Faith, Justice and Formation

Lessons from the Class of 1949

I was fortunate enough to spend the morning with the surviving members of the St Patrick’s College Class of 1949 and their families last week. What an extraordinary group of men! They are men in their 90s who look back on their time at SPC as a highlight, and something that set them up for the wonderful lives they have had. They were so grateful that we hosted them and loved having a look at the changes in the College. They were full of life, happy and engaged in everything.

What struck me most about these men was their commitment to social justice issues and financially supporting worthwhile causes. They talked about the vision of Blessed Edmund Rice and how his goal was to educate the poor and marginalised. They talked about supporting refugees in detention, walking with our First Nations peoples and caring for those who have little. They have been doing this since the liberating education they received here. They have never forgotten the lessons they were taught to be Christ for others. While many would say these men deserve to rest and allow others to take up the cause, they power on. They see the value of volunteering and helping their fellow human beings. They advocate to make things right. They get it! We have much to learn from their passion and commitment to service and justice. We need our young to step up and ensure that what these men fought for will continue.

What a legacy they leave! What an inspiration they are!

Live Jesus in our hearts, forever.

Gillian Daley

Director of Identity

An Unforgettable Day with His Majesty

On Tuesday, 22 October, I had the incredible opportunity to meet His Majesty, King Charles. It was an amazing honour, but this chance wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and dedication of my dad, Leon Donovan. Over the past two months, my dad and his agency worked tirelessly to make this event special for everyone involved.

 

My dad, along with his boss, had the privilege of hosting King Charles at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence in Redfern. They guided him through a Smoking Ceremony, a cultural dance performed by Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander peoples and gave him the opportunity to meet with Indigenous community groups, Local Elders, and people from my dad’s organisation.

 

I still remember the excitement I felt when I proudly watched my father walking side by side with His Majesty. It became even more special when I had the incredible moment of shaking the King’s hand and speaking with him for a few unforgettable seconds. “Escaping school, are you?” he said with a smile, and I stood there grinning, fully aware that I was living a once-in-a-lifetime moment. 

 

It was surreal for both my dad and me to meet the King and to see my father’s work showcased on TV channels, news articles, and social media around the world! I feel incredibly humbled to have met His Majesty, but I’m even more proud of the amazing work my dad does every day to improve the lives of our First Nations people. It was an experience beyond words, one I will treasure forever.

Marcus Donovan | Junior School Captain

Fiji Immersion – Climate Advocacy

During Term 3 holidays, 21 students from Years 10 and 11, along with three teachers travelled to Taveuni, Fiji, for a ten-day environmental immersion. We visited local schools to get immersed into the life of Fijian students. We snorkelled vibrant reefs, hiked lush forests, and witnessed firsthand how climate change has impacted the “Garden Island” and its communities. At Boma Nursing Station, we helped renovate the nursing quarters, and we spent a day with a local family and village, learning to prepare traditional meals. This immersion highlighted our shared responsibility to protect the planet, and we are grateful for this transformative experience.

Oliver Sullivan | Year 11 Student

Volunteers Needed for 2025

When students and families are interviewed for a place at St Patrick’s College one of the questions is always around how you might be able to contribute to our school. Everybody always expresses an interest to help out. Now we need you! (as do the P&F!) We know that success only happens with collaboration and effort from all parties; staff, students and parents. Thus, we need you to help with various things around College life. This is a great way to model service for your sons and be of assistance to many. I am seeking new volunteers for two activities related to Identity.

Night Patrol Donations     

If you have the capacity to donate and deliver (often done by students) food items to the school approximately nine times throughout the year to help feed the rough sleepers in Sydney, then we would love your assistance. You will be given a guide of what to bring and you will have rostered dates from the beginning of the year to plan your calendar. The staff and students then use these items to create packs and make sandwiches three times per month. This is a great opportunity to help those on the margins, the College and yourself.

Chapel Cleaning                 

The Chapel is the centre of College life. As a community we need to keep it clean and in good working order to preserve it for future generations and to acknowledge the glory of God. Chapel cleaning takes place on Thursday mornings from about 8: 00 AM to 10:00 AM (with some possibility of adjusting times). You will be part of a team of four or five people who are rostered on approximately once per month. The more volunteers, the less occasions. We are in need of new helpers so we hope some of you could sign up or even sign up as a team with your friends. To do this service you will be required to have a Working With Children Check (WWCC, volunteer), complete a Volunteer Agreement Form from the College and present 100 points of ID to the College at the start.

If you would like to volunteer for either or both of these opportunities, please send an email to frances.spagnuolo@spc.nsw.edu.au with the service you would like to join, the name of your son/s and your contact details.

Thank you to all those wonderful parents/carers who already contribute to these areas. Your service does not go unnoticed. We are truly grateful!

Gillian Daley

Director of Identity