Acting Principal

A Constant Challenge

‘A Constant Challenge’ is the title of Chapter 5 of Dilexe te, and Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV challenge us to not ignore the plight of the poor. In Paragraph 105, it says:

‘We need to acknowledge that we are constantly tempted to ignore others, especially the weak. Let us admit that, for all the progress we have made, we are still ‘illiterate’ when it comes to accompanying, caring for and supporting the most frail and vulnerable members of our developed societies. We have become accustomed to looking the other way, passing by, and ignoring situations until they affect us directly.’ 

This is a challenge for all of us in the community to step up and make sure we care and walk with the vulnerable. In a society that is constantly pressuring us to look after the individual, we must work together to look after the collective. As a College, we need to challenge our students to not ignore people but lift them up. The EREA touchstone of Justice and Solidarity speaks to this cause and we are constantly asking our students through our Social Justice program to get uncomfortable and walk with those most in need. Students who undertake the College's Winter Sleepout, are challenged to live off minimal food for the evening and sleep on a piece of cardboard on the ground. They also run through scenarios of the challenges that homeless people face and the stigma that surrounds those people that are homeless. The students sleep out for one night; however, the reality is, according to the last census, that there were over 25,000 people in Greater Sydney who were homeless. 

We can make a difference, and we do through other Social Justice Programs such as the weekly sandwich-making for homeless people, Night Patrol and volunteering at the Matthew Talbot Hostel and Loaves and Fishes. However, the education needs to continue at home. As Christians we are called to serve, and we must act together and teach our children at home that service does not just occur when our children are at school through an organised program.

How will our children continue to serve and give back to the community well after they have left the College gates for the last time? This is the challenge, and this is what Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV are calling us to do. Not to look away, but care for our most vulnerable every day. We cannot rely on our politicians to solve the problems; this is a societal problem. We must act now to give every single person the human dignity that they deserve.

Adrian Byrne

Acting Principal