On Wednesday evening this week, we welcomed back our Year 11 students who have been visiting the Philippines on immersion for the past ten days. During this time, students visited three organisations, each dedicated to improving the lives of young children and members of their community through the provision of education, family support, housing, and other social services. Additionally, students also visited the Marist Asia Pacific Centre which is where young Marist brothers across the region come for their formation, as well as the local Marist school, which like Newman College, has approximately 1800 students ranging from the age of 5 to 18 years of age.
One of the things students were most struck by on their journey, was their visit to Olongapo City and the PREDA Foundation. Celebrating their fiftieth anniversary this year, students met with their founder, Fr. Shay Cullen. As a young Irish missionary, he arrived in the Philippines ready to do all the things normally expected of a young priest – celebrating masses, spending time in the community, and speaking with school children. But as he said in his own words, he soon came to discover that no matter his work, it was clear in the city that ‘vice had conquered virtue’. Over the next 50 years, Fr. Shay worked hard, alongside the community, government agencies, and human rights organisations to improve the lives and experiences of thousands of young boys and girls.
Fr Shay shared his story to illustrate to students the importance of putting action to our faith. Whilst we can go to mass each Sunday, and learn in class about the life of Jesus, this means little if we are not prepared to live out the Gospel values in our everyday gestures and actions. Fr Shay was very real in his assessment to our students – he did not expect that we would come and ‘change lives’ in our few days at the Foundation, nor did he expect that our students would return home to live lives as dedicated missionaries. But what he did communicate to the students, is that no matter where they may find themselves in the world, whether it be as a teacher, doctor, electrician, or salesperson…that we find some time in our life to give service to others. In some small but meaningful way, that we can live our lives not just for ourselves, but for our community – especially for those who are poor, vulnerable, or who need protection.
Christian Service Learning
At Newman College, we encourage this faith in action through our Christian Service Learning program. This has given many students over the years the opportunity to develop a Christian spirit and to experience what it means to not just espouse a Christian life, but to live it too. We also know there are many of our families and staff who give of their own time in the community too, providing a first-hand example for our students to learn from.
This year, we reviewed our Christian Service Learning program to include students in our primary school, so that they may also have the chance, at a level appropriate to their age, to engage in service to others. We have also examined how Christian Service looks in the secondary school – highlighting the Gospel values that underpin service at each year level, and seeking to tie this into what students are learning in Religious Education, as well as our Marist characteristics.
I would invite families to read our proposed program in the link below, sharing any questions or feedback via the feedback link. It is our great hope that as a College, and more importantly, as a community, we can seek to build a Christian spirit of service in all of our students, helping to fulfil Marcellin Champagnat’s vision to form good Christians and good citizens.
Thank you for your donations towards the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hamper Appeal. Even though we are not able to include fresh food in the hampers, the hampers are very keenly sought after by those we help. Many less well-off members of our community are really finding it difficult to feed their families and provide a roof over their heads. Your help is very much appreciated by them.
Thank you. Happy Christmas.
Br John Furlong
President of the Floreat-Wembley Conference of the St Vincent de Paul
Christmas Mass Times
Our Lady of the Rosary, Doubleview
Christmas Eve Tuesday December 24
6.00pm Family Mass
8.30pm Carols – Mass 9.00pm
Christmas Day Wednesday December 25
8.00am Mass
10.00am Mass
Christmas Eve at 6.00pm would be the main family Mass.
St Cecilia’s, Floreat
Christmas Eve Tuesday 24 December
6.00pm Mass
Christmas Day Wednesday 25 December
9.30am Mass
Holy Spirit, City Beach
Christmas Eve, Tuesday 24 December
6.00pm Christmas Vigil Children’s Mass (Carols at 5.30pm)
