CATHOLIC College Bendigo held its presentation evening recently.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
There was anticipation, a sense of fun and maybe even some nerves as students from Catholic College Bendigo stood on the steps of the Sacred Heart Cathedral this morning ready to have their photograph taken to mark their graduation milestone.
The students gathered in a large group on the steps of the cathedral wearing academic gowns and caps in the early hours of the morning as the heat of the warm spring day set in.
The next test the Year 12 students face are the VCE exams which will take place across the end of October until late November.
Acting principal of the school Andrew Chalkley, who has been at the school for 23 years and was acting principal for 2014 up until Term 3, wished the students well.
"We hope that they take the gifts and talents that they've nurtured during their time at our school," he said.
"Not just necessarily in the careers that they take but in the way they live their lives as they go out into the world."
A special mass is being held tonight at Sacred Heart Cathedral led by Monsignor Frank Marriott, and will celebrate many aspects of the students' time at the school.
The theme of the mass is 'Shine the Light of Mercy', and the song Lanterns by Birds of Tokyo will be played as the students say goodbye.
"Our hope is that they’ll look for ways of implementing this idea and to be shining lights in our world - to embrace that," Mr Chalkley said.
"They'll receive a candle tonight, and that represents the fact that they'll be beacons or lanterns out there in our world."
The mass starts at 7pm and will begin with a procession into the cathedral.
The 'Passing of the Light' ceremony involves each student's candle being lit from a light that has been passed among parents and teachers and student leaders.
Students Cassandra Ward and Benjamin Goldsmith will give a student reflection, and will each receive a mission cross to represent the role they'll play as they step out into the world.
The cathedral is expected to be full tonight as friends, family and college staff watch on as the students mark the special moment.