From Religious Education Curriculum

Encounter Discipline Mission

With only a few days of the HSC exams left to go, it is nearly time for our outgoing Year 12’s to spread their wings and begin their post school journey. A daunting time for all involved, I am sure. The excitement at beginning a new chapter combined with some anxiety about the unknown can definitely a little unsettling.  However, it provides an opportunity to take a moment to reflect on what their time at Lumen Christi has had to offer.

Being a Catholic school, Religious Education is at the forefront of what we are about. It extends well beyond the RE classroom and permeates into the way teachers and students interact, our sporting carnivals, retreat days, personal relationships and most importantly into the way we contribute to the wider community.

I had the fortune of listening to Archbishop Christopher Prowse talk about the Archdiocesan Year of the Holy Spirit (2023/2024) this week. He summed up the experience of the Holy Spirit in three key words. Encounter, Discipleship and Mission. To illustrate the point, he used the analogy of an eagle taking flight…

The Encounter is the eagle squatting down and using its legs to project itself into the world. This is our initial experience of God which for some may take place during their baptism and for others it is morning prayer in Pastoral Care on the first day of Year 7.

Next is Discipleship. The hard work. Maybe not deemed to be the coolest or most attractive element.  It is the constant flapping, where a lot of energy is spent, but a little goes a long way.

Finally… Mission. This is where we put all the good work into action. Hopefully this comes easy because of everything that preceded it. Like an eagle effortlessly riding updrafts for hours on end. It is positive relationships, a sense of purpose and in its most elemental form, love in action.

These three concepts are key to God’s presence in our world. I have no doubt that for some students, memories of the words ‘Be the Light of Christ’, the Beatitudes and the story of the Good Samaritan will haunt them (in a positive way) for years to come. As a teacher, I am constantly reminded of the positive impact Lumen Christi has on both the individual and the community. From the student who left school and opted for vocational training in Year 10, who turns up on my doorstep with a smile on their face ready to install a power outlet, right through to the student who completes the degree they had their heart set on since primary school, each person is a success, worthy of celebration.

I am sure that all in the school community would agree that the Holy Spirit is with the outgoing Year 12 cohort as they leave us and most importantly, that they are leaving us as conduits of God’s love in the world - ready to soar.