Let Your Light Shine
'In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works.' (Matthew 5:16)
Our 2025 College theme was Let Your Light Shine.
This artwork titled Lux Nostra (Our Light) by Reet K (Year 9 2025) aims to inspire people to use their passions and talents to spread the light to the world. The display shows figures illuminating a dark landscape with their own light.
The different coloured circles of light represent human individuality, and how no person has the same identity and therefore light. The chains connect all the individuals back to other people representing how one person's actions can inspire a hundred more. These chains are inspired by indigenous artwork, reminding us of our commitment and respect for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people who have walked this land before us.
The central figure is accompanied by the Holy Spirit represented by the dove. This symbolises how our relationship with God is important in allowing our own light to shine, as alongside Jesus we can succeed, grow, and flourish.
Finally, the plant included is a freesia, a native flowering plant to Australia. They represent trust, and in this case refer to our trust in God.
Artwork Name: Lux Nostra (Our Light)
Artist: Reet K (Year 9 2025)
Embracing Life's Journey
'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever,' (Hebrews 13:8)
Our 2024 College theme was Embracing Life's Journey.
This image relates to everyone because it reminds us to be self‑aware of Jesus’ presence in every step of our lives. He is with us in our most difficult moments and in our happiest ones. It connects strongly to our Catholic Identity and the way of Mary, showing us that God has a plan for each of us and that we will be welcomed into His arms when the time comes, just as Mary was chosen to be the mother of Jesus. Mary accepted God’s request even though she didn’t fully understand what it meant for her life.
The story behind this drawing is that Jesus (the hand on the left) is always guiding us (the hand on the right) through each stage of our journey. The steps in the background represent the path of our lives, leading us closer to Jesus’ Kingdom. The clouds shifting from light to sunset colours symbolise the passage from Earth to Heaven.
Artwork Name: TBC
Artist: Minuli B (Year 9 2024)
Created and Called
‘The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.’ (Job 33:4)
Our 2023 College theme was Created and Called: a revolution of love and tenderness
This theme invites us to enter into the visual space of the Mark Rothko inspired multi-forms, which prompt fresh eyes and an expansive personal interpretation of Created + Called. ‘Art to me is an anecdote of the spirit,’ Rothko said. Through layers upon layers of paint applied to create blocks of colours, his canvas reveals a contemporary icon that evokes a religious experience through creating a feeling of contemplation and transcendence.
The art invites you to slow down as you are immersed deep within the colour of the image. Rothko considered his colours as his spiritual performers. He believed that we are cluttered with so many images, yet it is only abstract art that can bring us to the threshold of the divine. Sandy Prouty notes that Rothko’s works began with his brush and were completed with the viewer’s perspective through experiencing “a sense of intimacy, awe, a transcendence of the individual and a sense of the unknown” (Rothko 1953).
Artwork Name: Where Heaven and Earth Meet
Artist: Mark Rothko
Known and Loved
'In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you.' (Matt 7:12)
Our 2022 College theme was Known and Loved: Dignity for All
The image ‘Our Lady of Loreto with the Refugees’ Cloak’ was painted by young Italian artist Margherita Gallucci. She explained that she dedicated the painting to “the sacredness of human life, to the sacredness and dignity of all those who are victims of brutality, war and racism”. The image captures a contemporary Visitation: Mary, defender of the displaced, the accompanier of the lost, the least and the lonely.
Margherita reflects on her painting:
“The Sanctuary of Loreto (Italy) is close to my hometown and I spent a lot of time there. It contains part of the Holy House of Nazareth. Inside, there is ‘The Black Madonna’, a dark wood sculpture representing Mary and Jesus wrapped in a golden mantle with precious jewels.
I thought about how it can be easy to see Jesus and Mary in a statue, and how hard it is to see God in our Brothers and Sisters. I reflected on Mary’s “Amen”, which she traditionally pronounced within those walls. We see Mary’s motherhood more easily as Sacred, but we hardly realise the Sacredness of every person. However, it is not too difficult to see this in the faces and souls of real people…children, women and men, victims of war, violence, injustice and poverty.
We are called to recognise the preciousness and sacredness of every person, to welcome God into our hearts and homes.”
Artwork Name: Our Lady of Loreto with the Refugees’ Cloak
Artist: Margherita Gallucci
Breathe the Spirit of Life
‘What has come into being in Him was Life, and the Life was the light of all people.’ (John 1: 3b-4)
Our 2021 College theme was Breathe the Spirit of Life.
Creation is bigger than just our planet earth. Creation is about everything in the universe – everything Ngkarte (God) has put there and all those things have Ngkartele Utnenge (God’sSpirit) in them. That’s why we look after them and care for them.
The sun, the stars, the meteors, the big animals and the smallest flower that feeds the bees, and us – we are all part of what we call ‘creation’ – we are all connected because we all have Ngkartele Utnenge in us.
We humans are very blest because we are able to share in Ngkarte’s creating – when I paint, it is Ngkartele Utnenge who guides me to create something that has never been before, and then Ngkartele Utnenge is that painting. When
I care for my children in our families and help them grow – that is being part of Ngkarte’s creating too. It is very precious to be able to share in Ngkarte’s creating in our Universe.
Phonetic pronunciation of Ngkartele Utnenge: Ung-gar-dala ud-nung-a
Artwork Name: Creation and the Universe
Artist: Sharon Williams (Santa Teresa, NT)
Grow
Lead
Serve
