisi: As we prepare to mark 800 years since the death of St Francis, we are reminded of his example of simplicity, compassion and his ability to bring peace wherever he went.

As a school community, may this focus inspire us to nurture peaceful hearts, peaceful classrooms, and peaceful relationships throughout 2026.

Tina Nicotina
Religious Education Coordinator P–6