Principal's Message

At the Opening of the School Year Mass I spoke about the derivation of the word compassion. It stems from the Latin word “pati”, which means to suffer, and the prefix com- means with. Literally compassion means to suffer with. That is what makes it different from empathy. Empathy is an ability to relate to another person's pain as if it's your own. However empathy does not have an active element and that is what separates it from compassion. When others keep their distance from those who are suffering, compassion prompts us to take action, act on their behalf and feel strongly moved to reduce the suffering. It commands a move from being sympathetic to taking some action.

Passages from the Bible are useful in showing us how to be compassionate. For example in Proverbs 31:8-9 we read "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." And in 1 Peter 4:10 "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." Handy pieces of advice to walk with others and do something to be supportive.

The spirit of the word compassion is connected with doing not with material or physical things. The spiritual definition of compassion involves acting to lessen the suffering, of others.

Our Core Value, Compassion – walking with and having empathy for all, is an impressive reminder of the action we take to make bad things good. Whether it be to lift someone who is down or resolving conflict that threatens to be destructive commit to be a model of a spirit of actionable compassion. Let that be our own nature and If we all do this we will be in for a great year. 

Raymond Pisani

Principal