Parish and School News

St Anne's School Sunbury hosts Vocations Panel Discussion

Tuesday 28 August 2012

AS part of their ‘Inquiry on Identity’ and as Vocations Week drew to a close, the Year 5/6 students of St Anne's school, in Sunbury, were provided with the experience of attending a session where a panel of speakers shared their personal vocation stories.
 
The vocations session took place on Tuesday 14 August with the guest panel consisting of young adult parishioner and law student, Romina Martiniello, seminarians at Corpus Christi, in Carlton, Michael Buck and Keiser Cabral, a religious Sister of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, Sr Jose Noy, who works in the parish as one of the two Pastoral Associates and the principal of St Anne's school, Ms Noelene Hussey.
 
Members of the panel were able to describe, in their own way, the impact their faith has had in their personal journeys which has brought them to their present state of life. The guest panel also answered some excellent questions, which helped to develop the students' knowledge and understanding of what constitutes 'vocation' in the context of Catholic identity.
 
Student responses to the experience were very positive.
 
" I liked the way we got to listen to each panel member's life story – the things they found hard about life, the things that were good and how rewarding their jobs are especially when they know they're helping others. It was interesting to hear how different life was in the parish in earlier days. It seems that a lot of fun things happened that brought friends together then. I think maybe young people like me could work harder at getting involved with church more often." Makenzie
 
" They mentioned that we can all have a vocation – even as students of St Anne's Primary school. Following Jesus is a vocation. It was interesting to hear that you don't have to be a priest or a nun to have a vocation. Vocation means having a calling from God and responding to that call by the way you live." Braden
 
"I found it really interesting when they were talking about having had a calling from God and what it meant for them. I suppose it's like your life plan. Vocation has got to do with being in touch with yourself and with the community."  Amy
 
"I really enjoyed listening and finding out that people who are religious or are leaders in the church have a personal life and have fun!" Nina
 
"I was away on the day but when I got back to school it was interesting to hear what an impact World Youth Day had on the lives of some of the guest speakers." Chloe
 
"I really found the panel discussion helped me learn more about vocations in an organized kind of way. Everyone took turns and we were all focussed on what each person was saying." Mackenzie
 
Without a doubt, the presentations were educational, inspirational and enjoyable for all who attended.