Newman News Term 1 Week 2: From the Deputy Principal Mission and Catholic Identity
‘Holy Today’ is the national theme which comes to each Marist community across Australia in 2019 from Pope Francis’ reflections on the call to holiness in today’s world. Pope Francis emphasises that we don’t need to look any further than our own street to experience the presence of God:
‘I like to contemplate the holiness present in the patience of God’s people: in those parents who raise their children with immense love, in those men and women who work hard to support their families, in the sick, the elderly religious who never lose their smile. It is a holiness found in our next-door neighbours, those who, living in our midst, reflect God’s presence’ (Gaudate et Exultate n.7).
In 2019, our Newman College community will seek to live out Pope Francis’ call to each of us by embracing:
- Joy and a sense of Humour
- Boldness and Passion
- Life in Community
As we make this bold journey together as a PK-12 community in 2019, may each of us set out anew, to pass beyond what is familiar, to the fringes and beyond to shape our College as a place where Jesus is alive, and in which each of us lets our light shine.
PK-12 Family Mass
Thank you to all students, families, and supporters of Newman College who joined our PK-12 Family Mass on Wednesday 13 February on the Br Terence Gleeson Oval. This is the third year that this important whole-of-College annual event has been celebrated. The evening gave us the opportunity to come together as an intentional Catholic-Marist community, and to share the Eucharist together as we begin this year as a united community. The evening was also an opportunity for us to commission the Year 6 and Year 12 student leaders for 2019. The College is grateful for the support of neighbouring clergy who are great friends to Newman College, and who concelebrated our PK-12 Family Mass:
- Fr Joseph Tran Parish Priest, St Francis Xavier Armadale
- Fr Grant Gorddard – Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Scarborough
- Fr Peter Hoang – Parish Priest, Our Lady of the Rosary, Doubleview
- Fr Emmanuel-tv Dimobi – Parish Priest, Holy Spirit, City Beach
Please click here to view more photos from the evening.
Year 11 Philippines Immersion – 2018
We congratulate the 14 Year 11 students from Newman College, and the two Year 11 students from our Marist sister-school (St Joseph’s, Northam) who undertook the 2018 Year 11 Philippines Immersion. Our 2018 immersion contingent were accompanied by Miss Clare Cole (Leader of Youth Ministry & Advocacy), Mrs Rebecca Bramanto (Leader of Wellbeing Year 11, 2018) and Mr Daniel Lynch (Deputy Principal Mission & Catholic Identity). Since returning, these students have presented their experience of the Immersion to the PK-12 Newman College staff, and at the first Principal’s Assembly.
The 2018 Year 11 Philippines Immersion students were:
Elizabeth Adams, Jack Burgess, Courtney Beveridge, Kiara Camisa-Cason, Matthew Giumelli, Clare Hogg, James Kerr, Stephen Loreck, Rayne McGowan – St Joseph’s, Northam, Benjamin Miniello, Alannah Peou, Megan Pethick, Cole Stevenson, Emily Tang, Anthea Todman and Jeklyn Wallis – St Joseph’s, Northam.
Please click here to view a video reflection prepared by the students.
Please click here to view and listen to an original poem, prepared by the students, with accompanying images to reflect on the experiences of the immersion.
As the year continues, our students will have a range of advocacy opportunities to promote justice and share their insights to grow a wider awareness among our College community.
Plenary Council 2020 – Listening & Dialogue (6 March – 2019)
In 2018, the Newman College PK-12 staff undertook a Listening and Dialogue session for the Plenary 2020. In the coming weeks, different groups of students at Newman College will also be given this opportunity to have their say regarding the future of the Catholic Church here in Australia as part of this national conversation.
On Tuesday 26 February we invite our wider community to take participate in a free Listening and Dialogue session. Click here for more information.
Please click here to visit the Plenary Council website.
Weekly Thursday Morning Community Mass (Champagnat Chapel – 8.10am – 8.35am)
All parents, guardians and families across our PK-12 College are invited to attend the weekly Thursday morning Mass celebrated by Fr Joseph Tran and Fr Mark Baumgarten. Our weekly Newman College Community Mass is an important way that we as a Catholic community seek to nourish and live-out our faith in community with one another.
Due to the Year 7-12 Guild Swimming Carnival taking place in Week 3 (Thursday 21 February) there will be no Mass on this day. Mass will resume on Thursday 28 February (Week 4).
Primary Religious Education Coordinator Update
Change to Prayer Assemblies – Lavalla Campus
The Lavalla Prayer assemblies will now take place on Monday mornings at 8.50am in the Br Theophane Hall. Parents are still most welcome to join this opportunity for prayer led by our students.
Receiving a Sacrament in 2019
Families are reminded to visit their relevant parish website for all information regarding 2019 Sacrament dates and registration. Alternatively please click here to access parish website addresses via the College website. The enrolment dates vary, so please take the time to clearly understand the process for your parish. Students in Years 3, 4 and 6 will undertake the preparatory work in class so they are able to receive the Sacrament in their local parish.
Leader of Youth Ministry & Advocacy Update
Youth Groups
24/7 Youth Group
St Joseph’s Subiaco has started a 24/7 Youth Group. It is open to all youth in Years 6-12 and occurs every Friday night from 6:30pm – 8:30pm at the Subiaco Parish Upper Room. Next week is going to be another fun and exciting night with some amazing games, food and an emphasis on getting to know one another. We encourage everyone to come along and see what it’s all about! Contact Aidan Walsh 0487 403 456 or Angela Firth 0455 960 174 for more information.
Floreat / Wembley Youth Group
St Cecilia’s Floreat / Wembley Youth Groups continues in 2019 every Sunday evening from 6.00pm – 8.00pm at the St Cecilia’s Parish Centre, 47 Peebles Road, Floreat. It is open to all youth in Years 6-12. At the next evening we will be exploring the first chapter of the story of the birth of Christ! Come down to Floreat this term for lots of fun and amazing games!!! Contact Sebastian 0403230395 or Emma 0412310019 for more information.
Appreciation – Saint Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Christmas Hampers
“We would like to express our great thanks to the students and families of Newman College for the items they donated to be used in the recent Christmas Hampers. The people who received these hampers had a more enjoyable Christmas than would have otherwise been the case. We also express our gratitude to the staff members who co-ordinated the collection of the hamper items. We highly value the wonderful support we have received in the past from Newman College and look forward to continuing our relationship in the future”. Mr Andrew Burchfield, Secretary Wembley/Floreat SVdP Conference
“The Woodlands Conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society extend a big thank you to the staff, students and parents of Newman College for their generous donation of food and gifts for this years’ Christmas Hamper Appeal….” Read more Mr Fred Symons, President Woodlands SVdP Conference
National Remar Conference
The National Remar Conference was held from Sunday 10 February – Tuesday 12 February at The Hermitage, Mittagong, NSW. The conference, facilitated by the Marist Youth Ministry Leadership Team and the Marist Life Formation Team, brings together Remar Coordinators and Helms from around Australia in order to participate in workshops and practical thematic discussions, listen to keynote speakers about Remar and the 2019 Marist theme ‘Holy Today’. It was a fantastic opportunity to network with those currently working within Youth Ministry in Marist Schools across Australia.
Laudato Si’ (On Care for Our Common Home)
Laudato Si’ is the second encyclical from Pope Francis. In it he appeals to “every person living on this planet” for an inclusive dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. Pope Francis calls the Church and the world to acknowledge the urgency of our environmental challenges and to join him in embarking on a new path. This encyclical is written with both hope and resolve, looking to our common future with candor and humility. There’s an opportunity to take part in a Laudato Si’ weekend (8 – 10 March) in NSW. Please click here for further information.