2022 LifeLink Day for Primary Schools: Catholic schools provide the gift of knowing Jesus, our hero, says Perth Archbishop
22 June 2022
“One of the greatest gifts of going to a Catholic school, is the opportunity to learn more about what a wonderful hero Jesus is and how important and exciting it is to follow Him.”
Those were the words of Perth Archbishop, the Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB to primary Catholic school students, at the official launch of the 2022 LifeLink Day for Primary Schools.
The launch, held virtually on Wednesday, 8 June, was also attended by the Most Rev Bishop Don Sproxton, LifeLink Chair and Auxiliary Bishop of Perth, and Catholic Education WA Director of Religious Education Rev Mark Powell.
The panel shared their LifeLink experiences and answered questions posed by students through the portal.
Archbishop Costelloe began his address by defining the word ‘hero’ as “someone who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.”
“The great hero, of course, for us as Christians, is Jesus. He fits the dictionary definition perfectly. He certainly had great courage. He achieved remarkable things. Jesus had many noble qualities. The more we get to know Him the more, I think, we come to admire Him,” he said.
“Unless Jesus does become one of our heroes, and I think our greatest hero, then although we might think of ourselves as Christians, we might be missing out on the very best thing about being a Christian which is to know Jesus so well, and to be inspired so much by Him, that we say, I want to be like Him.”
Archbishop Costelloe said CEWA schools were huge contributors to charitable causes, including LifeLink agencies, providing food for people who are hungry; warm clothes and blankets for those who are cold. They help people with a disability and offer friendship and understanding for people who are isolated and lonely.
“LifeLink agencies (supported by your schools) do all these things because Jesus lived His life for others rather than just for Himself. And they do all these things because Jesus once said, “Whenever you do any of these things for those who are in need you actually do them for me.”
“One of the greatest gifts of going to a Catholic school, is the opportunity to learn more about what a wonderful hero Jesus is and how important and exciting it is to follow Him.”
Perth Archbishop Tim Costelloe
This year, LifeLink aims to raise at least $120,000 to help nine charities. The 2022 beneficiaries are the Catholic Ministry for People who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Centacare Employment and Training, Centrecare Inc, Emmaus Community, Identitywa, Daydawn Advocacy Centre, Samaritan Projects, The Shopfront and Catholic Outreach.
More information about LifeLink, including fundraising resources for schools, is available at lifelink.com.au
