Around the dioceses
Catholic students celebrate Book Week
Catholic students across the country have taken part in the Children's Book Council of Australia's 75th Book Week.
The 2021 theme was 'Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds' and school communities took part in the celebrations, both virtually and face-to-face, to share their love of reading.
All Saints Primary School, Albany Creek teacher-librarian Amanda Bradford said Book Week is all about promoting the love of literature for our students.
"We want our students to walk away from this week knowing that reading is fun, to enjoy it and for them to hook themselves into a great book," she shared in a video message.
See below some of the highlights from Book Week events.
 St Laurence's Parish School Forbes, Diocese of Wilcannia Forbes student.
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 Student from St Luke's Marsden Park, Diocese of Parramatta.
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 Students at St Gerard Majella School, Woree Diocese of Cairns.
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 Staff member at St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Parish School, Epping North Archdiocese of Melbourne. |
Catholic educator shares her story
Genazzano FCJ College Kew, in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, teacher Ann Rennie has shared her experiences in the Catholic education system and lessons she has learnt in her new book Blessed: Meditations on a Life of Small Wonders.
"Over 50 years ago I went to Genazzano in Kew, I had wonderful teachers both professed and lay, and over the course of my 12 years I learnt to love the school, love the sisters and what they represented," she shared via the 200 years of Catholic education website.
"I got this sense of joy about being a Catholic and I wanted to work in the Catholic sector because that is where my heart is. I applied and got the job at Genazzano in 2008 and have been happy ever since, because I feel like I am giving back to the school that gave so much me.
Also an Australian Catholic University alumna, Ann said she wanted to anthologise her story in education, faith and life.
"I wanted to look at the small, the shy, and the incremental things in life; the small wonders that can get overlooked in our busy lives," she told ACU Impact.
“For any teachers reading Blessed I wanted them to see my foray into Catholic schools and understand why I’m sticking with the faith and am here to stay.
"We teachers have to stay upbeat and cheerful. We are so important – I hate people saying ‘You’re just a teacher’. It’s so much more than that. We are on the frontline here for the next generation," she said.
Above: Ann Rennie