Chaplaincy

Cathedral College Wangaratta is a Christian school in the Anglican tradition, ensuring worship is an essential and integral part of our week within the School. Students and staff celebrate their spirituality and participate in the religious and liturgical aspects of fortnightly Chapel Services. Age-appropriate, engaging and fun, students are encouraged to become involved in prayer and contribute their own spiritual identity to group worship. Religious and Values Education (RAVE) seeks to expose students to a range of faith expressions and instil in them a greater sense of spiritual identity. At the heart of the Christian ethos are the concepts of social justice, inclusion, tolerance and respect for other belief systems and we welcome all who come, from whatever religious background or circumstance.

There is a close relationship with the Anglican Diocese of Wangaratta – particularly through the Cathedral Parish, a worshipping community that meets for worship in Holy Trinity Cathedral every Sunday. As a school community, we are guided by our Chaplains, The Rt. Rev'd John Parkes AM, Rev'd Dr Mark Mickelburough, and Reverend Cathy Carden, The Very Rev'd Ken Goodger, Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral, and The Right Rev'd Clarence E Bester, Bishop of Wangaratta.

The Chapel of the Good Shepherd

The Chapel of the Good Shepherd is an inclusive, inspiring, peaceful and reflective space in which students, staff and the wider College community will gather in worship and communion. The Chapel proudly resides in the heart of the school. It is a place where all members of our community will gather to find peace and comfort, irrespective of religious tradition.

The naming of the Chapel

In honour of Christ the good shepherd, our new College Chapel will be known as ‘The Chapel of the Good Shepherd’.

In Jesus’ description of himself in St John’s Gospel, he says;

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.’ (John 10.14-16)

It is our prayer that the Chapel of the Good Shepherd will be a place where all members of our community will gather to find peace and comfort, irrespective of religious tradition.

 Within the main chapel, sits a smaller more intimate side chapel. The side chapel was dedicated in honour of Saint Catherine of Alexandria.

 According to legend, Saint Catherine of Alexandria was an extremely learned young girl of noble birth, possibly a princess. She protested the persecution of Christians under the Roman

Emperor Maxentius—whose wife and several soldiers she converted while imprisoned—and defeated the most eminent scholars summoned by Maxentius to oppose her. Catherine is the patron saint of students and teachers, and therefore a suitable patron of our internal chapel.