St Norbert College runs a chapter of the Benenson Society on Campus. As part of the Benenson Society, students participate in the following activities:

“Easter Eggstravaganza”

Term 1 Project

The aim behind this project is to develop in the students an awareness of political prisoners who are being held unfairly throughout the world. Eggs are purchased early in Term 1 from FAL and the number of a political prisoner is written on the egg. These eggs are purchased by students to be given as a gift to other students in the College. The eggs are given out on a day in the week leading up to Holy Week. They are distributed in the homerooms.

This forms the basis of a prayer service. Once students in the homeroom are given the eggs a prayer is read out. This prayer relates to the freedom that Christ offers through His death and Resurrection and the call as Christians for us to witness to injustice in the world - to be the Christ Light for others.

A candle is lit and then those who have received eggs are to read out the numbers on their eggs. Students are encouraged to offer silent prayer during this time. Once the numbers of political prisoners have been read out, students are to read prayers of petition x 4, asking God to bring freedom into our world, our College, our families and ourselves.

The money raised by the students will go towards the purchasing of aerograms which support the release of political prisoners around the world.

Letter Writing

Terms 1, 2 & 3

Letter writing sessions are held regularly throughout Term 1, 2 and 3. These sessions are usually held at lunch or as part of one of the larger Benenson Society projects conducted throughout the year. All St Norbert College students are welcome to participate.

Writing letters on behalf of prisoners of conscience around the globe reminds governments and regimes that treat their people unjustly that they are being watched. The more we put peaceful pressure on those perpetrating human rights offences, the more likely they are to become more humane in their treatment of others.

The Benenson Society taps into a number of global human rights organisations in order to ensure their reports are accurate and wide ranging. Some of the organisations they are creating links with include: Amnesty International, Christians Against Torture, Consistent Life, Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Human Rights First.

“Meditation in the Market Place"

Term 3 Project

“Meditation is as natural to the spirit as breathing is to the body. Deeply rooted in the Christian tradition, it is an ancient spiritual discipline, a simple way into peace within oneself and union with the Spirit of Christ.

This is not to say that meditation is “the only way” to pray or the only way to wisdom. But meditation – silence, stillness and simplicity - does lead to the experience of wholeness that opens, in faith, to holiness. Holiness is the integration of wisdom and compassion applied to daily living.”

Taken from The World Community for Christian Meditation

Through meditation we are able to sit more truly within reality. We focus only on the now and turn away from distractions such as what happened yesterday or what we’re worried about coming up tomorrow… we sit in the stillness and ‘allness’ of now. Meditation is an ancient form of prayer. It is an act of devotion to God who is always in the now.

‘Meditation in the Market Place’ is an opportunity for our students to participate in an activity which highlights the importance of stopping, sitting in silence, being in the now and participating in an act of devotion to God and peace. This activity takes place in the middle of the Year 11 Quad during lunch. The quad at this time is a busy place; students roaming around, eating their lunch, chatting to each other, laughing with each other and making a significant amount of noise.

The ‘Meditation in the Market Place’ in stark contrast presents stillness and peace. In doing so it reminds all students of the importance of stopping, being still and sitting with God in the eternal now. Whilst the students meditate, every couple of minutes a bell is rung and statistics and real life stories of tragedy from war are read out to the crowd. Herein lays the focus of the meditation which is on world peace.

“Stories in Sculpture”

Term Two Project

This project aims to heighten students’ awareness of the suffering that is happening in the world as the result of unjust governments’ treatment of their own peoples.  

During lunch, Year 9 and 10 students sit meditating in a makeshift prison constructed in the Year 11 Quad, while fellow students read aloud about several real life situations that demonstrate the personal difficulties and tragedies that people experience at the hands of violent and corrupt regimes around the globe. 

This project reminds students of the privileged lives they lead here in Australia and builds within them the desire to promote justice on behalf of those who cannot speak out for themselves. It gives students another opportunity to discover and live out of goodness and love, which is the essence of their being; and in doing so they create even more the Kingdom of God among us.

You can find out more about the Benenson Society and their charter by visiting http://www.staloysius.nsw.edu.au/associations/benenson/default.asp