Faith, Mission and Learning

Welcome back to term 2.

This term will be another busy term of Faith building activities and fundraising initiatives.

This Thursday will be our opportunity to give thanks to the important women in our lives, at our St Andrews mothers day breakfast. This will be followed by Mass at St Andrews parish at 9 am. If you have not registered for the breakfast you are still most welcome to attend Mass.

Our Year 10 student volunteers have recommenced their visits to the Holy Family Nursing Home. These students are to be commended for the way they conduct themselves as embassadors of St Andrew’s. The residents are most grateful for the students giving of their time to visit them.

Year 7, 9 and 10 students all have their reflection Days this term. The Year 10 students will have their  Faith in Action Day on the 19th May 2023 where they will have the opportunity to consider what it is like to live their faith in everyday life. The students will attend a morning session that will encourage them to consider their vocation, and how to discern God’s will in their lives. They will then have the opportunity to be the hands of Christ  and engage in community service at the Holy Family Nursing Home. The students on rotation in their House groups will also attend sessions on Faith in Sport, Social Justice Society and SAC FAM Youth, to allow them to receive a holistic experience of a life of Faith that is complementary to the schools SPIRE framework. Further details on the schools reflection days will be sent to students and parents in the coming weeks.

Vinnies Winter sleepout is on Friday 16th June 2023, and is our main fundraising initiative for this term.  This will be open to Year 12 students to experience life as one of the less fortunate in society, while raising money for St Vincent De Paul Society. 

Jesus was most concerned with the poor, a concern that reaches deep into our Jewish roots that made provision for the poor widows and orphans- “If you ever wrong them and they cry out to me , I will surely listen to their cry.” Exodus 22:21-22. Pope Francis takes upon his mantle the needs of the poor and speaks out against societies that rush indifferently past the poor instead of helping them. St Andrews has a proud history of social justice and helping those less fortunate within our Faith in Action initiatives. We can be proud of our student volunteers who are so willing to always put their hand up when seeing a need. Along with the Vinnies winter sleepout, students will engage with the community as Vinnies Van volunteers, in our Social Justice Society, as Catechists and as visitors to Holy Family Nursing Home. Let us pray for  and give thanks to our students as they continue to be the face of Christ for others.

Andrew Hoare

Director of Faith Mission and Learning.