Since Year 7, these students have been undertaking Religious Studies from a Catholic perspective but with an attitude towards embracing interfaith dialogue. They began their journey learning what it means to be Catholic, which for several was something quite new to them given our increasingly secular society. The students were exposed to the Parable of the Good Samaritan for the first time on their Reflection Day and they began to ponder what “loving your neighbour” means. Their visit to the Buddhist Nan Tien Temple was invaluable in their examination of spirituality in different cultures.

In Years 8 and 9 they delved deeper into the topics of Christian Living, Church History and Religious Truth. Many opportunities for spiritual growth were offered in terms of prayer, liturgy and reflection days. Once Senior School years commenced in Year 10 the key topics included Gospel studies, Church History and Moral Decision Making. Connections have been made between their learning in other KLAs and the Benedictine Values.

During Years 11 and 12, all students at St Patrick’s undertake Studies of Religion. In addition to Christianity, our students examine the religious traditions of Islam and Judaism (if completing the 2 Unit course). It is through this study that our students truly come to understand their “neighbour”. We feel that this best prepares St Patrick’s students for their place in a multicultural and multifaith society. Mosque and Synagogue tours open opportunities for dialogue and increased understanding rather than being deceived by common misconceptions and fear. This isn’t always initially embraced by our parents and students. By the end of their studies, however, the barriers to dialogue and understanding have come down and commonalities become quite apparent. One example of this relates to our school motto, “The Lord is My Light”. This is very similar to the Islamic understanding of God, “Knowledge (of Allah) is Light”. We would do well to remember our shared belief in the transcendent and I am glad that our students now know this truth. The three Abrahamic religions adhere to the one God and offer much to the believer. We wish Year 12 the best for their future and we hope that what they were taught in their Religious Studies continues to play a role in their formation in the years to come.

Louise East - Religious Studies Coordinator