Breathe: The Spirit of Life 

As we break for the end of Term 3, our Marist theme, Breathe: the Spirit of Life, is a reminder of what these holidays could look like for many of us. Our Year 12’s will no doubt be feeling the pressure of heading into their first round of exams but should be reminded of the wise words of St Padre Pio “Pray, hope and don’t worry, worry is useless, God is merciful and will hear your prayer”. Through prayer and simply breathing, we can slow down these holidays, take time for family, friends, and ourselves. I will keep in my prayers our Year 12 students who finish formal classes this Term and hope they look back with joy on their time at Newman College.

Remar Graduation

This week our Year 12 Remar students completed their three-year journey of the Marist Youth Ministry Program. The program focused on leadership development, community, service, and prayer. 18 students journeyed together in Remar and the Graduation evening was an opportunity to reflect on where they have come from, how they have grown and how they will move forward.  Students thanked the staff who walked with them over the years, particularly Louise O’Mahony who met with students fortnightly to provide formation. Thank you also to Hannah Parker, Leader of Youth Ministry and Advocacy, who organised the occasion and will be concluding with the Ministry Team at the end of this Term.

This is the final year Remar will be facilitated at Newman College as the Marist Youth Ministry is concluded. However, students can still get involved with the new Marist Youth Ministry initiative, Game Changers. We currently have groups in Year 7, Year 8, Year 10 and Year 11. If your son or daughter is interested in getting involved please let us know.

Game Changers

Year 7 and Year 8 Game Changers students participated in a school clean-up for their final meeting for the term. Students recognised the importance of being part of a sustainable future and reflected on the words of Pope Francis “You are called to care for creation not only as responsible citizens but also as followers of Christ”.

On Friday September 17, our year 10 game changers set off for an overnight retreat up at Ern Halliday, Hillarys. The students were full of energy when they arrived and ready for an exciting day ahead. The leadership retreat focussed on students exploring how they can grow more in their Christian leadership skills by discovering how to live the Marist values of presence, humility, sensitivity, and audacity both individually and with each other.

By exploring pivotal moments in the mission and lives of Jesus in Galilee and Marcellin in La Valla, the students can discover how such moments bring clarity in helping to identify the true meaning and purpose of Christian mission – to be signs of God’s compassion and mercy to those in need. Students will be given opportunities during the camp to explore their own mission and group projects.

Students concluded their retreat on Saturday morning with a mass in the Marcellin campus Chapel, followed by a light morning tea. It was wonderful to have the students’ families come along to mass as well. Thanks to Liam Street, Marist Youth Minister who facilitated the program, Bonnie Keynes, Matthew Box and Hannah Parker who attended and supported the students.

Community Mass 

PK-12 Community Mass continues to be celebrated every Thursday morning, commencing at 8.10am. All families, staff and students are welcome. Community Mass will return on Thursday Week 1 Term 4. We look forward to welcoming you to the Champagnat Chapel.

St John Henry Newman Feast Day

Newman College was the first school in Australia named after the great religious thinker and leader of the 19th Century, John Henry Newman. Declared a Saint by Pope Francis in 2019, the Feast Day of St John Henry Newman is celebrated on Saturday 9 October. To mark the significance of this occasion, our K-12 Community will come together in celebration on Friday 15 October. All Students will gather for a combined Mass in the Marcellin Sports Centre.

Information was sent to families earlier this week.

This is another opportunity for our students to gather as a whole College community and live out our faith story as expressed in our Vision for Mission: to form ‘good Christians and Good Citizens’. We look forward to celebrating this very significant event in the life and history of Newman College.

Ministers of Communion 

Congratulations to Andrea Acuna, Sonia Bruce, Jack Daley, Joshua Downes, Emily Burgess, Sharya Ferdinandusz, Joseph Martin, Isabella Meyer, Isabella O’Rourke, Aneika Short and Joshua Thomas for their commitment to serving the Newman College community as Ministers of Communion. Students underwent formation training with Br Terry, Campus Minister who used the Archdiocese of Perth Guidelines to prepare students. This responsibility is a response to a call to be a model of faith to the students within the College and within their Parish life.

Perth iStand Conference 

Youth Mission Team will be hosting an iStand event these holidays. Click here for further details.

iSTAND Events are for students in year 8-12 (age 14-18 yrs) and are a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow young people in a welcoming environment while learning more about yourself, others and God.
This iSTAND Camp will include activities such as games, group activities, prayer, reflection, testimonies and talks.

• DATE: 1st – 3rd October
• TIME: 5.30pm Friday – 1.00pm Sunday
• LOCATION: Advent Park, 345 Kalamunda Rd, Maida Vale WA 6057
• COST: $140 inclusive of all food and activities

With two weeks left of Term Three, our Year 12 students are coming to the end of their time at Newman College and assessments are being scheduled across the life of the school, it is an important time to reflect on the College’s Vision for Mission: to form good Christians and good citizens and our Marist theme for 2021 Breathe: The Spirit of Life. This calls us to pause and reflect on our life and what is most important. I encourage all staff, students and families to give thanks for our experience, to reach out to friends or family in lockdown around Australia who may be struggling and to remember that as Marist’s we follow Mary’s example and place our trust in God and the plan God has for us. By trusting in God, we can recognise God’s love, grace and compassion and finish the term with the hope that we can truly let our light shine.

Governor’s Prayer Breakfast 

Newman College has launched its Christian Service Learning Program, Living Marist, with Year 7 and 8 students. The purpose is to engage students in service activities that challenge them to reflect, discern and act in the community. Students have participated in a range of activities across, recently supporting Lavalla and Marian students. Congratulations to our students and keep up the good work. There actions espouse the Marist values of Family Spirit and Love of Work.

Marist Connect Night 

As Marist school we offer students opportunities to engage in formation that allows them to meet with students from other Marist schools. For the second time this year, students gathered, this time at Bunbury Catholic College to reflect on their future and what it means to follow God’s call in their life. One of our Yr11 students reflects below.

On the 7th of September, 5 of the year 11 Gamechangers members along with Mrs Parker and Mrs Day-Perkins took off to Bunbury Catholic College for a connect night. Connect nights are organized throughout the year and allow Year 11 and 12 students from Marist schools to come together to connect and share ideas centred on the Marist principals.

Bunbury Catholic College is a Marist school set in the South-West of Perth. Once there we met a group of Year 11’s and 12’s and with the help of the teachers began to discuss school life through the Marist traditions. We started connecting by looking at ourselves and how we live according to faith. This conversation grew and soon enough we were having fun and connecting through activities like making paper airplanes that had fun facts written on them about each of us. After throwing the paper planes we then had to match the fun fact to the person. This is harder than what it seems especially when you are meeting for the first time but it still makes for a great activity allowing all of us to share a little bit about ourselves!

After some initial activities, we shared a meal. Where we continued to connect over pizza and talking about how we see life after school and our plans for our future. Finally, we heard from Liam Street, an ex-Newman student and the Marist Youth Ministry Leader who spoke to us about vocation and what to think about when we finish at school. Once he shared his story about finding his vocation, it was over to the teachers who formed a Q&A panel where they shared their vocational experiences.
Thanks Bunbury Catholic College for a great evening.

– Sonia Bruce, Year 11 student. 

Thursday morning Community Mass 

very Thursday morning family’s are invited to join students and staff to celebrate the Eucharist with local priests from our parishes. The final two weeks of our Community Mass see Thomas More and Year 4 in Week 9 and Romero and Year 3 in week 10. It has been such a blessing to welcome our Year 2 students to our Community Mass in line with our Vision for Mission and their transition to Year 3.
Mr Sullivan, Thomas More Guild Coordinator sent the following message to families earlier this term.

On Thursday the 16th of September at 8.10am, the Thomas More Guild is participating in their community mass for years 7-12 at the Marcellin Campus Chapel. This is an important time for students across the Marcellin Campus as it will be the last mass that Year 12 students will be a part of before they commence their exams as well as marking the start of transition into 2022.

I wish to extend the invitation to all family members of students in the Thomas More Guild. This can be past students, pre-high school children, grandparents and extended family. As the new Co-Ordinator for Thomas More guild I want to foster a sense of family spirit across all year groups.

I understand that there may be other priorities such as work that may get in the way of attending the mass, however it would be great to see families come together particularly in these uncertain times.
We look forward to seeing you in the Champagnat Chapel at 8.10am.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation 

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is an important part of our Catholic faith. This year, students across the primary and secondary have had the opportunity to celebrate this sacrament in year groups. The secondary students have been led by priests from the Redemptorist Monastery led by Fr Edmond Nixon and primary students have been led by Fr Kaz Stuglik from Floreat Parish. The sacrament is an opportunity for students to seek forgiveness and reflect on God’s love and mercy in their lives. We encourage all our families to participate in this sacrament through their local parish.

Floreat Parish Youth Mass

On Sunday 19 September, Floreat Parish supported by 24/7 Youth Ministry will be celebrating a Youth Mass. This celebration is an opportunity for students who recently received the Sacrament of Confirmation to come along and share in the Eucharist, games and light refreshments. We all encourage all our Year 6 families to come along and celebrate. The parish will be providing an experience for our young people every third Sunday. Mass commences at 9.30am at St Cecilia’s Church.

Ministers of Communion Preparation  

In line with our Vision for Mission: to form “good Christians and good citizens”, we have had some of our Year 11 students apply to participate in the ministering of Holy Communion. This means they will undertake training with Br Terry, reflecting on what it means to serve in the Church and the sacredness of the Eucharist. Congratulations to our students who have put their name forward to be leaders in this way at Newman College.

Special Marist Project: Marist Institute launches Global network

At Newman College we are proud to be part of Marist Schools Australia and an international community that shares a vision “to make Jesus Christ known and loved.” Recently, Newman College was asked to be part of the International Marist Institutes Global Network launch. On Wednesday 15 September, students from across the College will participate in creating a new logo for the network that seeks to demonstrate the diversity of our Marist community and its vision for our Marists communities to be “a place where we all belong!” Click here to learn more about this initiative and how it will help build a better place for young people in our world.