St Joseph’s Catholic College runs an extensive extracurricular program to enrich and diversify the education of our students.
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Youth Ministry
SJCC Youth Ministry – A Year in Review
2022 Youth Ministry Report:
After the lockdowns, restrictions, online events, or re-scheduled activities over the past year, 2022 was jam-packed full of youth ministry activities and social justice initiatives.
Community Celebrations
In Term 1 of the year, we committed to Caritas’ Project Compassion and our students got behind the many fundraising initiatives run by our House Leaders and Year 12 student leaders, with the annual Year 12 student-organised Valentine’s Day stall being a highlight. St Joseph’s Day is always an important day of community and connection for our college and this year we gathered together for a whole-school mass before learning in our Homerooms about the plight of those who find themselves forcibly displaced from their homes by global conflict. Our lunchtime and afternoon were spent watching a highly competitive teachers versus Year 12 students basketball game, followed by the showcasing of some extraordinary talent from Joey’s students in the talent quest. Once again, Holy Week was recognised with a beautiful, combined liturgy with St Edward’s staff and students.
In Term 3 we embarked on the whole school Mary Mackillop Pilgrimage Walk to celebrate the feast day of St Mary of the Cross Mackillop. This day saw our entire school community walk from Magenta to Norah Head Lighthouse together for a memorable liturgy and picnic lunch. Walking and celebrating together was such a valuable time as community, a time of re-connection after the isolation and restrictions of the past few years.
During the second half of this year, Year 9, Year 10 and Year 7 came together as year groups for their own reflection days which form a valuable part of our mission and formation education at St Joseph’s. These community days allow our students to explore their own faith and spiritual journey under the guidance of keynote speakers and guest facilitators.
Social Justice
The Social Justice Group was once again involved in a variety of projects and initiatives during this year, starting with the promotion of Project Compassion through the Project Compassion 2022 Homeroom Challenge, creatively displayed on a growing school-wide ‘fundraising thermometer’, along with Homeroom videos showcasing a particular Project Compassion story each week during Lent. Our wonderful students joined with students form other diocesan high schools to learn about homelessness within our community from some authentic key-note speakers at the Vinnies Winter Sleepout event. We also learnt about global poverty and food insecurity during our support of the 40 Hour Famine 2022, and the social justice issues highlighted by the release of this year’s Ethical Fashion Guide by Baptist World Aid Australia. Our senior students were also involved with Coast Shelter Gosford, volunteering to prepare meals as part of our monthly commitment to their program.
Year 10 Youth Ministry Class
2022 saw a great group of students elect to join the Year 10 Youth Ministry Class and we wasted no time becoming involved with several community service projects during this year. In Term 3 we were able to facilitate the Year 8 Reflection Day and created an engaging day program on the theme of ‘Peace’ for all of Year 8. Students were also able to once again visit the local primary school to volunteer as assistants during weekly scripture time with the younger primary students. Some of our students were also involved in the filming of a promotional video for Catholic Care which was a unique experience to be able to give practical support to one of our local community service providers.
Connecting Catholic Coasties (CCC)
CCC is a new initiative started this year by the Youth Ministry Coordinators of the CSBB Central Coast high schools, along with St Pat’s Ascend Youth Group. Youth activities, liturgies and praise and worship events have been organised throughout this year and we are building a core group of students from all over the coast, to foster a fun, inclusive Christian community and grow in the faith. CCC also supported Venio and IGNITE youth ministry camps, as well as the SHINE youth ministry day during 2022.
This was my first year as Youth Minister at St Joseph’s and it was an absolute pleasure to begin my work with our compassionate and enthusiastic students.
Philippa Mercer
Youth Ministry
