Education in Faith

Achievements

We are guided by the Good Samaritan Philosophy of Education, its key message as follows: 'Catholic education in the Good Samaritan Benedictine tradition is committed to developing students who will engage with today's world as grounded, hope-filled young people who are equipped to lead wisely, to listen deeply and to treat their neighbour and their environment with justice, love and the compassion of Christ'. The 2020 theme of 'Shine your light for others' provided an inspirational context for students to think of their lives as a part of something bigger. This encouragement to empathise and think of the needs of others was particularly relevant last year as we navigated the complexities that COVID19 created. Although many of the College's programs were delivered online, the students were still able to engage as active learners of Mater Christi College and demonstrate a Christian response to social and environmental injustice as committed members of our catholic faith and our local and global communities. Students, through religious education classes, prayers, liturgies and reflections, continued to be aware of God's presence in their lives and explored their responses to the needs of others, in communities near and far. 2020 was a year like no other, and though we were faced with many challenges, the compassionate and caring spirit of the College shone through. Our faith in Jesus bolstered us through the hard times and the hope that comes with that faith was the foundation of many of our engagements with the students. College assemblies, reflections, retreat days, social justice fundraising, and weekly online community time provided opportunity for a range of presentations, resources and speakers to raise their awareness of the call to good works and justice, as highlighted in the gospel story of the Good Samaritan, and our commitment as followers of Jesus, to 'go and do likewise'.

VALUE ADDED

• Senior and Middle School Faith and Liturgy Captains, Social Justice and Stewardship

Captains, and House Captains demonstrated strong leadership in encouraging prayer, providing reflections and promoting social justice messages at assemblies, online prayer and meditation time, online community and year level and house meetings throughout the year. • Students responded positively to the variety of opportunities for prayer, reflection, meditation, community service and campaigns as part of their spiritual development and engagement in charity and advocacy. Though most of these were delivered online, our reflection days still included guest speakers who inspired and informed students about good relationships and areas of need in our community, locally, nationally and globally. • Students enhanced their leadership skills through actively engaging and involving other students in fund and awareness-raising activities and campaigns such as the Constitutional

Convention. Students continued their support for Project Compassion, Tinnies for Vinnies,

National Reconciliation Week, local refugees and asylum seekers, people faced with

homelessness, the Good Samaritan Inn for women escaping domestic violence, Good

Samaritan Kinder in the Philippines, as well as other local projects in areas of need including cooking for the Hills community casseroles when restrictions allowed it and writing letters to residents in aged care facilities. • In the Catholic Action program, students developed their understanding of community service on Catholic Social teaching principles. These included supporting the St Vincent de Paul Belgrave by raising funds to provide twenty five $50 food vouchers for distribution to local families in need, and via the Belgrave Tin Shed, serving a two-course meal for

Belgrave locals looking for a meal and some company. • In the Youth Ministry program students focused on spirituality awareness and leadership skills. Though online, students were still the leaders in liturgical activities, shared the

Gospel 'message' with their peers during Reflection Days and assisted with the preparation of primary school students for the Sacrament of Eucharist at local Catholic Primary school. • The Personal Project, in the Middle Years Program (MYP) of the International

Baccalaureate, provided students with opportunities to develop projects targeting social justice and stewardship. • Our whole school art project "Together 2020" encouraged the girls to contribute to a collaborative piece from lockdown and feel a part of something bigger than themselves.

Many students created leaves that formed part of a tree to symbolise that we are stronger together and that we can grow through what we go through. • Weekly community time allowed the girls to come together and participate in various activities to encourage a sense of community and wellbeing while we were apart. As part of this, regular prayer and meditation sessions were offered online. • Year 12 students were able to support each other through words of affirmation which were collated and posted to each of them in a care package to remind them that the whole of their year level as well as the College "had their backs" and were there for them during the challenging times.