Director of Identity 

All generations will call me blessed, for He who is mighty has done great things for me and His mercy reaches from age to age. Luke 1:48-49

Gospel Spirituality 

Last Monday on August 15 we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Assumption signals the end of Mary’s earthly life and marks her return to heaven to be reunited with Jesus. While the bodies of both Jesus and Mary are now in heaven, there is a difference between the Ascension of Christ and the Assumption of Mary, Jesus arose from the tomb and ascended into heaven by his own power, but Mary’s body was taken up to heaven by God. While most artistic and written depictions of Mary’s Assumption into heaven portray her rising in splendour and being received by the angels with trumpets, celebration, and her joyful reunion with her beloved son, in her last moments between heaven and earth there was also a feeling of falling, of letting go of all the trials and sufferings of her life, a moment of abandoning herself into the Father’s hands. This moment of exquisite faith in God’s plan reflects that of her Son in the Garden of Gesthemane, when He surrendered his fear, His body and His earthly life to the mercy of God. Mary herself spoke of this in her Song of Praise when she visited her cousin Elizabeth at the time of Jesus’ conception, that those who were mindful of God’s mercy would receive His help and understand His promise. The Feast of the Assumption is a special time for all of us to renew our faith in God’s plan and to follow both Mary’s and Jesus’ living examples of humility, service and care for others.

Liberating Education

Throughout the last fortnight our Year 9 students have been visiting the Salvation Army to hear about their work with some of the most marginalised people in our local community. The boys have been studying the experience of homelessness in their Religious Education classes and through these visits have had the opportunity to hear first-hand the stories and experiences of people living without the security of shelter, food and in many cases family and friends. Importantly, they have also been able to respond in a practical way, helping to pack food hampers and emergency packages. Thank you to Mrs Renee MacGregor for leading this meaningful opportunity for our boys, and to the Year 9 RE Teachers, LSO’s and our wonderful Maintenance and Administration staff for accompanying them. This Service-Learning focus in our Religious Education curriculum is a practical expression of our College Values of Learning and Justice.

Inclusive Community

In response to National Homelessness Week, the SVC Vinnies Club have been collecting clothing and blankets for their annual St Vincent de Paul Winter Clothes Drive. They also invited Louis Van to come and visit us at recess time so the boys could sell hot milo as a fundraiser for Vinnies, but also to raise awareness of the dedicated work that Louis Van does on the streets of nipaluna/Hobart every night, bringing hot meals and drinks to people who are struggling through hard times. Caring for the some of the most marginalised people in our community who are without the security of warm clothes, blankets and good food is an example of how we can live our College Values of Kindness and Community.