Churchill Avenue News

It is wonderful to be joining the Caroline Chisholm Catholic College community. The College’s connection to work in faith, for justice has been very evident so far this year, with key events already taken place and planning for future projects and occasions well underway.

The College staff started off the year with a Mass at Christ the King church celebrated by Fr Gerald Biñegas, with the hymns led by the staff musicians and singers. Included in the celebration was the blessing of the staff College badges presented to the new staff.

As part of the College’s 5 Year Staff Faith Formation Plan for Mission, the focus this year is on being “Formed in the Sacred Heart of Christ.” This also ties in well with our College theme for 2025 of Set us ablaze with the love of Jesus, based on the passage from the Gospel of Luke 3:16. This was unpacked by staff as part of our start of year preparations, exploring how might the idea of burning with Christ’s love transform our perspectives and/or actions.

Welcoming our new Year 7 students to the College on their first day was obviously an integral milestone in their educational journey. This moment marking a key event in their time here at Caroline Chisholm Catholic College, was observed with a Year 7 parent/carers liturgy held in our Blessed Benedict Daswa Hall. Here family and friends were able to light a prayer candle for our new Year 7 students as they began their secondary schooling.

The whole College community gathered in eucharistic celebration at our Commissioning Mass on Thursday the 6^th of February. It was a wonderful sharing of joy in not only welcoming the new year, but also officially commissioning our new staff, in particular our new principal, Dr Napoleon Rodezno.

Fr Silvio Bezzina was our celebrant for the mass. Following the mass Fr Silvio blessed our staff candles and college student badges, and alongside Tristan O’Brien - Director of Student Engagement, presented our newly appointed student leaders.

I would like to thank all those who assisted in preparing and leading the mass. To our musicians led by Matthew Lorentzen and choir led by Bell Foster. To our readers, altar servers led by Angelo Abela, communion ministers, audio-visual team, maintenance team and all those who contributed.

Social justice is at the heart of our mission to nurture not only the academic growth of our students but also their spiritual and moral development. Through the lens of Catholic teachings, we are reminded that we are all called to be agents of change in the world, striving to bring dignity, equality, and love to all people, especially those who are marginalised.

Although as a school all staff and students are part of our social justice commitments, we have a dedicated team of students and staff who make up our Social Justice committee. This is a group that any staff or student may join to help plan, organise and run events to promote justice and raise awareness to upholding the values of faith, compassion, and service, all of which are integral to our Catholic identity.

Our College also has a committed group of staff and students who run a Sustainability & Ecological Justice committee, dedicated to upholding our Catholic obligation to care for creation. Both groups have been busy in forming meetings, recruiting new members and discussing initiatives for the term and year ahead.

February 20 marks the World Day of Social Justice as part of the United Nations International Observances and this year’s theme is “Strengthening a Just Transition for a Sustainable Future”. Considering this and the efforts our college makes in raising awareness about social issues, the prayer for this newsletter reflects this, tying together with our College theme for 2025.

Michael Chesser
Director of Faith and Mission