Seyara De Silva, Head of Special Character, Marian College

“If God is all-powerful, why does God allow terrible things to happen?”“Do you ever feel like doing a mic drop after an especially good sermon?”

These were just a couple of the thought-provoking questions that Father Alister tackled during the Marian College assembly Q&A session, which kicked off the week-long celebrations for Catholic Schools’ Day.

The session invited all students to reflect on what it truly means to study at a Catholic school and how this shapes their lives. Students were encouraged to surround themselves with friends who uplift the Catholic message and support them on their personal faith journeys.

In addition to the Q&A, the Special Character group sent heartfelt cards to our brother and sister primary and secondary schools, to be delivered on Catholic Schools’ Day itself, Wednesday 28th May.

Wednesday itself was a day of “shining like stars in the world”.  Marian combined this day with YCC day’s fundraiser for Caritas.  This year, the $665 raised went to St Leo’s school in Kiribati. 

As students donated at the school entrance, they wrote their hopes for the year onto “The Hope Tree”. The Hope Tree is now an artistic emblem of the student body’s collective hope. 

During interval, cake was provided for all students, engaging them on how being at a Catholic school is something to be celebrated. 

The festivities continued at lunchtime with over 20 teams competing in the “Catholic Schools’ Day Trivia,” testing their knowledge of Catholic faith and history amidst a lively crowd of spectators.

Ultimately, Catholic Schools’ Day provided Marian students with a meaningful opportunity to connect with the wider Catholic network their school belongs to and reflect on how the school’s story enriches their own.

A heartfelt thank you to all students, staff, Father Alister, and the wider community who made this special day possible!

Article added: Monday 09 June 2025