Deputy Principal

Another week of falling rain. Whilst that has meant that a lot of activity for the boys has been cancelled for a short period of time, I encourage us all to think about others. With the prevalence of social media dictating a society that encourages us to look out for the individual, we need to be ever mindful that we are part of a community. A school community, a broader local community which then grows into being part of a national and international community. 

On Sunday I was accompanied by the College Captain Michael Bejjani and the College Vice-Captains Blake Timillero and Adrian Biscotto to the 25th Anniversary Mass of the Opening of the Seminary of the Good Shepherd at Homebush. Mass was celebrated by the Most Reverend Danny Meagher (Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney). In his homily, Bishop Meagher encouraged us to think outside of ourselves and to focus on community. I reflected on this on Sunday night as we witness the ongoing devastation of the floods and loss of life in Northern NSW and South-East Queensland. Whilst the floods have impacted our families at St Patrick’s College, we need to keep in our thoughts and prayers the wider community and the devastation that the rain has caused in other parts of Australia.

Bishop Meagher’s homily also made me think of the war in Ukraine which I touched on last week. As I sit down to write this contribution to the Especean, I do it without fear of war or retribution for the words I write. Sometimes we can get lost in our own thoughts and words without appreciating how lucky we are in Australia to have freedoms that we take for granted. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with all of those who are fighting for those same freedoms in Ukraine, and the innocent civilians who have lost their lives or who are fleeing to other countries as refugees.

Adrian Byrne

Deputy Principal