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In last Sunday's Gospel reading, Jesus calls out hypocrisy, when people strictly follow religious rituals but neglect moral principles.
“Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me;" (Mark 7:6)
This story challenges us to examine our own lives. Are we more focused on following outward rules or appearances while ignoring the deeper call to justice, love, and compassion? Jesus isn't condemning rituals, but rather emphasising that they must be accompanied by genuine goodness. His words urge us to go beyond mere external acts and look at the state of our hearts and actions.
It’s easy to be caught up in the appearance of doing the right thing—whether by saying the right words or being seen in the right places. But Jesus calls us to a higher standard. He challenges us to reflect on whether we are living out the values of love, mercy, and justice in our daily interactions, and not just doing the "right" things for appearances’ sake. His message reminds us to align our actions with a true heart for what is good.
This is a challenge to each and every person, myself especially in leading a Catholic School that has to enforce rules, and one worth reflecting on regularly.
Who do your children look up to?
It was a great privilege to attend a leadership workshop with our aspiring College Captains for 2025. An activity that was completed involved students reflecting on the people they look up to as leaders and the qualities they saw in these people. It is common for students to name a range of public figures, politicians, movie stars and sport stars. I was quite moved when each group reported back that they all talked about their parents and their teachers as the role models they look up to. They talked about the selflessness, care and kindness shown as key qualities amongst many others. I thought that this was important to share because in the busyness of life as teachers and parents, we can forget just how important we can be to our chidlren and students as role models. Your impact is likely far greater than you will ever know.
We will be having our regular P & F Meeting on Tuesday of Week 8 starting at 6:30pm.
At this meeting we have a guest speaker planned, with our Catholic Care counsellors looking to run a brief session on how parents can support the mental health and wellbeing of young people.
Other matters to be addressed include making a decision on a new poly cotton jumper style and a new Sport Jacket style. There will be samples to review and discuss at the meeting.
All are welcome and we hope to see you there.
Celebrating Our Aboriginal Students at the Bishop’s Graduation Mass
John Therry has 13 students graduating this year who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, which is around 10% of the grade. Our diversity is one of the great features of John Therry and we encourage all students to learn and be proud of their culture!
A big thank you to Mr McKenzie, Aunty Cherrylle, Brian, and Tom for organising and supporting our Aboriginal students at the Bishop’s Graduation Mass. Special thanks to John Therry alumni, Kalan Nau, for your meaningful contributions to this Mass.
The support from our entire school community has truly made a difference in the lives of these students. We are blessed to have such a dedicated cultural hub staff who do so much for our students.
They then had an individual interview with three adjudicators which tasked Tianna and Ezekiel on answering two questions about local and international issues. They had two minutes per question to elaborate on their concerns. Both students effectively argued their points with passion and enthusiasm.
Even though they did not place, both students should be commended for not only having the courage to publicly speak, but writing and delivering amazing speeches.
For the first time, John Therry Catholic College extended an invitation to students from Years 7 to 12 to participate in the Sacramental Program (RCIA). This initiative allowed students to receive their sacraments and become fully integrated into the Catholic community as young adults. Earlier this year, we encouraged students to join the program, and the positive response affirmed our commitment to nurturing faith within our school. Initially, 25 students enrolled, and even more expressed interest after witnessing the first rite—the Rite of Acceptance.
Last week, 19 students, accompanied by their parents, gathered at Our Lady Help of Christians Church. There, as young adults, they publicly and freely responded to the Church’s question, posed by Fr. Chris Sarkis: “Are you prepared to begin this journey today under the guidance of Christ?” Each student, exercising their free will, responded with a resounding “Yes.” They then entered the Catechumenate, a period of learning and spiritual growth, where they will explore the gifts of the Church through prayer and reflection on the Word of God.
As these students embark on this journey, we ask that you keep them in your prayers.
As you prepare for your upcoming HSC examinations, there are some excellent opportunities available to help you revise and fine-tune your study strategies. A variety of universities and online providers are offering free webinars designed to support you during this critical time.
The Australian Catholic University (ACU), Western Sydney University, and ATAR Notes are all offering free online webinars tailored to a number of common HSC subjects. These sessions will feature experienced HSC teachers and current university students who will guide you through how to effectively respond to potential exam questions, recap key class content, and share valuable tips and strategies for your exams.
To take advantage of these resources, you can register for the workshops using the following links:
- ACU Registration and Further Information
- Western Sydney University Registration and Further Information
- ATAR Notes Registration and Further Information
Make the most of these opportunities to enhance your exam preparation.
Happy studying!
Mrs. Wheeler
Leader of Teaching and Learning
Please find below a link to the latest Parish Bulletin