St Luke’s Catholic College sitting in Sydney’s North West is a diverse community made up of 900+ students K-9 from very different backgrounds. Bishop Vincent Long, the Bishop of the Parramatta Diocese in which St Luke’s is located, talks about Catholic schools being Catholic schools for all, not just for Catholics. This is a message that is both refreshing and challenging, particularly as the Head of Mission.
To be an authentic Catholic school it is the faith aspect that sets us apart from other schools. In having such a diverse school community the challenge is in meeting all community members where they are in terms of their spiritual journey. This becomes more complicated with the number of students from different faith backgrounds.
In teaching Religious education all students receive instruction in the Catholic faith. As many of our students are not Catholic different perspectives are welcomed. From my perspective, I ask students to share what their faith teaches. If anything all students are asked to reflect on their personal spiritual journey, question their faith and hopefully strengthen their faith in the process – whatever their faith may be. For those disconnected from faith I pray that my witness to my faith introduces them and leaves little spiritual invitations that one day I pray they take up.
As part of a Catholic school, liturgy plays a central role. Within liturgy comes the importance of respect, reverence, and response. These things become difficult when students do not have a background in the church. Since the start of the school in 2017 liturgy has been evolving, every time trying to meet students where they are at. In an attempt to reach students we are working with music in an attempt to meet the students where they are.
In the development of St Luke’s a school cross has been designed and plays a central role in the narrative of St Luke’s. It is contemporary in its design and also the way in which all are invited in to the relationship with Jesus Christ. The narrative helps students and provides an invitation for them to belong to this contemporary faith and learning community.
My dream for the students and staff in our school is that they know the story, can tell the story and can embody the story of Jesus Christ. For those of different faiths, I hope that they learn about Jesus, question and learn about their faith so that their faith is strengthened in the process. I pray that all students whatever faith background they have are formed holistically including as the Jesuits would have it, head, heart, and hand so that in the fullness of life each individual flourishes.