Catholic Education Week Event
To celebrate Catholic education Week this year, Grade six children from Catholic primary schools joined the Emmanuel Year sevens for recess followed by a musical masterclass with Tom Ricardson. Tom was familiar to many as he is the musician and ‘conductor’ behind all abilities, ‘Find Your Voice’ Choir. It was great to see all our young people find their voices during this fun and entertaining time together whilst recognising the wonderful contribution Catholic schools and Catholic education make to our local community.
Message Stick Liturgy
To celebrate the arrival of one of five message sticks at Emmanuel College, two of our Year 7 classes, participated in a liturgy. We are very grateful for all those who read so well and participated in the liturgy. Students were told of the importance and story of the message stick, and what the symbols represent. The liturgy concluded with a prayer, and a reflection song about reconciliation by Yirrmal & Jordie Lane ‘For Everyone.’
Tree of Life
Our local Star of the Sea Parish also celebrated the 150th anniversary of the diocese. The joyous occasion was made memorable by the hospitality, music, and diversity of the congregation. There has been a gradual change to the make-up of our local church community with an increasingly diverse and multi-cultural community now evident. Such richness and diversity were highlighted with the launch of the ‘Tree of Life’. Much thanks go to the Emmanuel staff and students for creating the metal structure for the tree of life on which various ‘leaves’ already hang, some of which were produced at Emmanuel.
Edmund Rice Centre
Construction for the Edmund Rice Centre, the new home of Year nine and the 9@RICE program remains on schedule for completion by the end of November. Earlier in the year we witnessed an important milestone with the removal of the statue of Mary and the Christ Child from the top of the building on the corner of Canterbury Road and Bromfield Street that will be repositioned in the courtyard of the new Centre. Having sat atop the building for close to 40 years, the statue needs minor repairs and a good clean. Despite the lichens the beauty of the statue is clear, and we are all excited to see it find its new home at the heart of the Edmund Rice Centre.
Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal
This year Emmanuel participated in a free dress day where students contributed to the Project Compassion boxes raising $1250.35. Emmanuel’s Social Justice Team also coordinated the Athletics day BBQ and raised an additional $932.84. Combined we have been able to send $2183.19 to Caritas to help vulnerable people around the world, now and for all future generations.