Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta students had the opportunity to shine when the Captivate performing and creative arts program recently hosted its 10th Anniversary Showcase at Quaycentre, Sydney Olympic Park.
The show combined a spectacular musical ensemble of 165 students, backed up by the 1000-student primary choir and 190-student secondary choir singing songs such as One Dream, Come Back to the Sea, Keep your Lamps Trimmed and Burning and River Run Free.
This was complemented by a dance ensemble of 382 dancers who kept audiences enraptured. There was also a secondary drama ensemble of 90 students and a student ‘spoken word choir’ comprising 80 students from four primary schools.
One of the highlights of the performance was the use of puppetry and props to reflect the showcase’s storyline. The impact of the puppets was dramatic, guiding the audience through show’s theme of ‘creativity’: from the igniting of the creative spark, through to creative play, creative block, creative flow, and finally creative genius. The show’s finale was a stunning performance of Rihanna’s Diamonds in the Sky.
Captivate director Mark Hopkins said that for many students involved, it was their first major public performance.
“Others were consolidating many years of practice, rehearsal and performing, honing their skills for HSC practical examinations in the coming weeks or auditions for specialist post school arts study pathways in the coming months.
“Captivate is the program by which all students, regardless of prior experience or the location of their school, can access specialist learning in the arts.
“With a constant stream of research documenting evidence of the cognitive and social benefits of arts participation and learning, it is vital that such learning is part of each child’s education.”
St Andrew’s Primary, Marayong acting Principal Kim McDonald described the show as a rewarding experience for all those involved.
“Students have been rehearsing since February, both during recess and lunch breaks and also at formal off-site rehearsals with other students in the Diocese as well as during the school holidays,’’ Mrs McDonald said.
“This level of collaboration and creativity has provided opportunities for students to express themselves in a unique way. We are so proud of the students and thank them for their commitment, enthusiasm and persistence over such a long period of time.”
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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From Facebook
Understanding the Four Sundays of Advent Advent is one of those seasons that looks quiet on the surface—candles, soft hymns, purple vestments—but underneath, it carries an intensity that most people overlook. It isn’t just a countdown to Christmas. It is a training ground for the soul, a step-by-step interior journey that shapes the heart to receive Christ in a way that is deliberate, intelligent, and spiritually awake. Each of the four Sundays has its own theme: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. These aren’t random virtues placed in a nice order. They form a progression. Like an ascending staircase, each one becomes possible only because the previous one is accepted and lived. 1. First Sunday: Hope (NOV 30) Hope is not optimism, and it’s not a mood. In Christian theology, hope is a decision of the will to trust that God keeps His promises—even when the evidence looks thin or life feels chaotic. Advent starts here because nothing deep in the spiritual life even begins without hope. You can’t repent, can’t grow, can’t pray meaningfully unless you trust that the God you’re turning toward actually meets you. 2. Second Sunday: Peace (DEC 07) Once hope is established, peace becomes possible. And peace here isn’t emotional calm; it’s inner order. It means putting God in the center so that everything else—work, family, stress, desires, plans—moves into the right place. A person without hope has no peace, because their world is always wobbling on unstable ground. Advent’s second stage asks the believer to let God rearrange the inside of their life. 3. Third Sunday: Joy (DEC 14) Joy is not pleasure, and it isn’t excitement. Joy is what happens when peace becomes stable. It is the interior buoyancy that comes from knowing that one’s life is anchored in something far bigger and far more solid than circumstances. This is why Gaudete Sunday uses rose-colored vestments: the Church gives a small burst of celebration as a reminder that God’s grace is actively at work. Joy is the fruit of a life rooted in trust. 4. Fourth Sunday: Love (DEC 21) Love is placed last because authentic love requires transformation. Anyone can feel affection, but Christian love is not a feeling; it is self-giving. It is the willingness to put oneself at the service of God and neighbor, even when it costs something. Love is the summit of Advent because it prepares the heart for Christmas itself: God’s ultimate act of love revealed in the Incarnation. Why This Sequence Matters Advent teaches a psychological and spiritual truth: the soul does not leap to holiness—it grows in layers. Hope strengthens the will. Peace stabilizes the interior world. Joy energizes the heart. Love directs that energy outward. This movement transforms Christmas from a holiday into a revelation. Instead of merely celebrating the birth of Christ, Advent trains the believer to receive Him.
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Understanding the Four Sundays of Advent Advent is one of those seasons that looks quiet on the surface—candles, soft hymns, purple vestments—but underneath, it carries an intensity that most people overlook. It isn’t just a countdown to Christmas. It is a training ground for the soul, a step-by-step interior journey that shapes the heart to receive Christ in a way that is deliberate, intelligent, and spiritually awake. Each of the four Sundays has its own theme: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. These aren’t random virtues placed in a nice order. They form a progression. Like an ascending staircase, each one becomes possible only because the previous one is accepted and lived. 1. First Sunday: Hope (NOV 30) Hope is not optimism, and it’s not a mood. In Christian theology, hope is a decision of the will to trust that God keeps His promises—even when the evidence looks thin or life feels chaotic. Advent starts here because nothing deep in the spiritual life even begins without hope. You can’t repent, can’t grow, can’t pray meaningfully unless you trust that the God you’re turning toward actually meets you. 2. Second Sunday: Peace (DEC 07) Once hope is established, peace becomes possible. And peace here isn’t emotional calm; it’s inner order. It means putting God in the center so that everything else—work, family, stress, desires, plans—moves into the right place. A person without hope has no peace, because their world is always wobbling on unstable ground. Advent’s second stage asks the believer to let God rearrange the inside of their life. 3. Third Sunday: Joy (DEC 14) Joy is not pleasure, and it isn’t excitement. Joy is what happens when peace becomes stable. It is the interior buoyancy that comes from knowing that one’s life is anchored in something far bigger and far more solid than circumstances. This is why Gaudete Sunday uses rose-colored vestments: the Church gives a small burst of celebration as a reminder that God’s grace is actively at work. Joy is the fruit of a life rooted in trust. 4. Fourth Sunday: Love (DEC 21) Love is placed last because authentic love requires transformation. Anyone can feel affection, but Christian love is not a feeling; it is self-giving. It is the willingness to put oneself at the service of God and neighbor, even when it costs something. Love is the summit of Advent because it prepares the heart for Christmas itself: God’s ultimate act of love revealed in the Incarnation. Why This Sequence Matters Advent teaches a psychological and spiritual truth: the soul does not leap to holiness—it grows in layers. Hope strengthens the will. Peace stabilizes the interior world. Joy energizes the heart. Love directs that energy outward. This movement transforms Christmas from a holiday into a revelation. Instead of merely celebrating the birth of Christ, Advent trains the believer to receive Him.
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