Perseverance Conquers All

Over the two evenings of October 16^th and October 20th we celebrated as a Padua College community the very special rite of passage, the Valedictory Mass that acknowledged the end of our Year 12 graduates six-year journey at Padua College. Now they commence their next journey, by joining our 127-year-old alumni.

We have heard frequently references to our college motto by student leaders or staff - Perseverance Conquers All or in the original Latin, Perseverantia vincit omnia.

• What can be a takeaway for our graduates from our college motto? As they leave the school gates?
• What can be a takeaway for the younger students still active in their journey at Padua College?
• What can be a takeaway for our families from our college motto?

We can also draw inspiration from our 2025 theme, ‘Resolve to be good today, but better tomorrow’ that came from the story and legacy of the Mercy Sisters, who displayed perseverance in setting up a Catholic place of learning on the Mornington Peninsula in 1898. And conquered, with a now flourishing Catholic school, the largest in the Archdiocese of Melbourne with around 2600 students.

What is a message for the now, for our current students and recent graduates?

Persevere comes from the Latin root persevereus which means to continue steadfastly, to persist. A message could be that:

• It is to have a belief that what you are looking for is going to happen.
• It is to have a purpose.
• It is a willingness to step into the unknown.
• It is to have a spirit that refuses to accept the failure of quitting.

Community Coffee Chats

What started with a coffee in the bustling Main Street of Hastings with Westernport community member, Tom Leydon has grown into a flourishing partnership between Padua College and our Westernport primary schools. Another coffee with a Richard Mucha, ex -Principal of St Mary’s Hasting tapping into his wisdom and connections resulted with Richard pulling together a team including the Principals/APs of Wallaroo, St Mary’s and Hastings P.S and Padua College.

What has eventuated since the start of the year coffees has been our Year 10 Catholic Action Program led brilliantly by Padua College staff member Lauren Ori to support the primary schools with a reading program.

"The students at Hastings P.S. have really enjoyed working with your Padua Yr 10 students…"
Simone McDonald, Principal, Hastings P.S.

"We have loved having Padua students at St Mary's. The students really enjoyed having older students in classrooms. It has been wonderful!
Nicole Black, Principal St Mary’s P.S.

A Prayer for Our Year 12 Graduates

Dear God,

As the Year 12 students close this chapter of their school journey, we thank You for the lessons they learned, the friendships formed, and the growth they have experienced.

Guide them as they step into new paths—fill them with courage, wisdom, and hope.

May they carry forward the values and knowledge they have gained and use them to make a difference in the world.

Bless their teachers, families, and friends who have supported and guided them throughout their 13-year journey.

And may Your light shine on their future, wherever it may lead.

In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

Alpha Youth sessions at Padua - Very successful beginnings

It was a real privilege to witness and support the launch and running of Alpha Youth sessions once a week for the Year 10-12 students at Padua. Huge thanks and congratulations to Emma Welsh for her dedication and inspiring leadership in running these sessions with the assistance of our Mission Captains Thomas McInnes and Charlee Dornom. So far, eight of the ten sessions of the program have been offered. The last two sessions will take place in Term 4 and I look forward to the next edition of the Alpha Youth, with a new leader taking over from Emma’s legacy. Here is what she has to say about the sessions run in Term 3:

At the beginning of Term 3, the Mission Captains, supported by the Director of Catholic Identity, Mr Antoine, began an Alpha Youth course at Padua. Occurring weekly on Tuesdays at lunchtime, Alpha Youth created space for Year 10-12 Padua students to explore together their questions about life, faith, and purpose. With the use of interactive videos and engaging conversations every week, Alpha Youth helps the next generation discover and develop a personal relationship with Jesus. Furthermore, the sessions allowed the opportunity for teenagers to come together to form connections and friendships throughout the year levels, through shared interests and a discussion of life’s deeper questions.

Student Reflection

I personally found it to be a wholesome and enlightening experience, permitting me to connect with peers of similar interests, share ideas or questions, and gain the confidence to participate in the discussions. To ensure a fun, friendly, and welcoming environment, we began with icebreakers, such as “Two truths and One lie”, or describing yourself with a word beginning with the first letter of your first name. Some of the topics that were explored included: Who Jesus was and is – through history, his teachings, and his goodness; The meaning of real, unconditional, sacrificial love; - Exploring sin, forgiveness, and God’s amazing grace; - a relationship with God and how it transforms and changes us; - Ways we can grow our relationship with God through prayer, the Bible and worship; - The Holy Spirit and how He works in us; how we experience God’s love through the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit; - What evil is, where we see it in the world, and what the Bible says we can do to face it and overcome it; - What healing is, how healing is presented in the Bible and how we play our part; and finally, Church, community and what’s next after Alpha Youth.

Emma Welsh, Year 12, Sessions Co-ordinator

Jubilee Year of Hope : Padua Students prepare for ACYF

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, young Australians from across the country have been invited to take part in the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF), a vibrant celebration of faith, community, and youth. This year’s festival will be held in Melbourne from 30 November to 2 December, and Padua College is proud to be part of it. Students in Years 10 and 11 have been invited to express their interest in attending this inspiring event.

As part of the lead-up to ACYF, ten Year 11 student representatives from Padua participated in a special Youth Gathering hosted by St Bede’s College on Friday 29 August. The day concluded with a reflective Pilgrim Walk along the beach from St Bede’s to St Brigid’s Church, where students and staff joined in a moving and uplifting Eucharistic celebration led by Fr Andrew Jekot.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to St Bede’s College for organising such a meaningful experience and for warmly welcoming our students into the event.

This gathering was a fantastic opportunity for our Padua representatives to connect with over 200 young people from other Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Melbourne. Our ambassadors—Charlee Dornom, Matheus Pinzan, Coyne Harrison, Max Traube, Stephan Ognenov, Chloe Sayers, Ana-Lucia Rosenquist, Ollie Tacon, Ava Eastmure, and Ysabella Mendoza—represented Padua with pride, making a strong and positive impression on their peers and staff alike.

Here are some reflections and takeaways from our students, capturing their experience of the Youth Gathering. It was, without a doubt, a wonderful ‘taster’ for the upcoming ACYF and a powerful reminder of the joy and unity that faith can bring.

Jean-Paul Antoine, Director of Catholic Identity Years 10-12

Padua Students at the Youth Gathering at the Catholic Leadership Centre - MACS

On Wednesday, 4 September, four enthusiastic representatives from Padua College—Charlee Dornom, Rosie McInnes, Max Traube, and Evie Donnelly—took part in a special Youth Gathering hosted by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) at the Catholic Leadership Centre.

These Year 10 and 11 students, who are also participants in the upcoming Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF), proudly represented our college among peers from Catholic secondary schools across Melbourne. The event provided a valuable opportunity to connect with other young leaders, share faith experiences, and get a taste of what’s to come at the ACYF, which will take place in Melbourne from 30 November to 2 December 2025.

Their involvement reflects Padua’s ongoing commitment to nurturing faith, leadership, and community engagement among our students.

Jean-Paul Antoine, Director of Catholic Identity Years 10-12

Student Photo Permissions

At times, photographs or videos of our students will be published in newsletters, on the school intranet or website, or in our social media. Copies of our Standard Collection Notice and Privacy Policy are available on the College website in the Enrolments section of our Policies page. Please note that consent to use these images in this way, if provided at enrolment, may be withdrawn at any time by contacting our marketing team via email: marketing@padua.vic.edu.au .