Celebrations
Pilgrimage
A Holy Land pilgrimage led by the Vicar General, Monsignor Peter Meneely and the Executive Director, Pam Betts journeyed with 25 Archdiocesan leaders and followed the footsteps of Jesus during Lent.
The experience involved gathering in prayer beside the river where Jesus was baptised, standing in places where he preached to thousands or called just a few, experiencing the loneliness of the Garden of Gethsemane and mysteries of Mt Tabor, and walking the way of the cross pausing at each station marked on the walls of dwellings and shops.
To travel the path of Jesus' life and ministry from Bethlehem to Nazareth, through Galilee, down into Jerusalem and ultimately to the Mount of Olives, at the same time as we journeyed through Lent is a journey that matters and spiritually enriches us.
NAIDOC celebration a shared experience
MORE than 500 students at St Rita’s School, Victoria Point, embraced and celebrated the school’s diversity of cultures during NAIDOC Week.
With a little help and encouragement from Gracey McGrath and Kevin Eastment from BCEO, students learnt about and engaged in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ceremonies, culture and traditions.
Ngutana-Lui cultural tutor Robert Duncan and Chloe McGrath from St Francis College, Crestmead, led workshops that included boomerang throwing, dot painting, Indigenous games and cultural stories and music.
Canvas paintings of class totems were a major highlight at a whole school assembly. St Rita’s Assistant Principal for Religious Education Nathan Mulhearn said the school, which was grounded in strong cultural values, promoted the day with enthusiasm and vigour.
Sacred Heart milestone birthday
On 9 March 2019 Archbishop Mark Coleridge led Mass to celebrate 125 years of Catholic education in Sandgate. The school was opened in 1893 as two small cottages on the corner of Griffith and Sixth Avenue in Sandgate by the Sisters of Mercy. Celebrations for the ‘school on the hill’ invited current and former students, staff, parents, friends and the wider community to the weekend of celebrations. The celebrations were an opportunity for the school community to reflect on the kindness, faith and spirituality Sacred Heart School was built on.
Harmony Day
Cultural dance and story sharing featured at St Peter Claver College, Riverview, during a special assembly for Harmony Day celebrations. During the celebrations students from all year levels heard and felt the powerful messages conveyed through story, dance and sharing of food that ‘everyone belongs’.
Spirits were ignited as students witnessed a traditional Samoan dance, a Haka performed by Polynesian students, a dance from Kiribati and a Welcome dance and Mosquito dance from the Years 7-12 Indigenous students.
Year 11 student Ioka-Rose Walker spoke about her search to claim her Aboriginal identity and how proud she was to be part of the oldest living culture in history while Year 9 student Sapphire Brown invited her peers to consider what it was like to be judged by your skin colour
Marymount College’s anniversary year
Marymount College, Burleigh Waters, celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2018. Events to mark the occasion included a book launch, gala dinner, celebratory Mass and ‘Back to Marymount’ day.
Birthday celebrations for Star of the Sea
In 2018 Star of the Sea Primary School celebrated their tenth year with a celebration involving the former and current principal and students, parents and parishioners. Celebrations commenced with a special Anniversary Mass led by Parish Priest Ashley Warbrooke.
In 2009, this small Catholic school, which caters for students from Prep to Year 6, opened in the Cleveland Parish. The school has built strong connections with Stradbroke Island, with many students travelling from the island to school each day by water taxi.