Catholic Identity & Mission News

As St Peter’s Day approaches, I am inundated with fundraising requests from all the Houses across our two campuses as they prepare to entertain the student body (in particular) with entertainment, activities and food on our big day of celebration next Tuesday. St Peter’s Day commences with a whole campus mass and then students (and many staff) will enjoy a variety of rides, games and activities, before sharing lunch and then being entertained by the annual ‘St Peter’s Got Talent’ competition. There is something for everyone on St Peter’s Day! The thought, the variety and the creativity that goes into different options for entertainment each year is testament to the student voice that is so vital in planning the day. 

Student ownership of their school builds healthy morale and pride in the cohort and it’s not something that should be taken for granted. On Monday this week, we held a memorial service for a former student and staff member of our College, Luisa Jakubicki (nee Puliafito), who passed away in 2021. Luisa was described by one staff member as a ‘true daughter of St Peter’s College’. After COVID delays and then awaiting the readiness and availability of her family, we gathered in the College chapel to share our memories of Luisa as both a student and staff member of our College. We then moved to our memorial garden and crucifix where our Principal, Chris Black, led a reflection and unveiling by Luisa’s parents of her name on our memorial rock. Luisa’s husband and son then laid flowers at the rock. Finally, we moved to a lovely spot where a silver birch tree was planted in memory of Luisa. David Hansen, our Deputy Principal – Learning and Teaching, led that part of the memorial and thanked the Jakubicki family for selecting such a beautiful tree to grace our Cranbourne Campus. He acknowledged that, ‘[Your] family and St Peter’s College are bound together in friendship, and so we stand here together and pray for peace: peace in our hearts and minds, and eternal peace for our friend, Luisa’. 

These rituals were primarily about celebrating Luisa’s life, but they also shone a light on the connections and community that are intrinsic to our Catholic school. And this is what we celebrate on St Peter’s Day too – our people, in all their diversity, and all the gifts and blessings that they share every day at our College. The source of it all is our Catholic identity, which is why the Eucharist is the starting point of our day. With that as our foundation, all else can thrive!

Ms Fiona McKenna

Deputy Principal – Catholic Identity & Mission