Thirty five Year 12 students are the first cohort of students at St John’s to complete the new 'Studies in Catholic Thought' HSC course. This course commenced in Catholic schools across the state last year and focuses on an understanding of the Catholic faith through philosophy, theology and the arts. The students are to be congratulated on their diligence and openness to having their thinking challenged. Through participation in the course students have gained a deeper insight into what it means to be human, how to live a fulfilling life and why the common good serves the needs of society as well as the individual.

YEAR 7 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

For the past few weeks Year 7 Religious Education students have been working on an assessment task for the current unit titled 'Stewards of Creation'. Through completing the task, students discovered, made sense of and presented HOW and WHY they show care for all of God’s creation. Students were required to complete chosen activities from a matrix, one of which was a Season of Creation October calendar with a daily jolt for each day. A daily jolt is an action which demonstrates student responsibility for all components of creation. Below are examples of some daily jolts:

YEAR 8 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

As part of the unit titled Sacraments of Initiation, Year 8 Religious Education students have been recognising and valuing the place of ritual in human experience by considering their use at key moments of a person’s life. The below student work samples demonstrate a chosen significant life event, photo and description of the event's significance. The elements of these events that make them rituals were reflected upon before beginning to examine the rituals associated with Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.  

CLASS LITURGY

During Weeks 1 and 2 of this term, students in Years 7-10 have participated in a class liturgy via Zoom. The Year 10 liturgy focussed on how all of creation is connected as evident in the Canticle of Creation by Francis of Assisi. As part of the liturgy students spent time outside reflecting on the environment and then took a photo of an aspect of creation which promoted a sense of joy, hope, or awe and wonder. Some student examples are below.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN 

Based on the encyclical Laudato si by Pope Francis, the Catholic Church is embarking on a 7 year plan for the environment - The Laudato Si’ Action Platform. It is a seven-year journey toward ecological conversion and total sustainability that incorporates simpler lifestyles, moving away from fossil fuels and embracing renewable alternatives. A pastoral letter from Bishop Brian Mascord, the Bishop of Wollongong Diocese, was recently made available and outlines our diocese’s participation in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform.

 Click here for Bishop Brian's Pastoral Letter