Chaplaincy at JSRACS
The Role of Chaplains
The Anglican Church ensures that Chaplains are present and available in many organisations such as the Defence Forces, hospitals, correctional facilities, welfare agencies, ports, community groups and schools. Regardless of context, a Chaplain’s chief task is to journey alongside people with diverse social and spiritual needs and to help them grow into fullness of life.
At JSR we celebrate our Christian identity through distinctively Anglican liturgy, a relevant Religious Education program at all levels, and through the provision of priestly care and leadership.
The School Chaplain has three main functions:
1. To be a visible Christian presence in the school community, and available to anybody who needs confidential advice and support. While this may be particularly necessary in times of crisis, the Chaplain also aims to build life-giving relationships at all times.
2. To lead the school community in liturgy – including regular worship for different sections of the school, major events in the school’s life and the key festivals of the church’s year.
3. To support the Religious and Values Education teachers, and to provide additional opportunities for faith formation of students, staff and the wider community.
The Reverend Luke Durham was commissioned in 2009 as both the parish priest at St Bede's (Beechboro Campus) and Assistant Chaplain at John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School. Fr Luke has particular responsibility for chaplaincy in the primary years of schooling. He has a particular interest in modern church worship and liturgy, constant prayer and compassionate care for those in need. Fr Luke can be contacted via the school switchboard, or by email on ldurham@jsracs.wa.edu.au
Canon Tony Murray-Feist was commissioned in September 2010 as Secondary Chaplain, after many years’ ministry as a parish priest and then as Precentor at St George’s Cathedral. Whilst Rector of Dianella Fr Tony was a Foundation Member of the Board of JSR. He has a particular interest in church worship, liturgy and choral music, and is also a keen change-ringer (campanologist), ringing regularly at the Swan Bells, Perth.
Fr Tony can be contacted via the school switchboard, or by email on tmurray-feist@jsracs.wa.edu.au
Brendon Wahl, a Science Teacher at the Mirrabooka Campus, also works as a part-time member of the Secondary Chaplaincy team.
In 2012 Ben Fincham-de Groot, who graduated from year 12 in 2011, is working as part-time Chaplaincy Intern, and assists in most areas of this ministry.
Baptism and First Holy Communion
Celebrating the Eucharist is an important and regular part of our school life. The practice across most of the Christian church is that a person ought to be baptised before receiving the sacrament. In the Anglican tradition, young people who are baptised and have an understanding of the Eucharist are formally ‘Admitted to Communion’.
The school will offer the opportunity for Baptism and Admission to Communion to students early in Year Seven. The opportunity for Confirmation will come when students are older and feel confident to publicly proclaim their commitment to the Christian faith. For enquiries about Baptism, Admission to Communion or Confirmation, please contact either of the Chaplains.