From the Principal
Pilgrims On A Journey
I had the pleasure of attending a beautiful Commissioning Mass during the week to pray for the success of our upcoming Year 11 Pilgrimages.
The John XXlll College Pilgrimage program offers the students the opportunity for growth and transformation through the experience of service, reflection and prayer. 41 Year 11 students and 12 staff members will have the opportunity to travel to the Northern Territory, Cambodia, India and Timor Leste over the next two weeks to broaden their world view and discover how they can become ‘men and women for others’ and ‘seekers of truth and doers of justice’.
Our first pilgrimage was initiated by Principal Mr Greg Clune in 2000. The Pilgrimage Program aims to help staff and students:
- Find God in all things and all things in God.
- Develop a greater understanding of the Gospel call to justice and its reflection in the social teaching of the Catholic Church.
- Develop an awareness of the Loreto and Jesuit works and the Charism of these orders.
- Develop ideas about how we can respond to social justice issues of our time and become ‘seekers of truth and doers of justice’.
- Develop an appreciation of the richness of other cultures and our own cultural competencies.
The Pilgrimage itself promises to be a transformational experience. However, just as important is the extensive preparation led by our Director of Faith and Mission, Mrs Janeen Murphy. All our pilgrims have been involved in a 10 week formation course and the expectation is that on their return they will look to become engaged in our social justice initiatives.
It is also an extraordinary program for our community. Our parents have been incredibly supportive and hard working raising in excess of $24 000, through a movie night, a quiz night and a silent auction. 23 members of staff have agreed to act as Pilgrimage mentors to guide the students through the process on return to school.
As well as the weekly formation session, the Pilgrims have met with their group regularly and have also experienced a weekend retreat to assist with their preparation. They completed a Solidarity Walk to raise funds for the communities they will be visiting. The thoughts and prayers of the College Community are with all our pilgrims over the school holiday period.
Uniform Option
Our Uniform Committee recently made a recommendation to the College Leadership Team to give our Years 7-12 girls an option from 2018 to wear trousers as part of the winter uniform. We are very respectful of the tradition associated with our uniform but we see the suggestion as being logical. Therefore, the College Leadership Team endorsed the recommendation and girls will be given the choice of wearing trousers in 2018.
‘Dance Through The Decades’ 40th Anniversary Ball
Ticket sales close Friday 22 September for our 40th Anniversary Ball ‘Dance Through the Decades’. Over 550 tickets have been sold and it promises to be a great night. More information and bookings available via this link: http://www.johnxxiii.edu.au/view/events-archive/40th-anniversary-ball-20170503095308
Together, let us seek justice.
Yours sincerely
Robert Henderson
Principal