Catholic Identity and Mission
I am excited to introduce this year’s diocesan theme: Seeds of Hope. This theme invites us to celebrate our unity and strengthen the connections among our 14 diocesan schools. It offers a wonderful opportunity to share our faith and nurture the spiritual growth of our communities.
In alignment with Pope Francis’ declaration of 2025 as a jubilee year, ‘Seeds of Hope’ encourages us to reflect on the blessings of our shared faith journey and the positive impact we can have on one another and the world. Planting seeds of hope can be as simple as offering a smile, a gesture of friendship, a kind glance, a listening ear, or a good deed. By doing so, we foster an environment where love, compassion, and understanding can flourish. This, in turn, brings us closer as a community and inspires us to live out our faith every day.
We look forward to seeing how this theme will guide and inspire us throughout the year!
Welcoming the New Year with a Smoking Ceremony and Sharing Stories
We were blessed to begin our school year with a meaningful and significant experience led by Sam Mitchell from ADAC. Sam worked with our teachers during the first week and then engaged with our students on Wednesday, January 29th. He opened our school year with a traditional Aboriginal smoking ceremony, a powerful ritual that welcomes people to country and provides spiritual cleansing. This ceremony set a positive tone for the year ahead and reminded us of the importance of starting our journey with respect, connection, and hope.
After the ceremony, Sam shared a personal story about his uncle and father, who were taken from their family due to government policies affecting Aboriginal families from the 1800s until the 1970s. This moving account gave our students valuable insight into a significant chapter of Australian history that many may not have previously known.
Sam was highly professional, related well to the students, and shared his knowledge in an engaging and age-appropriate manner.
He also spoke about the upcoming Apology Day, which will take place on February 13th in Berri. As a key figure in organising this event, Sam explained how Apology Day aims to bring both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities together, fostering understanding, healing, and positive movement toward reconciliation. In support of this initiative, our students participated in a special activity that will be displayed at the Apology Day event, and we encourage everyone to attend. Please see the flyer for more details.
We are incredibly proud of how our students participated in this ceremony and respectfully engaged with the stories shared. Learning about our history and Indigenous cultures is one way that we can sow ‘Seeds of Hope” - we are taking small yet significant steps toward understanding, empathy, and reconciliation. Acknowledging the experiences of our Indigenous people is an essential part of the healing process, and we are committed to continuing this important journey together as a school community.
Rosemary Perre
APRIM
