Religion and Life General Year 12 EST Preparation 2026

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards for the Religion and Life General course, covering study techniques, Catholic Church structure, and the Second Vatican Council based on the 2026 EST preparation transcript.

EST (Externally Set Task)

An assessment task set by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) with a weighting of $15\%$, administered in $50$ minutes under standard test conditions.

Account (or Account for)

To state the reasons for or report on; to narrate a series of events or transactions.

Analyse

To identify components and the relationship between them; to draw out and relate implications.

Annotate

To add notes or comments to a diagram, image, or piece of writing to explain, interpret, or evaluate content.

Assess

To make a judgement of value, quality, outcomes, results, or size.

Synthesise

To put together various elements to make a whole; to gather all information and combine into a complex whole.

Religion

A particular way of life that includes a system of beliefs, values, teachings, rituals, and worship, centered on a supernatural being, power, or force.

Religious Leadership

Authentic leaders who not only provide leadership but also live their faith.

Religious Structure

The organization of a religion, including its leadership, authority, and responsibilities.

Magisterium

The official teaching office of the Church, consisting of the Pope and bishops, who teach in the name of Jesus; from the Latin word 'magister' meaning teacher.

Tradition

The unwritten Word of God referring to liturgies, teachings, and commands of Jesus handed on by the Apostles, such as the Sacraments and Creeds.

Living Tradition

The idea that the Tradition of the Church is not static but involves adaptation and growth as a continuation of the past to remain relevant.

Diocese

A portion of the people of God entrusted to a bishop; in Australia, there are $33$ dioceses in union with the Pope.

Parish

A certain community of Christ's faithful stably established within a particular Church, headed by a priest appointed by the bishop.

Vicar General

The bishop's delegate who organizes and administers the diocese, including finances and property, and governs in the bishop’s absence.

Cathedral

The main church of a diocese.

Pope

The successor of St Peter, Bishop of Rome, and Supreme Pontiff of the universal Catholic Church.

Cardinal

A member of the Church selected specifically to elect a new pope.

Archbishop

A bishop in charge of a large diocese or archdiocese, usually located in a large city.

Priest (Presbyter)

A co-worker with the bishop who has received the second degree of Holy Orders and can celebrate Mass and hear Confession.

Deacon

One who has received the third degree of Holy Orders for ministry and service; can preach and celebrate Baptisms/Marriages but cannot say Mass or hear Confession.

Laity

Members of the Church community who are not ordained.

Origin

The point or place where a source begins, arises, or is derived.

Purpose

The reason for which a source is created or for which something exists.

Context

The social, political, geographical, and cultural circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea.

Event

A specific happening or occurrence at a particular place and time that has importance.

Issue

An important topic, problem, or discussion.

Aggiornamento

An Italian word meaning 'a bringing up to date,' expressing a key aim of Vatican II to reformulate the Christian faith.

Ressourcement

A French word meaning 'a return to the authoritative sources,' involving a rediscovery of truths in biblical and patristic sources.

Ecumenical Council

A meeting of all bishops in communion with the Pope; it is the highest legislative authority of the universal Church.

Pope John XXIII

Born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli; elected in $1958$ and called the Second Vatican Council to address the Church and the modern world.

The Second Vatican Council (Vatican II)

An important historical event from $1962$ to $1965$ that modernized the Church and changed worship practices, allowing local languages in Mass.

Sacrosanctum Concilium

The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, one of the four foundational documents of Vatican II, which addresses liturgical changes.

Gaudium et Spes

The foundational document from Vatican II titled 'The Church in the Modern World,' concerned with the human person and the community.

Lumen Gentium

The 'Dogmatic Constitution of the Church,' considered the central document of Vatican II.