Our school provides opportunities for students, staff and parents to know and celebrate their Catholic faith. This is done through the religious life of our school. Members of our community experience a rich liturgical and prayer life, celebration of the Sacraments, faith formation, social outreach activities, and opportunities to share faith with each other and with youth from other schools in the Archdiocese.
At St Patricks’ Catholic Primary School Summer Hill we recognise that parents are the first educators of their children in faith. Our Religious Education curriculum enables students to acknowledge God in their lives and we view liturgy as an integral part of school life with Masses, liturgies and prayer assemblies held each term. Parents are always welcome to be part of these celebrations.
Through the Family and Faith program, parents – as the first educators of their children – are invited into a deeper and more intimate relationship with the person of Jesus Christ.
St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School Summer Hill and parish are committed to working with parents to nurture and challenge students as they grow in their Catholic faith and develop their full potential. This commitment is demonstrated through opportunities such as Rosary sessions, parish celebrations and prayer reflections.
Staff are encouraged to nurture their own faith and understanding through opportunities such as further study in Religious Education and Theology, prayer and reflection, retreats and pilgrimages and other faith formation activities.
Staff at St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School Summer Hill participate in a school Spirituality Day each year to grow and reflect a deeper commitment to their faith. Staff pray together weekly, contribute to Catholic charity initiatives and strive to be a model of Christ in their daily interactions in order to build trusting, respectful and supportive relationships with members of the community.
Our Catholic school is part of the Catholic Church. We work in partnership with our local parish and priests in order to enrich the spiritual life of the students, staff and families of our school, especially through the celebration of the Sacraments.
Students at St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School Summer Hill prepare for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation through parish based Sacramental programs. Information sessions are conducted by the parish with the support of the staff of St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School Summer Hill. The school conducts a comprehensive Religious Education unit on each Sacrament and coordinates the Sacramental retreat days. The parish coordinates the period of Sacrament lessons and the celebration of Mass.
Central to the religious life of the school is the person of Jesus Christ who came among us ‘as one who serves’ (Luke 22.27). Our Catholic school is committed to reaching out to help those in need, through charitable outreach initiatives. All outreach activities connect to the person of Jesus Christ and to the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. Drawing on the Catholic Social Teaching of the Church, we have a deep commitment to supporting a range of charitable organisations, families and individuals in need.
St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School Summer Hill is passionate about supporting those in need and are guided by the words of Mary MacKillop, ‘Never see a need without doing something about it’. We support the St Vincent De Paul Society through our involvement in Vinnies Winter and Christmas Appeals. Our student Mini Vinnies group are very active, meeting each week to work on projects that both build awareness and understanding of our local and global responsibilities and fundraise for various initiatives. We also support Caritas and Catholic Mission through our Lenten appeal and gold coin fundraising initiatives.