Religious Education

St James the Apostle Primary School, as part of St James the Apostle Parish, has the responsibility of developing in each of its members a deep personal commitment to our Catholic faith.

As a Catholic School we provide a learning environment, which affirms all aspects of education and presents a Catholic perspective of life centred on Jesus Christ who provides us with a model for living by his word, teachings and life.

Catholic schools were founded to proclaim Jesus’ message of God’s love for all. Our Catholic faith calls us to embrace the contemporary world with a Catholic imagination, and a particular hope-filled view of the human person and all of creation. Catholic educators invite students to make sense of their world and their lives within a faith community that is faithful to the mission of Jesus

(Catholic Education Melbourne, Horizons of Hope: Context, 2016, p. 9).

Throughout the year, learners are invited to engage in four themes:

  • Praying and Reaching Out
  • Belonging
  • Celebrating
  • Preparing

Our Religious Education (RE) program is fundamental to all that is taught and learnt at St James the Apostle School. It is devised from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools’ Religious Education Curriculum Framework and supported by the To Know, Worship and Love texts published by the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

The RE program is based on the doctrine of the Catholic Church and builds on the faith and spiritual experiences of learners. All members of the learning community are invited to contribute to dialogue about their knowledge and be confident in posing questions to deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith.

In journeying with us, learners are taught about the three sacraments of initiation that take place during the primary school years and are invited to be people of service through:

  • Developing an action for Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion;
  • Being leaders for Catholic Mission’s Socktober;
  • Leading the school community in developing and praying the Stations of the Cross;
  • Planning, creating and marketing items for the Mission Market, benefitting our parish missionaries and Caritas Australia.