Catholic Identity & Mission News

This week, we have celebrated the Feast Day of St Oscar Romero (1917-1980), patron of Romero House. St Oscar Romero is revered as a great campaigner for social justice and as a martyr. He was killed because his influence and ideas were considered too dangerous for the ruling power of the day (sound familiar?!). Oscar Romero was a mighty man, but the story of his life is also powerful because of his relatable humanity. He was initially reserved about getting involved in the troubles of his day and was more intent on developing his inner life of prayer. Challenging and changing the system is often hard and dangerous work, and it’s surely more comfortable to mind our business and focus on ourselves. However, repeatedly in scripture, and throughout the millennia of the Church, we are called to service. It is a call we can accept, ignore or reject because we have free will. 

We emphasise service here at school through our many opportunities for student leadership and Social Justice groups for example. Another avenue for service is through our ‘Chelsea Project’. The Chelsea Project supports service and outreach both here at school through Breakfast Club (CRA – Tues and Thurs mornings, CLN – Thurs morning), our cooking for the Vinnies’ Soup Vans once per fortnight and our Rosie’s outreach visits to the city on a Wednesday evening most fortnights each term. Our Breakfast Clubs are great community builders and hope that they can meet the needs of students who come to school feeling hungry or just want a top up on their breakfast while chatting with old and new friends! For the Vinnies’ soup vans, we cook soup and muffins to provide for those who might be experiencing homelessness or living in supported accommodation in our local area. And our Rosie’s visits entail our staff and students spending time in conversation with people who live and congregate around the City of Melbourne. Bringing along biscuits and treats baked by our Vocational Major students, we share stories and laughs with people often overlooked in society, reminding us that all are created equal in human dignity no matter the cards life has dealt us. 

Service and sacrifice are important – serving others and sacrificing comfort and complacency mean that we can imitate Oscar Romero and his God, Jesus Christ. As Easter approaches, we commemorate the great sacrifice that Jesus made for us. No greater love can be shown than to sacrifice one’s life. We will remember this in our Stations of the Cross on the last day of term, and in our Staff Easter Liturgy ‘The Journey of St Peter: Call, Denial, Hope’. I will write of these Easter celebrations in the next newsletter but in the meantime, wish all in our College community a happy and blessed Easter. May the love, service and sacrifice of Jesus of Nazareth, and his glorious resurrection from the dead, bring you hope and joy this Easter. 

Ms Fiona McKenna

Deputy Principal – Catholic Identity & Mission