Assistant Principal — Religious Identity & Mission

Student Masses  

Over the past fortnight, our students have continued to participate in our weekly Mass celebrations with our College Chaplain, Fr Suresh, held in our chapel, Mary of Perpetual Help. These Masses provide a meaningful opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of the liturgical calendar, as Fr Suresh thoughtfully connects the readings from the previous Sunday to the life of our College community. 

This week, one Senior class and one Junior class gathered to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, often referred to as the birthday of the Church. Fr Suresh reminded students of the powerful transformation of Jesus’ followers, who moved from fear and uncertainty to becoming courageous witnesses of the Good News. He encouraged our young men to recognise that the same Holy Spirit is present within each of them, empowering them to make a positive difference through their words, actions, and everyday choices. 

It was particularly pleasing to see so many students willingly take on ministry roles during the Mass, including proclaiming the readings, leading the psalm and prayers of the faithful, and participating in the offertory. The reverence, maturity, and respectful etiquette demonstrated by our students throughout the celebration were commendable and a great credit to our community. 

Year 9 Students Take on Doco in a Day

Our Year 9 students recently immersed themselves in the challenge of Doco in a Day, an exciting Edmund Rice initiative that combines creativity, collaboration, and social justice awareness. The task was ambitious: to create a short documentary in just one day. The doco had to be centred on a significant global issue such as gender equality, access to education, or sustainability while also contributing to fundraising efforts that support education for communities in need. 

Working in teams, students engaged in a highly collaborative process. They reviewed provided footage, carefully selected relevant segments, and crafted scripts to ensure their documentaries delivered a clear and impactful message. Many groups enhanced their work by adding their own filmed content and thoughtfully edited their pieces to ensure smooth transitions and a cohesive narrative focused on themes of social justice. 

Throughout the day, students demonstrated adaptability, teamwork, and perseverance as they navigated the challenges of working under time pressure. Their reflections at the end of the experience captured both the intensity and reward of the day: 

• Team ‘The Saints’ shared that “Teamwork improved once we got into the flow of things.” 
• Team ‘Reck’ described the experience as “a mixture of pressure and fun”.
• Team ‘Joe Metry Dashe’ echoed this sentiment, calling it “great but stressful”.

• Team ‘Place Holder’ reflected deeply, noting that, “It was very inspiring and opened my eyes to the reality of impoverished regions." 

   

Students were guided and supported by three dedicated staff members, Mrs Ball, Mr Harrison, and Mr Bevan, who not only helped them develop new technical skills in filming and editing, but also encouraged them to rise to the challenge of producing high-quality work within a limited timeframe. 

Doco in a Day provides a powerful opportunity for students to engage meaningfully with real-world issues. It allows them to deepen their understanding while also putting their values into action through advocacy and fundraising. At a time when the world continues to fall behind in providing equal access to education, initiatives like this play an important role in raising both awareness and support. 

All funds raised through the competition go directly to the Edmund Rice Foundation, which works to provide life-changing educational opportunities for marginalised communities around the world. 

We are incredibly proud of the effort, creativity, and social awareness demonstrated by our Year 9 students, and we look forward to seeing how their entries perform in the competition. 

National Reconciliation Week Breakfast Nipaluna/Hobart 

We were proud to have Oscar Coad and Jack Clark-Sullivan represent our First Nations students at Wednesday's National Reconciliation Week Breakfast in Nipaluna/Hobart, a significant gathering centred on truth-telling and learning from Tasmanian Aboriginal voices. 

The panel discussion challenged and inspired all present. Co-chaired by Aboriginal perfomer and producer Sinsa Mansell and radio presenter Ryk Goddard, and featuring respected Aboriginal leaders and advocates, the conversation focused on 'Truth. Reckoning. Change'.

Some key reflections included: 

• The importance of story in sharing hurt, pain and knowledge—moving communities towards hope and healing 
• A call to reframe reconciliation as truth-telling, truth-knowing, reckoning and reform in Tasmania 
• An invitation to consider the legacy we are leaving as educators and young people 
• Recognition that genuine dialogue sometimes requires discomfort, but this is essential for building a better future 
• Discussion of environmental reconciliation, including caring for land, skies and waterways 
• A reminder that truth-telling is not about blame, but about deep listening and understanding 

• Encouragement to visit significant Aboriginal local sites and engage with the history of Tasmania 

   

Students valued the opportunity to hear these strong voices of leadership and return with a deeper understanding of culture, truth, and reconciliation.