Faith, Mission and Learning

Vinnies Winter Sleepout

Our Year 12 students responded in force to the opportunity to support the less fortunate in society during the Vinnies Winter Sleepout on the 16th June. 72 St Andrews Year 12 students braved the elements and slept rough, some building cardboard fortresses to enable them to endure the cold during the night. Prior to bedding down the students engaged in a campaign led by the St Andrews Social Justice Society, to enable the students to provide a response to the issue of Homelessness in Australia. Miss Tan’s special guest speaker Tommy Francisco, sang his song to the students called Homeless, before answering questions from the students regarding his faith and experiences. The students were provided with only a slice of bread and a cup of vegetable soup for dinner, then along with Mr Frankham and Mr Lewandowski went out to face the winter night. The students' morning reflections demonstrated the difficulties they endured attempting to sleep outside, and a newfound appreciation for all they have, and what homeless people have to endure. Thank you to Miss Tan, Mr Finnerty and Mr Kolek for their contributions to supporting our students for the night, and Mr Frankham and Mr Lewandowski for sleeping outside along with the students. The students raised $1137 in support of this worthwhile cause.

Year 9 Reflection Day

Year 9 students participated in their reflection Day on 16th June 2023.

The day was hosted by  YMT (https://www.ymt.com.au/) who encouraged the students to more fully appreciate the gift of their dignity and worth by coming to know God more personally. During the session the students also considered that it is both possible and desirable to know Jesus as an intimate friend. The students engaged in drama skits, Ice-breakers and had small group discussions to discuss who is “The Real Me.” 

The highlight of the day was the “Personal sharing with Jesus session,” where the students were able to venerate and sign the cross and reflect on their relationship with him.

The students thoroughly enjoyed the day and gave the YMT program the thumbs up. Thank you to Ms Harwood, Mr Chiapetta, Mr Alata, Mr Ison, Ms Garcia and Miss Amiri who assisted and supported our Year 9 students on the day.

Unity Day Liturgy - Pentecost.

Our Unity Day Liturgy was the perfect way to ask for God’s Blessing as we began St Andrews Unity Day. In our Liturgy we focused upon Pentecost, the time when people were all united by the Holy Spirit coming upon them as tongues of fire, allowing people to speak in many different languages. Led by Fr Kevin Redmond our students engaged in a Pentecost experience, as they read the Prayers of the Faithful in 10 different languages that are spoken within the College. Thank you to Cooper Shield for the introduction, Cate Astillo and Romeo Atengco who spoke Tagalog. Youssef Tannos who spoke Arabic, Isabelle Metcalf and Samara Pineda Otalvaro Spanish. Garry Singh Punjabi, Luke Binney who spoke English, Priyansha Krishna Fijian Hindi, Suwanthi Edirisinghe who spoke Sinhalese. Makoi Malual Dinka, Teddy Worku Amharic, and Joanna Owusu who spoke Twi. The Holy Spirit generates diversity in every age, he causes new and varied gifts to blossom in all people, then he brings about unity, he joins together, gathers and restores harmony, uniting the whole world. St Andrews celebrates this unity every day as we continue to walk together, work together and love each other, as a community, and as the one Body of Christ.