By Kylie Morrissey
Student Leaders from St Augustine’s College joined with Parish Pastoral Council members and parishioners for the Parish Partnership Luncheon on August 24. The initiative came about to strengthen the presence of the parish and foster relationships across the generations.
This time, the parishioners provided a meal for all to enjoy. Small groups of Student Leaders from Year 4, Year 8 and Year 12 gathered and enjoyed the plentiful offering and engaging conversation. Unlike previous occasions, which have been focused on building social connection, the recent luncheon included a short Q&A session. The Student Leaders pre-prepared five questions to ask of the parishioners which included:
• What led you to become a parishioner at St Augustine’s?
• Have you seen a change in the connection between the school and the parish in recent years?
• What do you think the parish could do to make Mass more engaging for younger children?
• What do you believe is the most important thing people take away after attending a Mass?
• Is there a strong sense of community among parishioners and regular churchgoers? If so, what kind of benefits does this community provide to the people who are members of it?
In a similar way, Parishioners asked the Student Leadership team to have a think about the following questions in advance of the Luncheon to guide the conversation.
• What is important to you as a student who attends a Catholic School?
• Do you have a sense of belonging to a faith/religious community?
• How can you help someone who is making poor choices in their life?
• How important are the sacraments (Baptism, Reconciliation, Holy Communion, Confirmation) to you?
• How might you stay connected to a faith or Church community once you leave school?
St Augustine’s is so very lucky to have a beautiful Our Lady of Peace Garden and Church equipped to host these kinds of events which students and parishioners can equally enjoy!
Kylie Morrissey
Deputy Principal – Catholic Identity and Community
St Augustine’s Primary School, Kyabram
