On Thursday, 31st July, our Year Five students had a special opportunity to deepen their understanding of Church leadership when they welcomed Father Liam Ryan, General Vicar of the Kimberley Diocese, and seminarian Thomas to their classrooms.
As part of their Religious Education learning, our students have been learning about the Church, focusing on the responsibilities and qualities of its leaders. The visit was a perfect chance to bring their learning to life.
Father Liam spoke openly and warmly about his journey as a priest, sharing stories and insights into what it means to serve the Church and community. The students were full of curiosity, asking thoughtful questions about his daily life, the challenges and joys of priesthood, and the role of faith in guiding his work. Joining him was Thomas, who is currently training to become a priest. He shared his own experiences and aspirations, giving students a glimpse into the path of seminary life and the commitment it takes to follow a religious vocation.
The Year Five students were deeply engaged and inspired by the visit and were eager to share some of their questions and answers below.
The first question we asked was how long it takes to become a priest and he told us it can take 7-10 years! ~ Charlie Russell
Father Liam and Thomas said that there are four areas of study when you train to become a priest – academic, human, pastoral and spiritual. ~ Micah Sibosado.
I asked Father Liam why he became a priest and he said he felt like it was the job that brought him the most joy. ~ Thomas Wright.
One of the key things that made Father Liam become a priest was to get closer to God and have a better relationship with God. ~ Arlo Townsend.
Father Liam became a priest so that he could make connections with people and help people who made bad decisions to turn back to God. ~ Addison Rose Major.
Father Liam told us he lives in the prayer house with 2 dogs and 1 cat. He has a day off on Monday. ~ Shayna Jain
Something I found interesting was that on Sunday after mass in Broome, he might go up the peninsula and say mass at places like Lombadina, Beagle Bay and Derby. ~ Samuel Kennedy.
One question we asked was what’s his favourite thing about being a priest and he said it’s his relationship with God and people he serves. ~ VT Freitlag
We learned that one of his responsibilities is taking the Holy Communion to people who cannot attend mass. ~ Isabel Gannon
What I really like about Father Liam is that he visits the hospital and the prison too. ~ Leo Catalano
Father Liam told us that he loves visiting our school and the elderly too. ~ Paityn Dann.
We had fun and we loved learning about Father Liam’s life as a priest in Broome. ~ Isla Wright
This memorable encounter helped students connect their classroom learning with real-life examples, reinforcing the values of leadership, service, and faith. Our College is grateful to Father Liam and Thomas for taking the time to share their stories and inspire the next generation and to our staff for ensuring such meaningful and real life learning for our students.
