From the Principal

Proving people right

A three-time Richmond footballer and premiership player, Kane Lambert, retired from playing this week due to ongoing injury concerns. He was overlooked in six pre-season drafts before becoming a highly successful and important player. I loved the messaging when he retired:

‘I wanted to prove people right. The people who cared for me and gave me their time and effort.’

There were no sour grapes or recriminations for missing out on earlier opportunities. There was just a genuine consideration for those who had supported him over his career. The words we use and how we say them is so important.

Last weekend’s Gospel recounted ‘Jesus teaching his disciples to pray’. The Lord’s Prayer is said in every Eucharistic celebration as we pray the words that Jesus taught us. At Mass in my parish, the homily discussed the significance of the meaning behind the words as being more important than the words themselves. It is not just a prayer to be recited.

At school this week, we commence our Founders’ celebrations. The inspiration of Pope John XXIII, Mary Ward and Ignatius of Loyola was through actions rather than words. Our Secondary Athletics Carnival and John XXIII Day celebrations are tangible ways our College celebrates this significant time.

This week we also recognised many of our high achievers from Semester One via a celebratory breakfast at the College. We also included high achieving students from Semester 2 2021 given COVID restrictions prevented a similar celebration in Term 1. Fortunately, we have plenty of opportunities in the calendar year of ‘catching the students being good’.

Robert Henderson

Principal