Assistant Principal - Mission
Christ The King Community Celebration Sunday 24th November
Our parish community is wonderfully diverse, with many of us gathering together within schools, at chapels, and aged care centres throughout the year. Outside of our regular local gatherings, we sometimes hear about the wider community but rarely get the chance to come together as One Body.
Here is just a snapshot of some aspects of St Agnes Catholic Parish demonstrating the size of our Parish community. When you look at these statistics, you realise just how big the St Agnes Parish is and how many people are served in our local community in big and small ways. These are the 2023 figures:
- Nearly 4000 students from K to 12.
- Over 200 preschool-aged students.
- And another 950 people enrolled in post-school courses through the John Henry Institute.
That’s just the Education services!
On 24 November, we will be combining all Sunday Masses so we can celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King as One Body in a tangible way, with Mass here at the College at 10.00 am with food and festivities to follow.
We would love to have lots from our school community in attendance on this day. Many of our Senior Hospitality students will be here as well as many from the College Band Program and SSAPS Drumlines (junior and senior).
You can RSVP to attend, help by serving the community or even perform! Over the next few days, in the notices, there will be more information about how you could get involved or simply attend.
This is a valuable opportunity for students to demonstrate leadership and service within our Parish community.
Links:
- Please RSVP here so that we can ensure we cater for all
- If you would like to provide some entertainment with a performance, please complete this form
- If you can support this day by serving, please complete this form
Through Our Eyes Memoirs Project
- By Phoebe White and Zoe Cooke
We’re excited to share a little about a special project we recently completed called 'Through Our Eyes'. This project has been a big part of our lives across Terms 2 and 3, and it took us on a journey we’ll never forget.
Through Our Eyes involved a series of visits to Emmaus Nursing Home. Each of us was paired with a resident there, and over many sessions, we spent time with them, having conversations about their lives. These visits weren’t just quick chats—they were deep, meaningful conversations that allowed us to connect on a personal level with each resident.
It was incredible to hear the stories and memories our residents shared with us. Through these sessions, we got to know the significant events and important people who shaped their lives.
Zoe: My resident, Dorothy, was absolutely lovely. She openly shared her life experiences and opened my eyes to what life was like for her. It was an unforgettable experience being able to hear the story of her life and being able to see the joy on her face, as well as her family's face when she received her memoir, was priceless.
Each resident had a unique story, full of rich experiences and wisdom, and we were privileged to listen and learn.
Phoebe: My resident, Diane, is one of the sweetest people I have ever met, and I am incredibly grateful to have been able to learn the life story of such a beautiful woman. Diane was and continues to be a lady of many talents, and being able to see just some of her accomplishments on paper brought joy to me and all who were fortunate enough to see them. Diane got the opportunity to play the piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and she then became a local Port Macquarie celebrity and actress at the Players Theatre.
From these stories, we put together a book filled with their memories, stories, and photos. The book is a way to capture these moments and honour the lives of our residents. We tried to make each page reflect the beauty of their journeys so their stories live on, not only with them but with us and everyone who reads them.
The project culminated last week with a special presentation afternoon where the resident and some family members, as well as us and even some of our family members, gathered to unveil the finished works. It was so heartwarming to see how moved the residents and their family members were to have this special keepsake.
One of the best parts of this project was forming real connections. We all grew close to our residents, and those bonds made it so much more than just a school project. It was a chance to learn from another generation, gain new perspectives, and share in moments of laughter, reflection, and sometimes even tears.
Being a part of the Through Our Eyes project, we learned that everyone has a story worth telling and that taking the time to listen can teach us so much about life, resilience, and friendship. We’re incredibly grateful to the Emmaus Nursing Home residents for trusting us with their stories and to our school for supporting this project.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen: Mr Hyland, Mr McLeod, The St Agnes Pastoral Care team, The Emmaus staff and everyone who contributed in large and small ways. The project may be over, but the memories and connections we made will stay with us. We hope that one day, more students will have the chance to experience a project like this, to connect and learn through the eyes of someone else.
Annual Christmas Hamper Appeal
As a Catholic community, we’re called to live out Jesus’ commandment to love our neighbour as ourselves. One of the most meaningful ways we can do this is by considering what it might feel like to have nothing to celebrate on Christmas morning, while others around us are waking up to joy, gifts, and a table full of food. Jesus made it a priority to stand with those who are forgotten or struggling, and that’s exactly what we aim to do here with our Christmas Hamper Appeal.
For many years now, our Parish has come together to create and deliver hundreds of hampers to families facing tough times during the holiday season. It’s our chance to step into the real spirit of Christmas—the spirit of giving to others. Across all our schools in the parish, classes will be gathering items to build these Christmas hampers, reaching out to families in our broader community who need an extra hand.
This year, as we do every year, Pastoral Care groups will collaborate to put together these hampers that will provide all the essentials for a Christmas day experience. To make this possible it is a huge team effort. Every bit we contribute brings us one step closer to helping another family. Knowing that we can truly brighten someone’s Christmas is an amazing feeling.
It’s a real opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, and it’s heartwarming to see the joy on others’ faces when they receive a hamper unexpectedly. By working together, we can bring a little Christmas light to those who need it most. Let’s make this a Christmas to remember for everyone in our community!
Our Hamper Appeal launches this week but in Week 7 on Friday 29th we will have an Out-of-Uniform day as a major Hamper Donation Day. PC groups will have discussed and allocated the items to be donated. Students can bring items in before that day but that will be the day we finalise all donations.
Thank you for your support and remember the words of St Mother Teresa: "If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one." Or perhaps the words of Margaret Mead (author and anthropologist): “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
UPCOMING
● Catholic Missions Milkshake sale - Friday 15th November at Recess and Lunch - $3
● St Agnes Parish & Schools Christmas Hamper Drive with Hamper Donation Day with Out of Uniform - Friday 29th November
Mr Matthew Bushe
Assistant Principal - Mission