Dear Parents and carers,

Thank you for the lovely welcome back. It has been another great week!

During Weeks 3 and 4, I had the privilege of joining the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong delegation at the 2024 Religious Education Congress in Anaheim, Los Angeles. The Congress proved to be a spiritually enriching and transformative experience. The Masses, liturgies, keynote addresses, and workshops featuring inspiring speakers reinforced my commitment to both personal and communal spiritual growth.

This year’s Congress theme was “Be Loved!” At the opening ceremony, Sister Rosalia Meza, VDMF, director of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ Office of Religious Education, invited us to reflect on the obstacles hindering our acceptance of God’s love. She emphasized, “It is not enough to perceive God’s love only once. The invitation and challenge are to choose this incredible truth of being a beloved child of God every day.”

During the closing Mass, Archbishop Gomez reflected on God’s love in the context of the Sunday Mass reading, which spoke of Christ’s call to repent and believe in the Gospel. He reminded us, “Jesus loves us for who we are, and he meets us where he finds us. But he never leaves us there." He encouraged us to renew our commitment to the vocation of discipleship, asking for new creativity and courage in serving the Church’s mission of bringing our world to Jesus.

The LA experience, which included educational, religious, and tourist highlights (Yes, Disneyland), contributed to the richness of our journey. Memorable school tours to St. Finbar’s, Burbank (P to Year 8) and St. Genevieve’s Panorama City, Los Angeles (P to Year 12) on Ash Wednesday provided valuable insights and connections with students and staff. Exploring Homeboy Industries, founded by Father Greg Boyle, and hearing stories of resilience, hope, and determination left an indelible impression. Homeboy Industries, the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program globally, offers hope and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated individuals.

Bonding with teachers and leaders from the Wollongong Diocese deepened our camaraderie and enriched our faith experiences. Throughout the journey, the connections we cultivated through shared stories, experiences, and discussions filled me with hope for the Catholic community and reinforced my sense of 'being loved', echoing the theme of the Congress.
Thank you to Mr Sykes, Mr Murphy, the leadership team and staff for all their work and support during my leave. I have enjoyed catching up with everyone.

BELOVED
Blessed are we, in every moment
Blessed are we, chosen and sent
Blessed are we loved beyond measure
Blessed are we! 

Mrs Vicky Davidson
PRINCIPAL