Mission & Identity

No one lives on bread alone,

but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

(Matthew 4:4)

The Memorial of St Ignatius Loyola is celebrated every year on 31 July. The Society of Jesus, the order of priests founded by St Ignatius, were a significant influence of Blessed Edmund as he discerned the direction of his life. We can be confident that Blessed Edmund would have prayed the following prayer composed by St Ignatius:

Dearest Lord, 

teach me to be generous; 

teach me to serve You as You deserve; 

to give and not to count the cost, 

to fight and not to heed the wounds, 

to toil and not to seek for rest, 

to labour and not to ask for reward 

save that of knowing I am doing Your Will.

This sense of loving service that motivated and directed Blessed Edmund to establish his schools continues in the life of St Patrick’s College. Our Winter Food Drive and Nude Food Day are but two examples of opportunities to conform our lives to the loving and wise plan God has for each of us. 

Winter Food Drive 

Our Winter Food Drive, in partnership with the St Vincent De Paul Society, has commenced for 2024. Please encourage your sons to donate non-perishable food items and toiletries to this worthy cause and let us together make a difference in the lives of many.  Students will come to homerooms in the morning to collect donations. 

Nude Food Day

On Thursday, 15 August the College will run a “Nude Food Day”.  On this day the canteen will be closed for recess and lunch.  Students are encouraged to either bring their own food in reusable containers or purchase food, a cardboard plate, and bamboo fork from the stall that will be run by the SAGERS students. Delicious food with minimal environmental impact. Cash and card will be accepted on the day. 

What can students eat? 

Option one:  Bring your own food from home in a reuseable container. Please try to reduce the plastic wrapping, e.g. pack fruit, sandwiches, etc.

Option two:  Purchase food from the stall with one’s own reusable container and utensil. 

At recess nude (unwrapped) slices of cake (chocolate, vanilla and marble) will be available.  

At lunch the Food Technology Department will offer hot food at $4 a serve if students bring their own reusable container. Items available include: 

• Pizza scrolls
• Pasta bake
• Shepherds’ Pie
• Vegetarian dish

Option three:  This is the same as option two but if students do not have their own reusable containers there is a $2 charge for a cardboard plate and bamboo fork. 

Thursday, 15 August is the Solemnity of The Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary. On this day we celebrate our belief in the resurrection, body and soul, that is promised to each one of us. It is our belief in God – the unlimited power of God’s love - that define us as an educational community. We shall celebrate this important moment with Mass in the Gym followed by the Faith in Action Assembly. 

Mary’s great prayer in the Gospel of Luke is the Magnificat. You are invited to spend time with Mary throughout the month of August through reflecting on her joyful acceptance of God’s love into her life: 

‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord

and my spirit exults in God my saviour;

because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.

Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed,

for the Almighty has done great things for me.

Holy is his name,

and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.

He has shown the power of his arm,

he has routed the proud of heart.

He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.

The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away.

He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy

– according to the promise he made to our ancestors –

of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’ (Luke 1:46-56)