99. The Soul
Welcome to The Soul, a resource for Catholic school staff in the Diocese of Lismore and beyond.
In this edition, we're reflecting on the profound grace given by The Shepherd - the one who gently leads, faithfully guides, and intimately walks with us. It's a powerful reminder that as followers of Jesus, we are never abandoned. We are cherished, called by name, and led with infinite love, mirroring how He leaves the 99 to go after the one.
As we serve in our schools, let's trust in the Shepherd's voice, walk with renewed confidence, and guide others with the very same care, patience, and hope that we have received.
The beauty of the late Pope Francis’ pectoral cross is found in its simplicity: Christ the Good Shepherd leading the flock, carrying the lost sheep on his shoulders, guided by the Holy Spirit. This design captured his pastoral approach—to be the Shepherd who relentlessly sought out the lost, reaching out to the peripheries of the Church. To many, he was an authentic Good Shepherd to all in need of God’s mercy and love.
Reflecting on the recent Good Shepherd Sunday Gospel, his successor, Pope Leo XIV, described being a Good Shepherd as “a gift from God.” He celebrated his first Sunday as Bishop of Rome with the Gospel that reveals Jesus as the true Shepherd—one who knows, loves, accompanies and gives His life for his sheep.
For the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools, this beloved Gospel shapes the foundation of the mission, expressed in the framework titled The Fullness of Life, envisioning abundant life for all through Christ.
We pray, then, for Pope Leo as he emphasises Mission and Evangelisation—a legacy carried in the heart of each papacy since the Second Vatican Council. As he encouraged before praying the Regina Caeli: “May the Virgin Mary, whose entire life was a response to the Lord’s call, always accompany us in following Jesus.”
GLOW Ignites Year Six Students Across the Diocese
Last week, Catholic primary schools across the Clarence, Richmond, and Tweed regions came alive with the light of GLOW, a vibrant, joy-filled experience for Year Six students that left a lasting impact on all involved.
GLOW is more than just an event. It’s a unique opportunity for young people in their final year of primary school to gather together in faith, friendship and fun. With the Wildfire Worship Team leading powerful praise and worship, and the dynamic presence of College Youth Ministers (CYMs) and the Mission School Evangelisation team, students were invited to encounter God in a real and personal way.
Each GLOW event brought something uniquely special: creative expressions of faith, inspiring testimonies, and the unmistakable joy that comes when young people are empowered to live out their faith with confidence.
We’re so grateful to the staff, youth ministers and school communities who helped create an environment where students could build faith and friendships in such a meaningful way. And most of all, we’re proud of the students, whose energy, reverence, and boldness to step out in faith was truly inspiring.
GLOW 2025 has shown us again what’s possible when we invest in the faith of our young people.
Ten:Ten Retreat Ignites Faith and Fun at Holy Family Primary!
The atmosphere at Holy Family Primary School recently buzzed with joyful energy, thanks to the inspiring Ten:Ten student retreat experience. The Proclaim Lismore Wildfire Worship Team facilitated the retreat and were supported by young enthusiastic leaders from Xavier Catholic College Youth Ministry Class, making the experience even more dynamic and special.
The dedicated Year 10 Ministry Class students were truly living out their faith by bringing the Gospel message to life in vibrant ways for the younger students at Holy Family. Following the Catholic Schools Youth Ministry International (CSYMI) program, while inspired by its mission of forming young missionary disciples, this outreach is a beautiful example of Faith In Action.
Through engaging storytelling, fun-filled games, heartfelt prayer, and genuine expressions of the Gospel message, the Year 10 students created meaningful moments of encounter. These interactions allowed the primary school students to experience the joy and hope of the Gospel in tangible and relatable ways.
Following the empowering CSYMI model, Year 10 students are being nurtured, encouraged, and given the opportunity to step into leadership roles as young evangelisers within their local community. There’s something truly special and impactful when young people share and live out their faith together.
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It’s Good To Be Alive (Proclaim Lismore Wildfire)
To help students dive deeper and encounter Jesus through worship, Wildfire has created Primary and Secondary in-school resources to accompany the song. Plus, for school bands and choirs, they've provided a chord chart, lyric chart, lyric video, and lyric slides, making it easy to share this message in your school and parish communities.
Access all these incredible resources and more by following this link to the ‘Proclaim Lismore’ website.
Get ready to uplift your spirits! Wildfire has released their vibrant new single, "It's Good To Be Alive!’ This upbeat, fun song was crafted to remind us of the immense beauty in our world and the profound blessings we receive from God. It's already inspiring gratitude and serves as the uplifting theme song for the Year 6 GLOW Retreats held across the Diocese.
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Psalm 23 (I Am Not Alone Live) (People & Songs)
- Take a listen to this incredible live version of Psalm 23 by People & Songs, led by Josh Sherman. These powerful lyrics remind us of the loving mercy of Jesus as our Good Shepherd.
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Flowers (Samantha Ebert feat. Seph Schleuter)
- This heartfelt ballad tells the story of how God's plans for us can sometimes be hard to see, but so long as we trust in God, flowers will grow in the valley.
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Lead On Good Shepherd (Patrick Mayberry feat. Zahriya Zachary)
- Patrick Mayberry reminds us Jesus, the Good Shepherd will lead us to goodness and peace, and if we follow Him, we will never be steered wrong.
With the Heart of a Shepherd
Family life is a journey filled with changing seasons, unexpected turns, and moments of both deep joy and quiet struggle. As parents, we are called not only to love our children unconditionally but also to shepherd our families—watching carefully, walking gently, and noticing when someone begins to drift….
Pray every day with Mark Wahlberg, Jonathan Roumie, and millions of others around the world on Hallow, the #1 prayer app.
Hallow is a Catholic meditation and prayer app, It provides audio-guided Bible stories, prayers, meditations, sleep, and Christian music.
The Pentecost Film by Word on Fire
In celebration of Pentecost, The Pentecost Film by Word on Fire provides an intimate look into the creation of a contemporary sacred artwork. Commissioned for the Word on Fire Bible: Volume II, artist Michael Stevens' piece, The Pentecost (After Maíno), reimagines the descent of the Holy Spirit with a dynamic blend of Baroque and modern artistic influences. The film delves into Stevens' creative process, highlighting how traditional themes can be expressed through contemporary art.
This visual narrative captures the suddenness and mystery of the Holy Spirit's arrival, making it an ideal feature for Pentecost. It invites viewers to reflect on the transformative power of the Spirit and the enduring relevance of sacred art in expressing faith
Watch the film here: The Pentecost Film – Word on Fire
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