Two Missions, One Purpose: Vietnam Returns as Kimberley Continues
Alongside our new Kimberley Mission, a group of Year 11 students returned to Vietnam for the first time since the program was paused in 2020 due to COVID. This year’s immersion to Vietnam was further enriched by travelling alongside our sister school, Sacred Heart Girls’ College, Oakleigh.
Throughout the year, the Immersion students worked hard in their fundraising efforts in support of organisations and schools in the Kimberley and the work of the RNDM Sisters in Vietnam. They ran sausage sizzles, the Mother's Day stall, made grazing boxes and were very excited to relaunch the Mission High Tea. We were also grateful to receive generous donations and practical supplies of stationary, toiletries and donation bags. In total, the Immersion team raised an outstanding $19,000!
Vietnam Immersion
We were thrilled to be journeying back to Vietnam this year for the first time since COVID put a hold on our missions in 2020. Ten students, along with Ms Michelle Moreton, Mrs Sandra Manning and Fr Francis Quoc Tran, travelled to Sài Gòn in December and were excited to be joined by our companions from Sacred Heart Girls’ College, Oakleigh, Victoria.
Our journey took us to the RNDM communities in Củ Chi, Suối Tượng and Thạch An. Củ Chi and Suối Tượng (the floating school) are charity schools founded by the RNDM Sisters to provide access to education for poor Cambodian refugee communities. We loved spending time with the children, playing games with them, blowing bubbles, painting nails and practicing their English skills - their joy was infectious!
We spent the weekend in Long Dien, in the Phước Long district, with the girls who live at the RNDM boarding house. We painted some wall murals to help brighten up their spaces, we did craft activities and played games, and in the evening, we had a concert to share our cultures. In just 48 hours, and across language barriers, the girls formed tight knit bonds, which is testimony to the spirit of Euphrasie and the RNDM love we share. We set out hoping to brighten their weekend, yet they filled our journey with more light and love than we ever expected.
Along the way, we immersed ourselves in Vietnamese culture and history. We enjoyed pho for breakfast and many other traditional Vietnamese dishes. We visited the Củ Chi tunnels, the Independence Palace (also known as the Reunification Hall) and the War Remnants Museum, where we gained insight into the the resilience of the Vietnamese people during the war. We were also blessed to visit the statues and communities of Our Lady of Núi Cúi and Our Lady of Thác Mơ, breathtaking and significant landmarks of our faith.
We loved spending time with the Sisters and were met with great hospitality everywhere we went. At Thủ Đức we met the elderly Sisters and aspirants, and at Thị Nghè we visited the temporary professed Sisters. We also learned about Sr Mary Catherine Harris and Sr Sheila O’Toole, who were Australian and New Zealand RNDMs missioned in Vietnam, and their stories of courage and determination.
As we visited the various communities, our aim was to share the love of God by being with those who live on the margins of society and by serving the needs of the communities wherever we could. Instead, it was us who were taught the most, with lessons of joy, resilience, hospitality and faith. We have been so grateful for the opportunity to witness the inspiring work of the Sisters and to share this journey with our friends from Oakleigh. We return home enriched by the experience, renewed in spirit and energised to continue living the RNDM mission.
Kimberley Immersion
The Year 11 Kimberley Immersion was a transformative experience that embodied the RNDM Charism and SHC values. Over ten days, students stepped away from the familiar and entered a world rich in culture, history, and faith - listening to stories, sharing their own, and discovering what it truly means to serve.
From Broome to Beagle Bay and Lombadina, the group was welcomed by First Nations communities and learned about the deep spiritual connection to land and the resilience of cultures that have thrived for thousands of years.
Sacred Heart School in Beagle Bay shares a special link with our College, both in name and history. “We made great connections with the kids of Sacred Heart School Beagle Bay in just two short days… It was really eye-opening to see the impact we had on the community in such a short period of time and we will never forget the friendships we made.” – Tessa, Grace, Evvie
Some of the local elders gave a wonderful tour of the area and a highlight was definitely the church. “Built humbly from clay and minerals of the land, its pearl-shell inlays shimmered like opals… It was hot and unsealed from the outdoors, and filled with people celebrating the graduation of Year 6 and 10 students. It was utterly beautiful.” – Imogen
One of the most powerful experiences was volunteering with an organisation called ‘Feed the Little Children’, a program that provides meals to vulnerable families. “The program reminded us of real gratitude, like the deaf woman who ran to her door for a meal and shared her story with us.” – Amelia C, Amelia D and Seanna
At Broome Residential College (BRC), students connected with peers from remote communities across Australia. The students bonded throughout their many games of basketball and footy, playing volleyball in the pool, doing some great arts and craft and sharing meals together. Sacred Heart staff and students also received a very special Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony led by Aunty Di, a Yawuru elder, on the grounds of BRC. “Staying at BRC was a great experience. We got to meet people from communities across Australia, and learn about their different cultures. The Welcome to Country from Aunty Di was unforgettable. We all discovered so much about the Yawuru culture and participated in a smoking ceremony.” – Sonia
Students also visited St Martin de Porres and St Mary’s schools, and built some great connection with the students there. We explored the Broome Museum, toured Notre Dame University, and learned about pearling at Willie Creek Pearls - deepening their cultural understanding.
Beyond these experiences, there was plenty of fun: camel rides on Cable Beach, holding baby crocodiles at the Crocodile Park, watching a movie at Sun Pictures, shopping, and enjoying the festive Christmas markets at Town Beach.
Reflecting on the journey, students summed it up perfectly: “Overall, the trip was 10x better than we expected. We all learnt so many valuable things and met so many people we will cherish.” – Jorja, Chloe and Latecia
This immersion was a living expression of the RNDM mission: to be present, to listen, and to serve with love. It reminded us that learning happens not only in classrooms but in the stories, struggles, and celebrations of others.
