Our school provides opportunities for students, staff and parents to know and celebrate their Catholic faith. This is done through the religious life of our school. Members of our community experience a rich liturgical and prayer life, celebration of the Sacraments, faith formation, social outreach activities, and opportunities to share faith with each other and with youth from other schools in the Archdiocese.
The Religious Education program at Villa Maria Catholic Primary School Hunters Hill is based on the curriculum developed by Sydney Catholic Schools. It includes the opportunity for the children to:
- reflect on sacred Scripture
- talk with God through prayer
- participate in liturgy
- explore the meaning of the symbols and rituals of our faith
- respond to gifts and blessings in their lives.
- exercise leadership in Religious Education
- participate in outreach programs.
The sacramental programs, including First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation, are all administered by the parish. The school teaches sacramental units in conjunction with the parish program. Religious Education is not taught in isolation as it is part of everyday life and is incorporated in all key learning areas. Children are encouraged to reflect on the message of Jesus and to embrace this in their daily lives.
Villa Maria Catholic Primary School Hunters Hill is a welcoming, active and involved community and this reflects in the lives of our families. We nurture strong and meaningful parish, parent and school relationships via family masses, pastoral groups and sacramental programs. We offer term initiatives such as gratitude and snapshot projects to promote faith at home, providing many opportunities for families to reconnect with their faith.
We have strong partnership with Holy Name of Mary Parish. The parish priest is actively involved in the faith formation of staff and students. This partnership is fostered through classroom visits, class and school liturgies, reconciliation, the training and supporting of altar servers, the Sacramental preparation programs, staff retreats and the celebration of whole school liturgies.