St John Paul II College is a faith community where there is an invitation for everyone to pray, serve, love and grow.

We all have the great opportunity to be inspired by the words and actions of St John Paul II. According to him, the vocation of all humans is "the vocation to love. Love, as a sincere gift of self, is what gives the life and freedom of the person their truest meaning" (John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, 1995, para. 96).

John Paul II was instrumental in the development of the Spirit-led Movement, particularly through his great gifts in the subject of pneumatology – the theological study of the Holy Spirit, a branch of Christian theology. He suggested that:

“We must form consciences to realise the intrinsic connection between life and freedom, between freedom and love, and between freedom and truth” (§96).

It is only when this unity is repaired that we truly understand the meaning of the vocation to love.

All our endeavours through the Mission and Ministry Program at JPC will gradually bring about cultural transformation.

As we journey through this new year, it is vital for us to reflect on the values that shape our identity as a Catholic school—one deeply rooted in our faith and in the fundamental dignity of every human person. The spiritual development of our community is continually nurtured. Living and learning through the St John Paul charism, the JPC family share the same story to enter, the same language to speak, a group to which we belong, a special way to pray, the same work to undertake, and a face of God to see (Fr Claude Maréchal, 2001).

This year, each year group will have the opportunity to participate in a retreat. The retreat program is sequential, and each retreat has a scriptural theme. Through exploration, dialogue, prayer, celebration and contemplation, students reflect on the potential for spiritual transformation that exists in the obstacles and difficulties they face each day. They come to realise they encounter the living God through their interactions with others. Above all, students are encouraged to recognise that they already have all the worth and significance they need within—they are God’s precious creation.

As a community, we engage in whole school liturgical celebrations. In Term 1, we celebrated Opening Mass, Ash Wednesday, and the Easter Liturgy. These events are authentic expressions of our Catholic identity, using symbols and ritual to evoke the senses and deepen connection with the sacred. Our students’ gifts are nurtured through love, hope and faith. The joy, respect, and reverence displayed by students before, during, and after our liturgical events speaks to the importance of the College’s prayer life. Each morning we pause together in prayer, and we celebrate Mass in our College Chapel every Wednesday at 8:20am.

Recently, the College received an urgent request for food from the St Vincent de Paul Society. The response from our JPC families was overwhelming—over 100 bags of food were donated. This act of generosity reflects the selfless spirit of our students and their families.

“Each one of you has received a special grace. So like all good stewards, responsible for all these different graces of God, put yourself at the service of others.” – 1 Peter 4:1

This same generosity was reflected in the funds raised for Project Compassion throughout Term 1.

By experiencing God's love through the Holy Spirit, our students and staff are empowered to express love in a way that reflects God's presence in our community. As we continue to develop the mission of our College, our aim is to create a stronger sense of belonging and a deeper connection to one another through God’s love.

Maria Tolfree
Mission and Ministry Coordinator