More than 400 Stage Three students from 12 primary schools across the Diocese of Parramatta, including Our Lady of the Rosary, joined a recent celebration for the Year of Youth at Rooty Hill RSL.
Each of the participating Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta schools is part of the Faith in Action initiative, developed in partnership with Catholic Youth Parramatta. Faith in Action Teams (FIAT) are made up of passionate young teachers (2 to 4 per school) who foster the personal and spiritual growth of young people, engaging them in the life and mission of the Catholic faith community.
The event was facilitated by Catholic Youth Parramatta (CYP) and featured Genevieve Bryant, a highly acclaimed young Catholic singer, songwriter and performer who is from Melbourne. She was a headline performer for the Australian Catholic Youth Festivals in Adelaide in 2015 and Sydney in 2017.
Mission Teaching Educator Amanda Bentley said the program for the day saw a combination of music, testimony, discussion and prayer.
“Genevieve did a great job in engaging with the students and talking to them about trusting in God to use their gifts and talents to share God’s love with others,’’ Ms Bentley said.
“She shared her own testimony and encouraged the students to be engaged with their faith, to deepen their relationship with God and to try to live out God’s message.”
Catholic Youth Parramatta also gathered student testimonies to share with Bishop Vincent Long, Bishop of Parramatta, as another element of dialogue within this Year of Youth event.
“The students were given an opportunity to address the following questions given to them by Bishop Vincent: What have you been involved in at your school for the Year of Youth; what is something you would like Bishop Vincent to know is important for young people in our Church; and what is your dream for the future of the Church.”
Teachers praised the joyful impact the day had on the students.
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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03 Sep 2026
From Facebook
A big thank you to all of our fathers, grandfathers, uncles and father figures who joined us for our Picnic Recess and Liturgy today. It was wonderful to see so many of our families celebrating together. May God bless these very special men today and every day. 💙02 Sep 2026
From Facebook
🌿 Year 6 Retreat Day 🙏 Today, our Year 6 students took time away from the busyness of school life to be still, reflect and deepen their understanding of prayer. Guided by the words of Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God,” students explored the Catholic understanding of how prayer can help us to listen to God, make wise decisions and guide our actions. A special part of the day was hearing from Father Jeff, who spoke to the students about Mary as a model of prayer. Through Mary’s example of trust, openness and willingness to say “yes” to God, students reflected on how prayer can shape the choices we make and the way we live our lives. It was a beautiful day of quiet reflection, prayer, connection and faith as our Year 6 students prepared to take the next step in their journey. 💙🙏 “Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10
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03 Sep 2026
From Facebook
A big thank you to all of our fathers, grandfathers, uncles and father figures who joined us for our Picnic Recess and Liturgy today. It was wonderful to see so many of our families celebrating together. May God bless these very special men today and every day. 💙
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🌿 Year 6 Retreat Day 🙏 Today, our Year 6 students took time away from the busyness of school life to be still, reflect and deepen their understanding of prayer. Guided by the words of Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God,” students explored the Catholic understanding of how prayer can help us to listen to God, make wise decisions and guide our actions. A special part of the day was hearing from Father Jeff, who spoke to the students about Mary as a model of prayer. Through Mary’s example of trust, openness and willingness to say “yes” to God, students reflected on how prayer can shape the choices we make and the way we live our lives. It was a beautiful day of quiet reflection, prayer, connection and faith as our Year 6 students prepared to take the next step in their journey. 💙🙏 “Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10
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