Faith Life
The School provides many opportunities throughout the year for involvement in liturgical and sacramental life, engagement in prayer, participation in Reflection Days and social justice awareness raising and action.
Liturgical and Sacramental life
Students are offered a range of opportunities to express their faith in formal Eucharistic liturgies. These opportunities include whole school celebrations (e.g. Opening of the School Year Liturgy and Sacred Heart Day Liturgy) and regular Senior School or Joigny Liturgies and Special Event Liturgies.
Joigny offers its students preparation and first celebration of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Communion. Students are prepared for the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation but are expected to partake in the Sacrament at their local parish.
Prayer
Prayer permeates all aspect of school life.
Each day begins with a prayer which includes student offering their special prayer intentions for the day.
There are a number of special formal prayer service conducted throughout the year, including services surrounding the liturgical year (e.g. Ash Wednesday, Easter), services commemorating our Sacred Heart saints (e.g. St Madeleine Sophie Barat and St Phillipine Duchesne) and an Ecumenical Service involving senior students from Sacré Cœur and Korowa Anglican Girls' School.
In the week of the Feast Day of St Madeleine Sophie Barat, the school participates in a Week of Prayer where students are offered a wide variety of special opportunities to prayer and reflect and share their faith.
A highlight of the prayer life of the school is the Annual Festival of Scripture Readings and Carols (commonly and affectionately known as Carols) which is celebrated at the end of end year at St Patrick's Cathedral.
Reflection Days
The Reflection Day program involves students venturing off campus to spend a day reflecting upon a particular aspect of their faith and sharing their insights with their peers. Here are some of the comments from our students about Reflection Day.
"We found that each of us gained something special. Whether it was something we were told, something we experienced or something we thought about. We all succeeded in delving into our inner selves."
"Today I learnt that it's okay to be different and have your own ‘voice' and be proud of it. We should also appreciate who are and thank God for our voices".
Social Justice Awareness and Action
A cornerstone of both the Catholic Christian tradition and our own Sacred Heart tradition is a keen awareness of social justice issues within our local community and the national and global communities. At Sacré Cœur we are committed to approach to justice issues, an approach which involves both awareness raising and action.