Education in Faith
Bethany Catholic Primary School Werribee
Our Catholic faith permeates all that we do at Bethany. We celebrate our faith through our daily interactions with each other and through frequent opportunities to engage in prayer, liturgy and sacraments for students and families.
Through a pedagogy of encounter, our students engage in dialogue to seek meaning and develop an appreciation and deep understanding of the richness of the Catholic Tradition and of Scripture in the 21st century. Our School’s Core Values of Welcome, Faith, Learning, Celebrate, Service and Justice are explicitly embedded in our Religious Education curriculum which also builds an awareness of the diversity of voices within the school as well as in society, and they are each called to serve others and seek to make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.
Our strong emphasis on social justice teachings makes it explicit for our students that it is through service and justice we achieve peace in our world. Our Social Justice Student Leaders promote and drive social justice initiatives and action to raise awareness in the school and support local and global missions.
Prayer
Prayer is turning the heart toward God, where we enter into a living relationship with Him. At Bethany, we have a culture of prayer which is embedded as part of our everyday learning and living. Through song, traditional and contemporary prayers, our students have the opportunity to pray at the beginning and the end of the school day, and before meal times. As a praying community, we entrust ourselves to God.
Sacraments
Sacraments were created by God and are an expression of God’s love and presence.
Through partnership with families and St Andrew’s Parish, baptised Catholic students receive the Sacraments in the following order:
Sacrament of First Reconciliation - Year 3
Forgiveness is one of the great characteristics of the Christian faith. As God forgives us, He restores the bonds of love and friendship between us and the community.
Sacrament of First Eucharist - Year 4
The Eucharist is the source and summit of all Christian life. It is the rite of the Church in which we celebrate that Jesus died for us and receive from his table the sacrament of his body and blood.
Sacrament of Confirmation - Year 6
Confirmation is a strengthening and deepening of the grace of Baptism. Through the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, Confirmation strengthens us to use our gifts to live as Jesus taught and to contribute to the mission of the Church.
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Social Justice
At Bethany, we live out our Catholic Mission through our acts of service and contribution to the local community and to our world.
The establishment of Social Justice student leadership promotes acts of Social Justice to support various initiatives throughout the year including raising funds for Caritas’ Project Compassion Lenten Appeal and for Catholic Mission’s Mission Month. Our non-perishable foods drive for Vinnies Winter and Christmas Appeals allows us to support vulnerable families within our local community.
Parish
St Andrew's Parish
The Parish of Saint Andrew’s Werribee strives to live as an interconnected and collaborative community. It aims to reach out, welcome and value all, offering a place of belonging and acceptance.
The Parish values of Relationship, Community, Celebration, Learning and Outreach are central to the vision and mission of St Andrew’s Werribee.