Deputy Principal: Faith and Mission

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Loving God,
in this Easter season, we remember that Jesus is alive
and continues to walk with us each day.

As a community of students, staff, families, and friends,
help us to recognise him in our ordinary lives:
in our learning, friendships, and shared moments.

Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd,
the Bread of Life,
the one who knows, leads, and nourishes us.
Strengthen our faith, so that we may trust you more deeply
and grow in relationship with you.

We thank you for the reminder in your Word that when you prayed for “them,”
you were also praying for us.
Protect our community, guide us in your truth, and help us to remain united.

With our mid-year exams upon us, we place all students before you.
Give them calm minds and steady focus.
Support those who find study difficult, those who feel overwhelmed,
and those who struggle to concentrate or prepare.

Encourage all who are trying their best; remind them that effort matters,
that growth takes time, and they are more than any result.

May each student know your peace, strength, and the quiet confidence that comes from being supported and loved.

Send us all out into the world with courage into our classrooms, homes, and wider community to live with kindness and truth.
When we face challenges, remind us that we are never unprotected, never alone.

As we prepare for Pentecost, open our hearts to the gift of the Holy Spirit,
the Advocate who guides, strengthens, and stays with us always.

May we be a community filled with Easter joy, living with confidence, hope, and faith,
knowing we are known, protected, and sent.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord,
Amen.

Forming a Franciscan Community

To help our community grow in knowledge and understanding about the Charism of St Francis, I will occasionally link for your reading, articles which will unpack for you the life and teachings of St Francis of Assisi – the person whose discipline, or rule, St Clare of Assisi, St Catherine of Bologna and St Maximilian Kolbe, all dedicated their religious life to following.

FSA (Franciscan Schools Australia) recently alerted me to some articles produced by Dan Horan. For this newsletter, I offer you this very provocatively titled article, ‘St. Francis teaches us that to obey Christ is sometimes to disobey the Church’ where the writer reflects on two examples in St Francis’ life where he intentionally followed the Gospel rather than the decrees of his Church at that time.

Very interesting reading.

This term, Kolbe has acknowledged the Marian month of Mary on both campuses, with St Clare’s offering a time of devotion called ‘Mondays for Mary’. In one of the chapels we have gathered to reflect on a different daily meditation then prayed one or more decades of the Rosary. These mediations were translated from the Chaldean meditations for Mary, a resource created by Stavro George, our Vice-captain Faith – a labour of love for which we are grateful. On St Catherine’s campus, Mr Martin Nguyen and the three Year 7 faith leaders have been offering creative activities for students each Tuesday lunchtime to honour Our Lady.

Year 11 students who are interested in applying for the ACU / MACS Young Leaders’ Program are now preparing their application form and reading two set articles, in preparation for their interview to represent Kolbe as our nominee for the program. This annual experience offers 10 Melbourne students and ten Sydney students a place on an intensive three-week study program in Rome and London held in late November and early December each year. (More information about the program was posted on Kolbe Engage as families with younger students can learn in advance of this program and prepare for it.) Whilst we can only nominate one student, we are lucky to have interest from at least five students, all of whom would be worthy candidates. It is unfortunate we can only nominate one! In our next newsletter I will update you on the progress of our application.

Each day in Kolbe, staff and students can read, reflect and pray on the set Gospel reading of the day and during this season of Easter, but prior to Pentecost, the Catholic lectionary is deeply focused on John’s Gospel, which helps believers understand what it means to live as Easter people.

From Holy Week onwards, we have explored these themes in our daily PowerPoints:

Easter Week - Encountering the Risen Jesus

Jesus appears and there is confusion. Students learn that Jesus is alive and still meets us in our ordinary life.

Easter Weeks 2, 3, and 4 - Belief and Following

John’s Gospel: ‘I Am’ – the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life. Jesus has conversations about belief and trust that he is a shepherd, guide and source of life. Students learn that faith is relationship not just intellectual. They are called to believe that Jesus knows, leads and nourishes his followers.

Easter Weeks 5-7 - Being Sent into the World

We read about Jesus preparing his disciples for when he will no longer be with them physically. He emphasises their mission, to be unified, and God’s continued protection of them.

This week John 17 with its repeated “They” → the disciples → us, reminded us that we have been sent into the world but would be protected from evil. John encourages believers to understand that it was Jesus’ fervent desire that his followers live in the truth and believe that remain as one.

Students have been taught that they are not just followers, but sent, and although they will face challenges, they are not unprotected. Hopefully this faith will give them confidence and purpose in the real world

Later this week, in the lead up to Pentecost, we will read of the promise of the Advocate (the Holy Spirit) who is sent to guide, strengthen and remain with us. This is a comfort to believe that we are never left alone, God’s presence continues through the Spirit.

Blessings to you all.

Siobhan Loukomitis
Deputy Principal - Faith and Mission

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