Catholic Identity & Mission News
In my time in Catholic Education, I have seen a variety of applications of the phrase, ‘Head, Heart and Hands’. In fact, we refer to them in our student leader training, and in our Year 12 Retreat! This trio of words is catchy, but also very meaningful. More than a theme, they form a model “used to describe different aspects of human development and functioning, particularly in education and leadership. The "Head" refers to knowledge and cognition, the "Heart" to emotions, values, and relationships, and the "Hands" to action, physical engagement, and the application of learned concepts.” This term, in celebrating three of our House Patrons – St Augustine of Hippo, St Maximilian Kolbe and St Mary MacKillop – I have reflected on how they can represent ‘Head, Heart and Hands’ in our own College community.
After a wayward youth, St Augustine dedicated himself to study and service and was prolific in his curiosity, study and literary output. Representing the ‘Head’, he used his mind to explore the nature of God and humanity through a study of the scriptures and early Church Tradition. Though he lived more than 1,600 years ago, Augustine's insights still shape Christian thought today. His works are described as “captivating, inspiring, and challenging,” and they reveal a man of immense intellect, humility, and spiritual depth. Most of all, Augustine showed us that transformation is always possible — that no matter where we start, we are all capable of change, growth, and grace.
St Maximilan Kolbe is honoured particularly for the manner of his death, where he sacrificed his life to save the life of another in a German concentration camp (Auschwitz) in World War II. Through this act of great love, Kolbe represents the ‘Heart’. Growing up amid political oppression and personal hardship in Poland, from an early age, he demonstrated a profound sense of right and wrong, shaped by the sacrifices around him. This act for which Kolbe is best remembered speaks volumes about the kind of man he was. To grasp the weight of that decision, we must try — however difficult — to imagine the hopelessness of that death camp: a place stripped of all comfort, dignity, and humanity. In the face of cruelty, he brought hope and chose love because he led with heart.
And then there’s St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, the ‘Hands’ of this trio. Mary was a woman of deep faith, sharp intellect, practical wisdom, and unwavering resilience. Her life was marked by service — first to her family, and then to the broader community. With a great sense of humour and a grounded, approachable nature, she connected with people from all walks of life, even in the most trying of times. On our recent Staff Spirituality Day, we were able to visit the Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre in Albert St, East Melbourne where there is much evidence of her hands-on approach to leadership of the Josephite order, and her own personal actions in serving the poor and needy not only in Melbourne, but throughout her ministry in Australia.
One of Mary MacKillop’s famous sayings was, ‘Never see a need without doing something about it’. The model of Head, Heart and Hands is one we encourage our students, and whole College community, to apply when we see things that need something done about them! We can feel powerless or overwhelmed by the needs we see in our world, but if we support (or object!) with our intellect, feel solidarity and love with our hearts, and volunteer or donate with our hands, we can indeed be Kingdom builders in our own way. Particularly in the Jubilee Year, where we are called to be Pilgrims of Hope, we are encouraged to learn from our House Patrons who themselves listened to Jesus and followed his example of love, mercy, courage and justice. He was the Head, Heart and Hands all in one package!
In the same vein, last Sunday was Social Justice Sunday, and to commemorate it, the Australian Catholic Bishops released their annual Social Justice Statement. This year’s statement is called: Signs of Hope on the Edge: Serving Homeless People with Mental Ill Health
May we pray for those who are experiencing homelessness or mental ill health, and for ourselves, that we may have courageous and loving heads, hearts and hands to care for them.
We pray:
O God, Source of all Life, you created earth as our home and us in your image, out of love.
Set our hearts astir with that same love, that we might build a culture of encounter and systems that justly serve those living in homelessness and mental ill-health.
Jesus our Brother, you noticed those living on the edge, and listened, healed and served them, out of love.
Move us from our embarrassment or discomfort by those who show us your suffering face. Instead, may we be taught by them, offer our loving friendship and share your good news together.
Holy Spirit, Source of all Hope, you inspire our relationships with transforming power, out of love. Deepen our vision and enlarge our hearts so that the fear and isolation of homelessness and mental ill-health may be countered by love’s warmth and certainty, that we might walk together as pilgrims of hope, Amen.
You can download a copy of this year’s Social Justice Statement, and learn more about it at: https://socialjustice.catholic.org.au/2025/08/06/signs-of-hope-on-the-edge-social-justice-statement-2025-2026/
Ms Fiona McKenna
Deputy Principal – Catholic Identity & Mission