From the Principal

A generosity of spirit

When speaking to staff this week, I referred to a ‘generosity of spirit’. It is a term I have borrowed from our Vice Principal, Mrs Kath Negus, to describe situations when our students, staff and parents go well beyond the usual expectations of life at John XXIII College.

It is a busy place and so many members of our community give so generously of their time. If students just attended classes; teachers just worked from 8:30am - 3:30pm and parents were only involved in ‘drop off and pick up’ we would be a very ordinary school. Instead we have a culture with a wonderful ‘generosity of spirit’.

This message was complementary to Luke’s Gospel last weekend. It was Jesus’ parable of the wedding feast and guests were advised ‘not to take the seat of the guest of honour’. A more humble approach was proposed. The value of humility suggests that we look out for the well-being of others rather than being engaged in self-promotion.

At last week’s Father’s Day Mass, our community joined in singing the verse from ‘little things big things grow’. It was a lovely metaphor for family life and also reinforced the Jesuit mantra of ‘developing men and women for others’. It is a blessing being part of such a wonderful John XXIII College community.

Robert Henderson

Principal