​The Catholic Life of the School is focused on the second dimension of religious education, commonly referred to as “teaching people to be religious in a particular way” (Moran, 1991). 

The Catholic Life of the School comprises four interrelated components: Religious Identity and Culture; Evangelisation and Faith Formation; Prayer and Worship; and Social Action and Justice. Each of these components, while mutually reinforcing, provides a significant focus on a distinctive aspect of the religious life of the school.​​​​​

Components of the religious life of the school 

Religious identity and culture

All areas of learning contribute to the religious identity and culture of the school. The classroom religion program is not the only learning area that contributes to the school’s religious identity and culture.​​

• ​Development of class covenants
• History and Charism of the school
• Catholic symbolism in classrooms and around the school grounds
  
• Sacred spaces in every classroom and in common spaces that reflect the Liturgical Calendar of the church and the like and teaching of Jesus.
  
• Feast Days of Mary Help of Christians (Mary as Australia’s patron saint), Mary Our Lady of the Rosary, Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
• ​Marian Charism and Fest Days relevant to our School and Parish including, The Annunciation, The Assumption, Immaculate Conception/Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mary Mother of God, Mary Mother of the Church.  
• School song and prayer at weekly assembly
  
• Staff faith formation
  
• Catholic Perspectives embedded across the curriculum and in the life of the school
  
• Catholic Education Week celebrations
  

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Prayer and Worship

Prayer and worship as integral to the life of all Catholic and ecumenical schools and have the potential to nourish the spiritual growth of all members of the school community.​

• Classroom prayer in the morning, at lunchtime and end of day
  
• Christian meditation - stillness and silence, focus on connection to God
  
• Prayer and acknowledgement of country at the beginning of meetings and gatherings
  
• Recognising and celebrating everyday moments of people’s lives (eg. birthdays, sporting achievements)
  
• Weekly whole school Christian Meditation and Gratitude Mondays.​
  
• Students participate in liturgies, masses and penance services related to religious units of work and the liturgical calendar of the Church.
  
• Family involvement in prayer rituals (Mother's and Father's Day, Grade Liturgies and Grandparents Day celebration.)
  

Evangelisati​on and faith formation

Evangelisation and faith formation are focused in an explicit way on the call to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, to respond to it in daily life and to deepen personal understanding and faith.​​

• Prayer and worship which is focused on the cycles of the Liturgical year, social justice issues and the RE program. 
• ​Policies, practices and structures that promote inclusion and a sense of Christian community
  
• Regular Religious Education updates in the school newsletter
  
• Retreat days to develop the spirituality of the staff and students in Years 4,5 and 6.
  
• Year 6 Servant Leadership Program.
  
• Pastoral support team to support the wellbeing of students and their needs.
  
• Connection to the parish sacramental program
  
• Parent Information evenings centring on the Catholic Perspective concerning Relationships and Sexuality in the Health Curriculum. 
  
• Catholic Identity, Prayer Life, and RE of the school communicated in presentations to parents e.g. Parent Information nights, Prep Orientation
  
• Parents and wider community invited to prayer assemblies, year level and classroom liturgies
  
• Community Christmas Concert
  

Social justice and action

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© Brisbane Catholic Education, Catholic Identity (2023)​

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