We had the privilege of hosting the annual Catholic Mission Socktober Launch on Wednesday 3 September, welcoming over 200 attendees with representation from 20 schools across Melbourne, along with special guests from Catholic Mission and the Melbourne Archdiocese of Melbourne.
The day began with a beautiful liturgy celebrated by Regional Bishop Martin Ashe and Fr Jackson Saunders, from Bendigo. The opening banner procession, readers from different schools, and our choir who led us in every hymn, including the Jubilee Hymn Pilgrims of Hope, all set the tone for a prayerful and hope-filled celebration. At the heart of the liturgy and the day was the work of Catholic Mission and the 2025 Socktober focus: raising awareness for communities in Zambia, to help ensure children have access to food and education, giving them the chance to build a brighter future.
Following the liturgy, our Faith Team and student leaders guided guests on a Charism Tour around the College. With seven reflection stops, participants were invited to engage with the Josephite charism through prayer, symbol, and storytelling. From lighting candles and praying the Hail Mary to holding maize in our hands, each stop connected deeply to the theme of mission and the call to solidarity with our sisters and brothers around the world.
The event also featured a vibrant Hope Hub, where students could create inspiring mission badges, or rosary bracelets, or take a selfie with our life-sized cutout of Pope Leo. Workshops provided opportunities for creativity and reflection, including exploring rich imagery and making the classic recyclable Socktober soccer balls that embody the campaign’s theme.
Our day began with a heartfelt Acknowledgement of Country and concluded in prayerful unity as we each held a stone, a symbol of humility, diversity, and our shared humanity. Hospitality was woven throughout the day as we enjoyed morning tea and lunch together, strengthening our bonds as a community of faith and mission. We are especially grateful for our partnership with Catholic Mission and the guidance of Youth and Engagement Officer Rachel Prince, whose vision and support helped bring the event to life.
It was a wonderful experience seeing a wide range of primary and secondary school students come together. Throughout the day, we learned about the women and children in Zambia who are currently struggling with poverty, and how our Josephite spirit connects with the call of the Catholic Mission. We engaged in the activity of creating a sockball out of old clothing and paper scraps, giving us a glimpse into how children in Zambia create their own entertainment with limited resources. All the information we took away was valuable and made many of us realise how fortunate we truly are. A key takeaway from that day for me was the call to help others with “kicking goals.” Aligned with our College theme “Be the Light that Ignites Hope,” I realised that through this initiative, we are becoming a source of hope for the people in Zambia and supporting them in achieving their goals.
Chloe Whelen - Year 11
Thank you for your patience as we finalised the results of our Feast Day fundraising efforts. I am delighted to share that, thanks to the incredible support of our community, we raised a record-breaking $8,455.92! With 27 student-led fundraising stalls running, the day was a wonderful celebration of community spirit, generosity, and fun. This success was made possible by a combination of factors: the greater variety of stalls on offer, a more strategic approach to stall selection, the encouragement of generous personal donations, and the enthusiasm and dedication of our Learning Mentors and their groups in preparing and running the stalls. Most importantly, we sincerely thank our families for their support, whether by donating items or providing funds for your child to spend on the day.
This term we farewell a significant member of our Faith Team, Mr Robert Herrera, who first joined the College in 2021. Over his time, Robert has taught Biology, Italian, and Religious Education, and has served with dedication in leadership roles as a Faith Leader and, for the past three years, as our Religious Education Domain Leader. We are deeply grateful for Robert’s fine contributions to the faith life of our College, particularly through his leadership of the Religious Education curriculum and his commitment to enriching the spiritual formation of our community. Robert has now been appointed Director of Catholic Identity & Mission at Marian College, Sunshine, and we wish him every blessing and success as he begins this new chapter in his journey of faith and leadership.
Have a wonderful spring break! Looking ahead, we are excited to celebrate our Year 12 Class of 2025, while our Year 8 students will take part in their Reflection Day with Emmanuel College on Wednesday 22 October. At the beginning of Term 4, you will also receive a letter outlining our early Advent in Action appeals. Our senior students will be supporting Big Group Hug, a local children’s charity, while our junior students will continue the treasured tradition of collecting items to create Christmas Hampers filled with food and festive treats for families supported by our local Vinnies Conference.
Mrs Anne Severi - Director of Catholic Identity
