Principal

Dear Members of the Academy community,

As we move through life there are certain events we will always remember - we remember where we were when we heard the news or how it affected us ...   "I remember where I was when I heard about 9/11”  or “ I remember where I was  when Princess Diana died.”  Some might even be able to say “I remember where I was when President Kennedy was assassinated.”   The events linger in our minds and hearts.

I believe the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo will be moments in time that our students will take with them as they grow into adulthood. 

Following the death of Pope Francis, the Academy community gathered  together in the Dillon Centre to reflect on the life of this magnificent man of mercy.  I was so proud of the students on that day as they listened intently as we spoke of Pope Francis and his legacy. There was a palpable sense of reverence and a profound stillness as we celebrated the life of a much loved Pope.

In the intervening days before the election of Pope Leo, students  studied the election process,  reflected on possible candidates, and, more importantly, identified their hopes and aspirations for the successor of Francis, and on 9 May, the cry “Habemus Papam” echoed around the world – “We have a Pope” – a Pope from Chicago, USA - Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost.

It seems some days later that our new Pope is an inspired choice – a learned man but a man of the people.  A man whose papacy will be based on a quest for Social Justice as was the focus of his mentor, Pope Leo XIII in the late 19th century.

Over the days to come, we look forward to learning more about our new Pope, his charism and his vision for the Church and indeed the world. 

We pray for Pope Leo as he undertakes this important position.  May he lead with grace and integrity and, as Pope Francis exemplified, with Mercy, love and joy.

We are now concluding Week 3 of Term 2 and it has been such a busy term already as evidenced in this newsletter.  As a community, we have celebrated our Mothers at last week’s Mothers’ Day mass, our sportswomen excelled at the recent Athletics Carnival and our staff appreciated their recent Spirituality Day.  The beginning of term Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences also went smoothly.  A number of students are also looking forward to the Seeds of Justice Days scheduled for this week and we are  all eagerly looking forward to our musical "Frozen Jr” which opens next week.  A number of local primary schools will be joining us over a two day period.

We look forward to the events and activities scheduled throughout this term. 

In conclusion I welcome to the College our new and returning staff  - Sherine Baydoun, Alexander Wilton-Reeves and Rebecca Porter.    They have settled into the College seamlessly. 

Every Blessing, 

Sr Mary Moloney rsm 

Principal