Primary students inspired to use their gifts for good!

2018 Year of Youth Celebrations 1

More than 400 Stage Three students from 12 primary schools across the Diocese of Parramatta, including Our Lady of Lourdes Primary, joined a recent celebration for the Year of Youth at Rooty Hill RSL.

Each of the participating Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta schools is part of the Faith in Action initiative, developed in partnership with Catholic Youth Parramatta. Faith in Action Teams (FIAT) are made up of passionate young teachers (2 to 4 per school) who foster the personal and spiritual growth of young people, engaging them in the life and mission of the Catholic faith community.

The event was facilitated by Catholic Youth Parramatta (CYP) and featured Genevieve Bryant, a highly acclaimed young Catholic singer, songwriter and performer who is from Melbourne. She was a headline performer for the Australian Catholic Youth Festivals in Adelaide in 2015 and Sydney in 2017.

2018 Year of Youth Celebrations 2

Mission Teaching Educator Amanda Bentley said the program for the day saw a combination of music, testimony, discussion and prayer.

“Genevieve did a great job in engaging with the students and talking to them about trusting in God to use their gifts and talents to share God’s love with others,’’ Ms Bentley said.

“She shared her own testimony and encouraged the students to be engaged with their faith, to deepen their relationship with God and to try to live out God’s message.”

Catholic Youth Parramatta also gathered student testimonies to share with Bishop Vincent Long, Bishop of Parramatta, as another element of dialogue within this Year of Youth event.

“The students were given an opportunity to address the following questions given to them by Bishop Vincent: What have you been involved in at your school for the Year of Youth; what is something you would like Bishop Vincent to know is important for young people in our Church; and what is your dream for the future of the Church.”

Teachers praised the joyful impact the day had on the students.

2018 Year of Youth Celebrations 3

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19 Oct 2026
From Facebook
🐑💚 What a wonderful day out! Our students had a fantastic time at the 'Where Is the Green Sheep?' performance on Friday. It was a fun-filled experience, with plenty of laughter, smiles and beautiful moments to enjoy! Our children represented Our Lady Of Lourdes, so beautifully throughout the excursion. We are so proud of the way they participated and enjoyed this special experience! 🌟💚

25 Sep 2026
From Facebook
🌿 Stage 2 Excursion to The Field of Mars Reserve! 🌿 Our Stage 2 students had a fantastic day at The Field of Mars Reserve, developing their resilience, cooperation and teamwork skills through a range of exciting challenges! Students tackled three activities: Predator vs Prey, where they built shelters and used water shooters; a blindfolded bushwalk; and orienteering. To top off a wonderful day, two cheeky kookaburras even joined us for lunch! 🐦 It was wonderful to see our students encouraging one another, persevering through challenges and having lots of fun along the way. What a great day of learning and adventure! 🌿