Students from Catholic Schools Broken Bay have been among the first in the world to explore an innovative immersive digital experience of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the spiritual heart of the Catholic Church.
Peter is Here: AI for Cultural Heritage, is the latest creation from Minecraft Education that inspires creative, inclusive learning, and interactive experiences.
It brings the cultural and spiritual heritage of St Peter’s Basilica to students’ computer screens in the classroom.
Catholic Schools Broken Bay is one of only two dioceses globally selected to pilot the program, which offers students a unique opportunity to engage with the history, tradition, and spiritual significance of the basilica as a symbol of the universal Church and St Peter’s role as the first Pope.
Students at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School, Waitara, were among the first to step into this virtual masterpiece during a live session with Microsoft’s global Minecraft Education team.
The interactive experience allowed students to explore the basilica’s architecture, learn about its role in the Catholic faith, and reflect on the Church’s rich history, while also providing feedback to the developers.
Following the pilot last month, students described the experience as “awesome” and a ”cool way to see inside St Peter’s and the Vatican”. Their suggestions on content were adopted and Peter is Here is now available worldwide.
It is also being rolled out to all CSBB primary students with supplementary teaching resources being developed.
Broken Bay Bishop Anthony Randazzo praised the initiative for creating new ways to connect young people with their faith.
“This remarkable experience invites our students to walk virtually in the footsteps of St Peter, enriching their understanding of our Church’s foundations and traditions,” Bishop Randazzo said.
Our Lady of the Rosary principal Trish Biok described the experience as transformative for her students.
“Peter is Here provided our students with a highly detailed and immersive experience of St. Peter’s Basilica, keeping them fully engaged and making it an invaluable tool for integrating interactive and meaningful learning into the Religious Education curriculum.”
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Students at CSBB among first in world to pilot virtual learning experience (Catholic Schools Broken Bay)
