On Tuesday, 13 February, members of our Religious Education department participated in a valuable professional learning session. This session was led by Kevin Carville, Religious Education Learning Lead, and Amer Youhanna, STL Project Officer for Catholic Engagement, Catholic Mission & Identity, both of the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
The focus of the day was to deepen teachers’ understanding of interfaith learning possibilities in Religious Education. We unpacked and responded to the resource Welcoming Each Other: Guidelines for Interfaith Education in the Schools of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and explored opportunities within our Clonard context, making connections to our Kildare Ministry value for 2025: Hospitality, Open, Encounter, Transform.
Australia is a multicultural and multi-faith society, and it is essential that students in Catholic schools are prepared for life in a diverse and complex world. In keeping with the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, Catholic schools proclaim Christ as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), while also recognising, preserving, and promoting all that is true and holy in other religions.
Through encounters with different faith traditions, we recognise that students can deepen their sense of Catholic identity. Principals and leaders in schools play a crucial role in preparing teachers for interfaith education and making it a part of the school’s goal setting. The presence of students from various faith traditions impacts many aspects of school life, including enrolment, parent relations, classroom participation, and liturgies.
We are committed to fostering an environment of interfaith dialogue and understanding, ensuring our students are well-equipped to navigate and contribute positively to our diverse society.
The team also engaged in dialogue around one of our Annual Action Plan Goals in the Intentionally Connected realm: Offering opportunities that promote interconnectedness of humanity with nature. Actioning this involves offering student experiences of eco-spirituality.
Eco-spirituality connects ecology with spirituality, emphasizing the sacredness of nature and our responsibility to care for the environment. It highlights the interconnectedness of all life, encourages sustainable practices, and views environmental stewardship as a spiritual duty. This approach is found in various religious traditions and often involves practices that deepen our connection with nature.
As a department, we have committed to integrating these principles into students’ Religious Education learning experiences at Clonard.
Liz Sullivan
Pedagogy of Encounter Leader
