Religious Life of the College

St Patrick’s College is a parish-centred school within the Brisbane Catholic Education system. This parish connection, along with the history of the Christian Brothers and Mercy Sisters, are key touchstones for our formation of community and the holistic preparation of our students for their life beyond the school gates.
 

Participation in the Religious Life of the College involves students developing a broad understanding of human capacity, especially in the spiritual and emotional domains. It is expected that all students will take part in a variety of interactive experiences that will help them grow in appreciation of the faith dimension of others and themselves. These activities generally occur outside the formal classroom learning of Religious Education and have a significant role in driving many of the social and group development events that contribute to the vibrant and inclusive social atmosphere of the College.

 
 

These activities include:

Engaging in reflective and meditative practices, prayer, and liturgy – including appropriate participation in the Mass.

Involvement with Social Justice campaigns and causes like:

  • St Vincent de Paul winter and Christmas appeals

  • Project Compassion (Caritas international aid agency)

  • Matthew 25 Project (serving those in our local community who are experiencing homelessness)

  • Erin House advocacy activities (women’s shelter)

 

Participating in Retreat days when students leave the school grounds to take time out of the ordinary school schedule, to reflect on their own personal, spiritual, and social growth.

Joining in St Patrick’s Day and Founders Day activities.

These activities are designed to build student capacity to recognise religious identity and culture, appropriately engage in prayer and worship, develop an appreciation for evangelization and faith formation, and actively engage in social action and justice.

 Vision for Religious Education

We aspire to educate and form students who are challenged to live the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ and who are literate in the Catholic and broader Christian tradition so that they might participate fully in faith contexts and wider society.

Our Vision for Religious Education challenges students to be a religious voice in the world through developing an inquiring, critical interpretation and evaluation of culture. Through vibrant and engaging Religious Education, students become active constructors of culture rather than passive consumers. In this way, students are challenged to live the gospel of Jesus Christ and find meaning and purpose in their everyday lives.

Jesus Christ is at the centre of this vision, emphasising that while knowledge and understanding of religious concepts are important, these truths and beliefs must also have a tangible impact on a student's life.

Religious education seeks to develop the religious literacy of students in light of the Catholic Christian tradition so that they might participate critically and authentically in contemporary culture. Students become religiously literate as they develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to interpret and use language confidently in and for faith contexts and the wider society, and as they grow their self-identity in a complex world.

St. Patrick’s College aspires to form students who can articulate their faith and live it in an open and authentic way. Religious literacy should not be confused with religious knowledge: religious literacy encompasses a set of ongoing activities and interactions among people. These include ways of talking, acting, creating, communicating, critiquing, evaluating, participating, ritualising, theologising, worshipping, reading, reflecting, and writing with others in a variety of religious and secular contexts.

Additionally, we are deeply respectful of the various cultural and religious beliefs of our students, encouraging open dialogue and approaching Religious Education through a recontextualised approach. This means we engage with the Catholic tradition in a way that is meaningful in our contemporary, multicultural society, fostering an environment where all students feel valued and heard.

 
 

Campus Ministry

Fostering Faith and Community

At St Patrick’s College, Gympie, Campus Ministry is a vital aspect of our holistic and integrated education experience, offering a pathway for the Gospel to resonate within our community.

Guided by the enduring traditions of our Catholic faith and values, and inspired by the charisms of Saint Mary MacKillop and Blessed Edmund Rice, our Campus Ministry collaborates with staff and students to enliven the religious life of our school.

Campus Ministry Involves:

  • Contributing to and promoting the development, alignment, and review of the mission and strategic goals of Brisbane Catholic Education and St Patrick’s College.

  • Implementing projects that nurture the religious identity and culture of our College.

  • Encouraging, facilitating, and supporting faith, spiritual, and pastoral development.

  • Promoting connections within and beyond the broader Church community.

  • Creating opportunities for prayer and worship, and contributing to significant school liturgies and celebrations.

  • Empowering students to utilise their gifts and talents in service to others through social action and justice initiatives.

 

For more information about Campus Ministry, please contact our Campus Minister, Mr. Shane Taylor via email atshane.taylor@bne.catholic.edu.au