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.
Connection to St Michael’s Catholic Church Hurstville is strong at Bethany College Hurstville and we are fortunate to have the generosity of our college chaplain’s time. Class Masses are held at St Michael’s weekly as are monthly youth Masses. Students are offered the opportunity of Reconciliation and Mass on site at Bethany twice per term. The principal also has representation on the St Michael’s parish pastoral council.
Bethany is fortunate to have 12 parishes that support the needs of our students.
- St Francis Xavier, Arncliffe
- St Gabriels, Bexley
- Mater Dei, Blakehurst
- St Thomas More, Brighton-Le-Sands
- St Bernadette, Carlton
- St Mary’s Star of the Sea, Hurstville
- St Patrick’s, Kogarah
- St Joseph’s, Oatley
- St Declans, Penshurst
- St Joseph’s, Rockdale
- St Finbars, Sans Souci
- St Raphael’s, South Hurstville
At a more local level, prayer is a central focus for the beginning of each day where classes pray together for the needs of those before them. As a broader Catholic community, the Angelus is prayed at midday each day.
Providing opportunities for social Justice is a popular and key way for students to connect with the values of their faith. The college works in partnership with St Vincent de Paul providing hygiene packs, snack packs, clothing, blankets and sandwiches. During Lent, students are taught about the global needs of others and raise money for Caritas.
The college has a youth ministry coordinator who helps to further connect students with others in sharing their faith. Opportunities exist to participate in youth forums across the Archdiocese.