Principal's Message
Edmund Rice Day
In planning and forecasting for the first few weeks of this term, decisions were made to postpone or modify particular events while waiting for the finer details around the predicted easing of COVID-19 restrictions in schools. One such event was the re-scheduling of our Edmund Rice Day celebrations and festivities which will now be held later in Term 3. However, the Feast Day of Blessed Edmund Rice was certainly acknowledged across the College with a series of themed Liturgies that focussed prayers of thanksgiving and hope related to Edmund and his ongoing legacy that continues to be lived out in schools and organisations across Australia and throughout the world.
Edmund Rice Day, even within our somewhat modified format this week, seeks to celebrate the rich history of Edmund Rice Education and its ongoing place across the world. At Trinity College, it provides a focus on our context as a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition and challenges us to reflect on the values upon which an Edmund Rice education is built.
Edmund was a man of action. The essence of his message, and the charism we so carefully reflect upon, is essentially a call to action. Edmund challenges us to acknowledge and seek to positively influence the nature of our ‘unequal world’ with a view to imagining and shaping a different world. In reflecting on Edmund’s example in a recent publication, the Edmund Rice Education Australia Council said, “He calls us to stand in solidarity with victims of disadvantage and exclusion, to respond with a compassion that compels us to action and to liberate those bound by injustice”.
While many within our College community would be familiar with the historical story of Blessed Edmund Rice, what we seek to do as a school is to continue to honour the legacy and mission of his ongoing work. Our strong Christian Service program and mantra of being ‘Men for Others’ is a reminder of these values. At a time when our world continues to grapple with the ongoing effects of a global pandemic, and is dismayed and shocked by events in the Ukraine, there still remains many challenges and uncertainties ahead. The question that continues to present itself is how we educate, protect and care for our students so that they can embrace and seek to change and shape all that is happening in our world. Furthermore, how do we form them in such a manner that they continue to be selfless in their outlook and compassionate in their care for all its peoples.
As a community we must continue to instil in our boys, the ability to see injustice, the courage to challenge this appropriately, and the wisdom to do things differently and positively for their future. It would seem that the values of care, courage, faith and stewardship so wonderfully demonstrated by Blessed Edmund Rice so many years ago, may be needed now more than ever. Dr Wayne Tinsey, former Executive Director of Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) remarked, “If we have educated our students well in curriculum, values and faith, it would be most surprising if they don’t challenge what they are currently experiencing, for there is much to confront”. This notion that a values-based education can liberate individuals and influence our wider society is still very relevant today.
Edmund Rice challenged the ailing systems and ‘unequal world’ of his time. He could not disregard those in need despite his own life being disturbed. The most recent reports and images emerging from Ukraine continue to disturb us, as does the constant messages about the effects of climate change and the lessons learnt through these past few years about the importance of family and relationships. The values so wonderfully displayed by Edmund remain as important today as they did some 200 years ago. This, in fact, may be the most appropriate way to celebrate the feast of Blessed Edmund Rice, in keeping his vision alive, especially during these challenging times. While as a College we will look forward to celebrating his legacy later this year, his message of liberating hope, and challenge of being Men for Others, should be practiced daily.
Live Jesus in our hearts.