Newman Newbies: From The Deputy Principal, Mission and Catholic Identity
‘We educate above all through being present to young people in ways that show we care for them personally. We make time for them beyond merely professional contacts, getting to know each one individually. Personally and together as a group we seek to establish relationships with them, founded on love, which create a climate for learning and an educational setting, for passing on values, and for personal growth’.
(Article 99 – In the Footsteps of St Marcellin Champagnat)
The ideals shared across the 83 countries around the world in which Marist education in the tradition of Saint Marcellin Champagnat is present, are reflected in the extract above from In the Footsteps of St Marcellin Champagnat. At Newman College, we seek to be a vibrant, local expression of these ideals in our commitment to developing each young person in our care in a holistic way that seeks to invite each to reach the fullness of life socially, emotionally, spiritually, intellectually and physically. We do this as an intentional community of faith and learning in which we are unified by our shared appreciation for the place of our Catholic faith and its unique Marist expression. It is within this climate of learning that we seek to establish a nurturing educational setting in which our values may become sign-posts to grow and support each member of our community.
NEW YEARS’ 7–12 SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM
A new opportunity has been extended by the Archdiocese of Perth for Secondary schools to develop age-appropriate preparation programs that support secondary-aged students who may have missed the opportunity to prepare and receive the sacraments in Primary school. This model is a first for secondary schools, and provides an opportunity for the College to provide a school-based preparation program that connects students to local parishes to then receive the sacraments. Here at Newman College, we have had a number of families express the desire for their daughters and sons to have the opportunity to prepare to receive the sacraments in Secondary school. In this Year of Youth, Bishop Donald Sproxton (Auxiliary Bishop – Archdiocese of Perth) has extended this opportunity to all secondary students in our Archdiocese on behalf of Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB.
YEAR 11 PHILIPPINES IMMERSION
On Friday 23 November, 16 Year 11 students and 3 accompanying staff members embarked on the 2018 Year 11 Philippines Immersion. This included two students from our sister school, St Joseph’s College in Northam. The Immersion is another practical way in which our Marist communities seek to build opportunities for solidarity, community engagement, relationships and connections between Western Australia and the Philippines.
Students were taken to key places such as PREDA Foundation, Fatima Centre and Kuya Centre. The group also had the privilege of living in harmony and collaboration with the Aeita Indigenous Village of Alibang, where they develop organic, free trade and sustainable practices for preserving indigenous culture.
ANTI-POVERTY MASS
Catholic school students, staff and Church agencies gathered together on Tuesday 16 October to celebrate the Anti-Poverty Mass, held in recognition of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and as part the Year of Youth. The Mass was run by Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM) and held at Good Shepherd Church, Lockridge Parish in collaboration with Catholic Mission, Caritas, St Vincent De Paul Society, LifeLink, and the Liturgy Office. Four Year 10 students from Newman College attended the Mass which was designed to inspire, encourage, support, and affirm the actions and efforts of young leaders in schools, parishes and university communities, in working towards ending poverty at home and abroad. For the second year running, Newman College supplied and carried the Anti-poverty Cross bearing positive messages from students who attended the Mass last year. Click here to access the article about the Mass in this month’s ‘The Record’.
REMAR BLUE SOLIDARITY CAMP
The Remar Blue Solidarity Camp took place between 22 August and 28 August in Mullewa, a small country town 500km north east of Perth. This camp was a “live in” experience where we were able to be the ‘hands and feet of Christ’. It gave us the opportunity to experience ‘service’ in a prolonged context, whilst deepening our experience of communal living within a Christian context. Click here to read more and see more photos and a video from the camp.
