From the Principal

• Reflection
• Mother's Day Mass
• Sharing the EREBB Congress Immersion Experience
• Feast Day of Blessed Edmund Rice
• Touchstone Portrait Exhibition
• NCCD - Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability
• Cocurricular Program
• Key Dates 

Reflection

Mother’s Day: Honouring Love, Faith, and Mary Our Heavenly Mother

Mother’s Day invites us to pause and give thanks for the women who nurture, guide, and love us so generously. 

Mothers, grandmothers, and significant women shape our lives in countless ways through their patience, sacrifice, and unwavering care. 

Their presence brings comfort, encouragement, and strength, often expressed quietly through daily acts of love.

In our Catholic tradition, Mother’s Day also draws our hearts to Mary, 

our Heavenly Mother. 

Mary’s faith, courage, and trust in God provide a powerful example of what it means to love selflessly. 

As the Mother of Jesus, she nurtured Him with tenderness and guided Him with faith, placing her complete trust in God’s plan. 

Her maternal care continues today, as she watches over us and intercedes for us as a loving mother to all.

The love we experience from our earthly mothers reflects the love Mary shows to each of us gentle, faithful, and enduring. 

On this Mother’s Day, we give thanks for the women who have loved and supported us, and we ask Mary to continue to guide our school community 

with her compassion, faith, and hope.

May we honour our mothers not only on Mother’s Day, 

but every day, through gratitude, kindness, and love.

At our Mother’s Day Mass, the following prayer was offered as a moment of reflection 

and gratitude, reminding us of God’s presence in the lives of our mothers those who walk with us today and those who now rest in His eternal care.

Mother

She’s sweeter than the fragrances

That fill the dell in spring.

A joy she is above the joys

That all the years can bring.

She’s dearer than the dearest friend

That I will ever know.

Her prayers ever guide me on

No matter where I go.

Her face is furrowed deep with cares,

Her hair is streaked with grey,

A rosary bead slips

Through her hands

That first joined mine to pray.

And though the years

Have dimmed those eyes

That were so lustrous fair,

‘Tis death alone can take away

The love-light shining there.

At night when kneeling down to pray

I thank our Lord above

Who was so good to give me

My Mother’s deathless love.

Blessed Edmund Rice - Pray for Us

St Pius X - Pray for Us

Live Jesus in our Hearts - Forever!

Mother’s Day Mass at St Pius X College

We were once again blessed with beautiful weather as we gathered at our Oxford Falls campus to celebrate Mother’s Day with more than 1,000 mothers, grandmothers, carers, sons, and grandsons from our community. The celebration of the Eucharist, led by Fr Hien, was reverent and uplifting, with our musicians and choir contributing a joyful and heartfelt spirit to the occasion.

The reflection shared by Joanna Huntley was a moving tribute to mothers and the vital role they play in raising their sons to be good and compassionate young men. We are sincerely grateful to Joanna for generously sharing her personal experience of raising five boys and for her kind words of appreciation for the support provided by St Pius X College throughout her sons’ journeys.

Another highlight of the celebration was the photo montage, which beautifully captured the essence of the day. As I shared with the congregation, what stood out most was the overwhelming sense of happiness and love reflected in the images, smiles that truly spoke volumes.

During my address, I found myself stepping away from my prepared remarks, inspired by Joanna’s heartfelt reflection and the powerful images shared.

Below, I share my address with the community.

Good morning staff, students, fathers, and husbands, and a very warm welcome to our special guests today our mothers, grandmothers, and the significant women in our lives.

This is now my fourth Mother’s Day Mass with the St Pius X community, and it has truly become a cherished occasion. With more than a thousand people gathered today, we have a wonderful opportunity to pause and celebrate the gift of motherhood and the women who shape our lives so profoundly.

Each year, I find it difficult to find the right words to fully express what the women in our lives mean to us. This year, that challenge is felt even more deeply, as it has been one year since the passing of my own mother. I miss her greatly today. She loved Mother’s Day whether celebrating with her grandchildren and great‑grandchildren or joining me wherever my role in education had taken me. While those moments now live only in memory, the image of her joyful, proud, and loving presence remains with me always and continues to shape the person I am.

Mother’s Day is often associated with images of warmth, light, growth, and new life all deeply comforting symbols. These are also the qualities we so readily associate with mothers and the significant women in our lives. It is a nurturing spirit that brings life into the world, and it is often a mother’s steady and reassuring presence that guides us through life’s journey.

Perhaps the most beautiful part of this care is that it comes so naturally. A mother’s instinct to protect, to understand, and to love is not forced, it is woven into who she is. Her loyalty is held deep within her soul, and her love for us runs even deeper. Even when we have tested patience or failed to appreciate it at the time, that love has remained constant and unwavering.

To speak of how special these women are is, in truth, to speak of love itself. Love is not always easy to define, but we recognise it because, for most of us, our mothers were the first to show us what it looks like and what it feels like. For that, mothers, grandmothers, and the significant women in our lives you will always hold a special place in our hearts.

On Mother’s Day, we also honour Mary, the Mother of our Lord, who loved and nurtured her Son with faith and courage. Her maternal care continues to embrace us today. May her example nurture our spirits as we journey together, seeking to renew the world with love, compassion, and joy.

So today, I invite all the sons of St Pius X to make a simple pledge:

•    to help your mother, grandmother, or special person

•    to smile more and worry less

•    to laugh more and suffer less

•    to be grateful

•    to be kind

•    to become a good person.

And boys, love her and tell her what she truly means to you. Not just today, but every day. I know I miss saying this to my mum, and I regret not saying it more often while she was with me.

May you all have a blessed and joyful Mother’s Day

I would like to thank Mrs Scanlon for her organisation of what has become one the largest mass we celebrate throughout the year.  Being her first Mother’s Day mass everything was beautifully presented bringing great reverence to the occasion.

Special thanks also to:

• Mrs Brady and Mrs Arena for their organisation of the morning tea and to Mrs Cheney and Mrs Leedham for support during the morning tea.

• Mrs Westhoff, Ms Gan, the musicians and choir for bringing their musical expertise to our celebration.  It is always wonderful to have our talented students and staff showcase their amazing ability.

• All our maintenance team led by Mr Trent Willloughby for their preparation of our sacred space.

• The IT team for their support with the audio/visual setup.

• And also to staff who supported us in transporting all our students back to Chatswood following the mass and those who taught classes/supervised at Chatswood during the Mass.

Please see photos from the day here.

Sharing the EREBB Congress Immersion Experience

Over the next few weeks, I will share some of my experiences from my recent immersion to Peru and Argentina.

Pre-Immersion Experience - humbling, challenging and gratifying at the same.

In a world increasingly shaped by distance and division, the immersion offered me and other educators an opportunity for genuine human encounter. It called all participants to step beyond the classroom and into relationship where learning is grounded not in theory, but in lived experience.

Through immersion, we were invited to build connections across cultures, engage communities with dignity, and reflect deeply on faith, justice, and our own identity.

Rooted firmly in the charism of Blessed Edmund Rice, this experience challenged us to live the values of presence, compassion, and liberation.

Jicamarca (often what people mean by 'Jiramarca') is about 40–45 kilometres east of central Lima.  By road it is roughly 1.5 to 2 hours from the centre of Lima, depending on traffic and route.  It lies east of Lima, in the hills of the Huarochirí Province. While not far in straight‑line distance, the journey feels longer because of winding roads, elevation, and urban congestion as you leave the city.  This is why Jicamarca is often described as being close to Lima, yet worlds apart in terms of living conditions and access to services.

The Christian Brothers have accompanied the people of Peru since 1967, responding to poverty and injustice through education, faith, and solidarity very much in the spirit of Blessed Edmund Rice. Edmund believed that education and presence alongside the poor could be truly liberating, and this mission continues today in communities such as Jicamarca.

Through this pre‑immersion experience, we encountered remarkable resilience, generosity, and community spirit, and were invited not only to see and serve, but to listen, learn, and be transformed deepening our global awareness and shared humanity.

A central element of the immersion was the home‑building project in Jicamarca, where we worked alongside local community members to construct a home for a family in great need. The home was built for a woman caring for her son with a disability, as well as another family, a mother and her two children, who had recently lost their home due to an earthquake. The environment was confronting and unlike anything many of us had previously experienced, yet providing safety, dignity, and hope was both humbling and deeply rewarding. Words alone cannot fully capture the impact of this experience.

This work reflects the very heart of Edmund Rice’s vision to stand in solidarity with those on the margins and to respond with compassion, faith, and action. Like Edmund, we were called to be present, to labour alongside others, and to honour their dignity.

Through this collaborative effort involving Principals and educational leaders from Australia, Ireland, and the United States, participants witnessed first-hand the transformative power of service grounded in humility and justice.

A truly inspiring experience that brings Edmund Rice’s legacy to life.

‘Dios los bendiga’

God Bless

Feast Day of Blessed Edmund Rice

On the Feast Day of Blessed Edmund Rice, we give thanks for a man whose life of faith and action continues to shape who we are as a community. Guided by deep trust in God, Edmund responded to the needs of the poor by providing a liberating education grounded in compassion, justice, and hope. His legacy challenges each of us to live our faith through service, to stand with those on the margins, and to use our gifts to make the world more just. As an Edmund Rice community, St Pius X College is called to live this mission each day by faith, hard work and by our actions.

Touchstone Portrait Exhibition

On Wednesday afternoon, the Visual Arts Department hosted the Touchstone Portrait Exhibition.  The exhibition highlighted a wonderful collection of student artwork that demonstrates not only technical skill, but also deep reflection, individuality, and creativity. The portraits invite viewers to pause, reflect, and appreciate the stories and perspectives captured through the students’ work.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Ms Frances Doyle, Ms Erika Sorby, and Mr Dennis Lee for their dedication, creativity, and commitment to showcasing student voice and identity made the exhibition a truly meaningful and engaging experience for all who attended.

A curated selection of these artworks is currently on display in the foyer of E Block, creating a vibrant and inspiring space for our community. If you have not yet had the opportunity to visit and you are visiting the College, I would strongly encourage you to do so and take the time to appreciate the outstanding work of our talented artists. Their creativity and expression are something we can all be proud of.  Congratulations to all our artists.

NCCD - Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD).  The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disabilities.

Please see the attached letter for more information on this collection of data.

Cocurricular Program 

The commencement of the ISA football season produced a mix of results; however, it was most encouraging to see the way all our teams competed. Their sportsmanship, teamwork, and commitment were evident and are qualities of which we should be very proud.

Our rugby teams also experienced varied results, but once again the effort, resilience, and dedication shown by all players deserve recognition and praise.

The tennis and debating teams likewise demonstrated excellent spirit in their fixtures. In particular, the Senior B Debating team impressed me with the respectful manner in which they conducted themselves and their gracious and humble acceptance of the result.

Our junior teams enjoyed strong performances overall, achieving some outstanding results.

Best wishes to all teams competing again this weekend.

Go the Blue and Gold!

Key Dates

Week 4

Mon 11/5 Year 12 parent/teacher/student interviews (online) 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Tues 12/5 Chapel Mass (Mercy)

Wed 13/5 Rice Cup Football Tournament (Year 7)

Fri 15/5 Twilight Concert - Big Bands Bonanza / Year 7 English incursion

Sat 16/5 ISA & IPSHA R3 

Sun 17/5 Youth Mass (OLD Church)

Fide et Labore

By Faith and Hard work

Live Jesus in Our Hearts - Forever

Mr Michael Ronchetti - College Principal