Faith Formation

As a Catholic College we are committed to the integration of faith, life and culture through the education of the whole person - physically, socially, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.

While all learning within the College contributes to the religious development of our students, central to the religious life of the College is the Religious Education program.

As a school, we will:

• Have a consistent commitment to Gospel values
• Play an integral role in the evangelising mission of the Church
• Model God’s love for all by being a renewing community where all are valued, affirmed and empowered
• Be communities of learning that provide quality, relevant and holistic education
• Be sacred places where the spiritual life is nurtured
• Be welcoming and open to all who seek a Catholic education

The religious life of the school can be broken down into four components:

Religious Identity & Culture

The Josephite charism brings a particular flavour to the church's rich prayer and devotional tradition. The Josephite Constitution names Mary the Mother of God, Joseph her husband and John the Baptist, as models of faithful service in the name of Christ. These three patrons are symbolised in the Josephite emblem.

Like Mary, who pondered the Word of God with a listening heart, those who follow in the way of Mary MacKillop seek Jesus in their daily lives.

The MacKillop-Josephite charism challenges those who follow this way to imitate the humility of Joseph by standing for the truth with courage and faith in their daily work and ministry, reflecting upon the Word of God and forming a personal relationship with Christ that flows from the celebration of the Eucharistic devotion.

Evangelisation & Faith Formation

We believe that faith formation is one of our primary goals. Our students participate in a number of retreats that aim to foster and develop the spiritual growth of each individual. The College also offers Year 11 students a chance to participate in a two day Meditation Retreat which enables them to explore and deepen their faith in a contemplative way.

Prayer & Worship

Prayer and worship are integral to the life of Good Shepherd Catholic College. We begin each year with an Opening Mass where we ask God’s blessing upon each of our students as they begin their year. Each morning starts with a prayer and during Religious Education classes, the students experience and explore the different forms of Christian and contemplative prayers.

Social Action & Justice

Each year in Term 1, the students explore the work of Caritas Australia and Project Compassion and, with the help of their homeroom teachers, organise fundraising to support the work these two organisations perform globally. Year 11 students spend one afternoon a week being ‘big brothers and sisters’ to the primary school students participating in activities ranging from reading to playing sports. The College has also developed the Social Action Group who performs a wide range of charitable contributions within the local community.