On Saturday 14 November at St Patrick’s Church in Emerald, six members of staff from our Catholic schools in Emerald – Marist College, St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School and St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School – were received into the Church by Fr Truc Phan SVD, with special permission from Bishop Michael McCarthy.

In 2019, Joseph Kelly (AP Mission at Marist) suggested running an RCIA program specifically for staff in our Catholic schools to then parish priest, Fr Raj.  Interest surpassed expectations and the course started in February, with eight candidates who all completed the course (two of the group are hoping to be received into the Church next year).  Timings of meetings were planned to fit in with our busy teacher’s timeframes.

On Saturday evening, two of the catechumens were baptised – Rose Dale (Marist) and Teagan Newton (St Patrick’s).

Many thanks to our Principals: Mark Green (Marist), Tegan Green (St Brigid’s) and Chris Ferguson (St Patrick’s) for all their support with the program and their staff.

Both our new priests – Fr Truc and Fr Yon have assisted with the program and it has had a strong school community feel, as all the sponsors also came from our Catholic schools.

Congratulations to all the new members of the Catholic faith – we wish you well on your journey ahead.

Pictured left to right in the photograph:  Joseph Kelly (Course leader - AP Mission Marist), Nikki Scott (Newly received – Teacher Marist), Natalie McCosker (Sponsor – APRE St Patrick’s), Melissa Magnussen (Newly received – Teacher St Patrick’s), Kylie Heinemann (Sponsor – Deputy Principal St Patrick’s), Fr Truc Phan SVD, Sophie Basford (Sponsor – HOD Marist), Kellie Lerch (Newly received – Teacher St Patrick’s), Patrick McDermott (Sponsor – HOH Marist), Rose Dale (Newly received – Teacher Marist), Helen Smale (Sponsor – Teacher St Patrick’s), Michael Smale (Counsellor – all three schools), Anthea Adams (Sponsor – Teacher St Patrick’s), Teagan Newton (Newly received – Teacher St Patrick’s)