Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
And kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created.
And you shall renew the face of the earth.
God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit,
Did instruct the hearts of the faithful,
Grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy his consolations.
Through the same Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
Pentecost - The Holy Spirit
Last Sunday we celebrated Pentecost, when the extraordinary gift of the Holy Spirit, poured out upon Mary and the Apostles as recounted in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1-13). This transformative event bore immediate fruit. In the days that followed, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, healed a crippled beggar and enabled a man lame from birth to walk. He called on others to "repent, therefore, and turn to God". The early Christian community shared all their possessions, and the number of disciples grew rapidly.
These events remind us of the power of the Holy Spirit, a gift each of us possesses. We, too, have the potential to transform our communities when we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit and allow His grace to work within us. This is why it is important to give opportunity to members in our community opportunities to encounter the Holy Spirit and consider: How we can bring healing to those in our community? Are there opportunities for us to speak the truth with courage and love? How are we sharing the many blessings we have been given for the benefit of others? It was the sending of the Spirit that we celebrated last week in the feast of Pentecost and it is the unity of Father, Son and Spirit that we celebrate this week in the Solemnity of The Most Holy Trinity. Let us pray that we will continue to recognise all three expressions of God’s loving presence within our lives.
Australian Catholic Youth Festival 2025 – A Powerful Faith Experience for Our Young People
We are delighted to inform Parents/Carers that the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) is coming to Melbourne from 30 November to 2 December 2025, and our College is preparing to take students to this exciting national event.
Organised by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, ACYF gathers thousands of young people (Year 9–25) for three days of celebration, inspiration, and faith. The Festival features dynamic speakers, live music, workshops, Eucharistic Adoration, and opportunities for young people to engage deeply with their faith in a way that is real and relevant to them.
For young people today—who are often searching for meaning, belonging, and purpose—ACYF offers a powerful encounter with the joy and beauty of a living Church. Surrounded by their peers, students will be encouraged and inspired to grow in confidence and in their relationship with Christ.
The Festival will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Students will travel to and from the College each day (this is not an overnight event).
We are currently inviting Year 9 and Year 10 students to express their interest in attending. To register your interest, please complete the short form here:
👉Students Expression of Interest Form
You can learn more at acyf.org.au or view a short promo video here: Watch Video
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact:
Sr Lawrence (College Chaplain) – srlawrence@crccs.vic.edu.au
Angella Francis (Youth Minister) – afrancis@crccs.vic.edu.au
We look forward to offering our students this life-giving opportunity to grow in faith, friendship, and joy!
Year 10 Faith Formation Day
On Thursday 29 May 29, Year 10 students participated in their Faith Formation Day. The cohort was divided into two groups, one traveled to Holy Cross Centre in Templestowe, and the other to Amberley Retreat Centre in Lower Plenty. My Religion class and I attended the Templestowe location.
We began with an hour-long bus ride before arriving at a strikingly broad building. Its copper brown exterior was weathered and covered with plants and moss growing between the bricks truly a fascinating sight.
Upon entering, the five classes gathered in the center of a large room. Our facilitator, Robin, was an energetic, kind mother of two and an excellent storyteller.
To introduce ourselves and help Robin get to know us, we played some icebreaker games, including 'Would You Rather' which featured some quite interesting questions and answers.
After settling down and viewing a couple of videos, we were introduced to Ezekiel, a friend of Robin's and our next speaker. Ezekiel shared how he worked in prisons and juvenile centers, helping those who needed support the most.
During Ezekiel’s talk, he addressed themes of bitterness and revenge, emphasising that these feelings should not dominate our lives. He encouraged us to surrender such negative emotions to God, reminding us that the past is behind us and we should not let it obscure our future.
During our break, my friends and I explored the large, lush backyard that led into a small forest behind the building. We spent our free time talking about the presentations, running around, and even dancing, making the most of our time.
For the final session, Fr. Samuel spoke about the beauty of confession and the importance of God in our lives. After his talk, we had the opportunity to write a letter to God for personal reflection or to go to confession.
I used this time to write in my letter, releasing my worries and focusing on the music and my thoughts. It was peaceful, with the ink gliding smoothly over the paper as Angella sang beautiful hymns nearby.
Soon, it was time to leave. As I headed home, a smile crept across my face. The day had been a meaningful experience of faith and prayer that challenged me to reflect deeply and question certain aspects of my life, something I truly enjoyed.
- Charlotte A, 10 Wonga