Catholic Identity
As a member of the St Vincent de Paul community our Catholic faith embodies our whole being. As followers of Jesus Christ we look to the model that Jesus has shown us to live out our lives as people of faith.
Our Catholic Faith
Catholicism is our foundation, and it is essential that all students not only understand their faith but are also given the opportunity to explore and make it their own. Our faith moves us to care for all, with a special focus to care for those in greatest need.
At St. Vincent de Paul, celebrations welcome everyone in our community to share in the faith journey through everyday moments, liturgies, and sacraments. These occasions create opportunities to encounter the Holy Spirit and to find connection in both times of need and times of joy.
Our school is deeply committed to understanding the world around us and living out our faith by:
- Drawing on children’s experiences to help them grow in their understanding of God and their relationships with God, themselves, and others.
- Nurturing knowledge, understanding, hope, and faith in every member of our school community.
- Engaging with the traditions, teachings, scriptures, and prayers of the Church.
- Actively participating in the faith life of our parish communities through service, liturgy, and the sacraments, while proclaiming, reflecting on, and celebrating God’s word.
The staff and students are provided with opportunities to live out and express our Catholic faith tradition, with a strong partnership with the Parish and Parish Priest, through: Family masses, Feast Day celebrations, Special events (e.g. Ash Wednesday, The Assumption of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul Day) and class led Masses.
Prayer life
The staff and students are provided with opportunities to pray each day. This is an integral part of building a strong relationship with God. Each day begins with a prayer, enabling staff and students to take time to reflect on the importance of having a deep connection with our God. The students are involved in praying in a variety of ways including formal and informal prayer, sharing a special intention and through song and movement.
In a Catholic community, belonging means having a shared understanding of faith through the connection to prayer, community and the story of Jesus, whilst celebrating the uniqueness of every individual. Prayer is a reflective process that is inclusive to all. Prayer allows individuals to have a personal encounter of faith with God, the community and the wider world.
Our School Prayer is a very important part of our faith at school, with the school prayer a prominent feature of our school assemblies and school community gatherings.
St. Vincent de Paul Prayer
God of love, you gave Saint Vincent de Paul the courage and wisdom to help the poor and care for children.
Help us to care for others and always have faith in you. Amen.
Saint Vincent de Paul, pray for us.
Sacramental Journey
The Sacramental journey, for the students, begins with learning about the importance of the sacraments as ‘…invisible signs of invisible grace’. The students have opportunities to celebrate the Eucharist at Mass as part of their Sacramental preparation. We also involve families in the preparation through Parent Information Evenings for each of the Sacraments. We are very fortunate to have a very supportive Parish Priest, who is involved in the faith development of all staff and students.
The Sacraments are celebrated in partnership with both School & Parish.
The Sacraments include:
- First Reconciliation – Year 3
- First Holy Communion – Year 4
- Confirmation – Year 6
Religious Education Learning
We teach Religious Education at St. Vincent de Paul Primary School to build our identity as Catholics. Through integrating the Church’s mission, our students embrace themselves as models of the Catholic faith who go forth and share their gifts and talents with others. We respond to the service of God and act as stewards of participation, inclusion and equity. Together as a whole school community, we are called to action.
Learning is centered around ‘Who am I and how can I be in the world?”. Together we are encouraged to use dialogue to question and clarify our own faith, other faith views, culture, justice and creation. In collaboration with parents, staff and students our learning encompasses the whole school community by working together to explore, seek and share our Catholic faith as one.
Our Catholic Mission
At St. Vincent de Paul we pride ourselves on giving to people who are most in need. As Jesus has taught us to ‘Love one another as I have loved you’, we too, look for ways to live out His message through our social justice work. As a school, we are led by the Year 6 Mini Vinnie’s Social Justice Group, who are involved in a number of initiatives to give back to the local and global community. The Mini Vinnies group organise events such as the Lenten Appeal, the Winter Appeal and Christmas Appeal, as well as the Columban Mission Walkathon and also supporting Catholic Mission.