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.
Religious Education is integral to the life and curriculum of Bethany College. Regular opportunities are provided to nurture the religious understanding, faith life and spirituality of students, staff and parents.
The college implements the Religious Education program of the Archdiocese of Sydney which aims to build upon and extend students’ knowledge of our Catholic church and tradition. This enables opportunities for them to respond in action within the college, the church and the wider community.
It also provides opportunities for each student to:
- Develop an understanding of Scripture and its portrayal of the story of the people of God with particular emphasis on the significance of the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- Develop an understanding of the nature and mission of the church, both local and universal, and its history and teachings from its beginning to the present.
- Develop an understanding of the action of God in creation, the reality of good and evil and the human search for meaning in Christianity and other traditions.
- Develop an understanding of the celebrating community and the individual in the sacraments, liturgy and expression of prayer in the Catholic tradition.
- Develop an understanding of Catholic moral teaching, its relationship to moral issues and place in personal decision making including its call to work for justice in the world.
Through the curriculum and wider community life of the college, there is integration of the Catholic faith, the traditions of the Sisters of Charity and the Sisters of St Joseph and the lived faith experience of the community members.
Through the provision of opportunities for prayer, liturgy, reflection days and retreats, emphasis is given to the need for the human spirit to experience celebration and periods of quiet and reflection.
Spirituality Days and Retreats
The years 7 to 10 Spirituality Days and years 11 and 12 retreats are designed to heighten what is learned in the curriculum and extend it beyond the classroom especially in areas of the Bethany College story and the traditions of the Sisters of Charity and the Sisters of St Joseph.
The Spirituality Day and Retreat undertaken by the students and staff give expression to and are an integral part of the overall religious dimension of the college.