From the Senior Years
Inter-faith understanding is an important aspect of students’ learning as part of the VCE Religious Education program and cross-faith connections were an overarching theme of the Year 11 Reflection Day 2024. Students began the day with a keynote address from Mercy Sister Anila Isaac who shared her personal faith story as a Christian living in Pakistan, where she appreciated the connections and importance of cross-faith understanding and dialogue. This was followed by a student-led Liturgy that celebrated our Mercy traditions and Catholic faith and identity.
This theme was deepened through the excursion to the Islamic Museum of Australia. Students were fascinated in the education workshop by the connections that they could draw between our Mercy traditions and the rich and highly diverse traditions of Islam across time, continents and cultures. Students were intrigued by the artworks of Greek-Australian artist and UNSW lecturer George Phillip that fused the iconic Australian symbol – the surfboard – with medieval Islamic geometric art. This was his personal artistic commentary and response to the Cronulla Riots in 2005.
Tom Crowle
Senior Years Leader