Faith Life
St Mary’s Primary School, Maryborough is a
Catholic learning community where the Gospel of Jesus Christ inspires us
to grow as confident, creative and compassionate learners, ready to
make a positive difference in our world.
Guided
by our core values of Service, Courage and Justice, we aim to live with
compassion, act with integrity, and stand up for what is right. In
doing so, we seek to be beacons of light in our community and beyond.
We learn from the past, live fully in the present, and look forward with faith to the future.
At
St Mary’s, we look to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, as a model of faith
and discipleship. Her courageous “yes” to God inspires us to listen with
open hearts, respond with trust, and live with purpose. Like Mary, we
are called to say “yes” to God’s invitation to love, serve and lead with
hope.
Religious Education at St Mary’s is
shaped by two complementary dimensions: teaching people religion and
teaching people to be religious. This is expressed through our Religious
Education Program, which integrates the Religion Curriculum P–12 and
the Religious Life of the School, fostering both knowledge and lived
faith.
Inspired by the vision of Brisbane
Catholic Education, our Religious Education Curriculum challenges
students to be cultural agents of change, living as authentic witnesses
to the mission of Jesus Christ in today’s world.
The Religious Life of the School
The
four components of the Religious Life of the School are mutually
reinforcing yet distinctive aspects of the living faith at St Mary’s
Primary School, Maryborough. Our aim is to provide meaningful
opportunities for each child to grow in their personal relationship with
God, inspired by our Catholic tradition and the values of our school
community.
Religious Identity & Culture
From
the moment you enter St Mary’s, you will experience a warm and
welcoming environment grounded in faith. We nurture spiritual
development within the Catholic Christian tradition, enriched by the
heritage of our charisms, Saint Mary MacKillop and Catherine McAuley.
Our school vision and mission are lived daily through respectful
relationships, a strong sense of belonging, and a commitment to service.
The sacred is made visible in our prayer spaces, symbols, and the
natural beauty of our school grounds, fostering reverence and
reflection.
Evangelisation & Faith Formation
At
St Mary’s, we recognise the importance of forming hearts and minds in a
contemporary and diverse world. Our Religious Education program
integrates faith, life, and culture, helping students to encounter the
message of Jesus in ways that are relevant and meaningful.
Evangelisation is expressed through our pastoral care, inclusive
practices, and the lived witness of staff and students. Inspired by
Saint Mary MacKillop’s words, “Never see a need without doing something
about it,” we strive to be a faith-filled community that reaches out
with compassion and hope.
Prayer & Worship
Prayer
and worship are central to the life of our school. We cultivate a
culture of prayer through daily classroom prayer, whole-school
gatherings, Christian meditation, and liturgical celebrations. Staff
come together weekly for prayer, and our school newsletter includes a
prayer focus to unite our wider community. We maintain strong
connections with St Mary’s Parish, participating in the Sacramental
Program and celebrating Eucharist regularly. Our liturgical life
includes whole-school Masses, class liturgies, and special celebrations
that mark key moments in the Church year.
Parents and families are warmly invited to join us for significant feast days and liturgical seasons.
Social Action & Justice
At
St Mary’s, we are committed to living the Gospel through action.
Inspired by the life and mission of Saint Mary MacKillop, we encourage
students to be people of justice, compassion, and service. Our community
responds to local and global needs through awareness campaigns,
fundraising, and outreach initiatives. Students, staff, and families
work together to support causes such as Caritas Project Compassion, St
Vincent de Paul, Sew PNG (local charity), and Catholic Mission. Through
these actions, we aim to be a light for others and make a positive
difference in the world.
Parish Sacramental Program
We
honour the role of parents as the first educators in faith. The school
supports families in preparing children for the sacraments of Holy
Communion, and Confirmation, which are facilitated by the parish.
Information about sacramental preparation is shared annually via school
newsletters and letters home, ensuring families are well-informed and
supported throughout the journey.
Religion Curriculum P-12
The
content of the Religion Curriculum P-12 is organised into four strands.
Each of these strands comprises three distinct yet interrelated
sub-strands:
- Sacred Texts: Old Testament; New Testament; and Christian Spiritual Writings and Wisdom.
- Beliefs: Trinity (God, Jesus the Christ, Spirit); Human Existence; and World Religions.
- Church: Liturgy and Sacraments; People of God; and Church History.
- Christian Life: Moral Formation; Mission and Justice; and Prayer and Spirituality.
At
St Mary’s, the four strands are interrelated and their content is
taught in an integrated way with the aim of developing our learners’
religious literacy. We want all students to be able to participate
critically and effectively as life-long learners within our faith
community and in society.
Students experience a required minimum of 2.5 hours per week of religion lessons.
Our
model of pedagogy brings together the principles and practices of
learning and teaching that lead to success for all learners. Based on an
Inquiry Approach, our teachers use contemporary evidence-based
practices to impact positively and provide feedback on, student progress
and achievement.
Prep to Year 2
The
Religion Curriculum P-12 enables students in Prep to Year 2 to learn
about Jesus’ life as a Jew, his family and friends and his teachings and
actions. They learn about God’s loving relationship with people and all
of creation and the many ways in which communities of believers nurture
their loving relationship with God, others and with all of Creation.
Year 3 to Year 6
The
Religion Curriculum P-12 enables students in Years 3 to 6 to develop
their understanding of community and its significance for sharing and
developing faith. They learn about the experiences of different
communities, past and present and the many ways in which faith is lived
out and celebrated in their lives. Students learn about the particular
communities for whom the human authors of sacred texts shaped their
writings. They learn about the relational nature of God as Trinity and
the significance of Jesus’ law of love.