Living with Strength and Kindliness
This past week we gathered as a College community to celebrate our Year 12 students with their Graduation Mass and Dinner. Attended by extended family, educators, friends and community members, is was a wonderful celebration of the journey of learning these young people have been on at St Joseph's. It was also an opportunity to look forward with excitement for all that is to come. We were fortunate to also have have Fr Novie and Fr Des to proceed over the Mass and celebrate this milestone event with us.
Today I would like to share with you the reflections some of our Year 12 students wrote in response to our Gospel reading. In their words they shares their hopes for what they may be and remind all that they are part of our St Joseph's story and will always be welcome here.
Salt of the earth - what does it mean for us?
"Salt is something that typically does not lose flavour, therefore if we remain true to ourselves and our values, then we will never lose our flavour. If it needs to be restored then we can all go back to our roots (here at St Joseph’s) and remember what it was like to be part of our community and involved in our Year 12 cohort."
"Life is not always going to be easy obviously, we know that already. We will be tossed through the seas of life inevitably, and you will find yourself directionless. But it's 100% easier if you can hold on to the kernel of your values, your morals. Find your talents. Find your passion. Find what motivates you. We have all been given the perfect opportunity to have a clean slate and begin to build a life that we enjoy and can be proud to live. Life will lose its spark, its saltiness, but it is just something that is unpreventable, however we can all continue to look for the good things that are happening in our world and our lives."
"From our years at St Josephs we have been building brick by brick, both knowing and unknowingly the people of who we are today, the cohort we are today, ‘the town built on a hill’. We are all part of the town, and we will all go our separate ways, but these years have all come to this moment where we are together celebrating what we have achieved and creating moments that we will not forget."
"It is important for us to hold on to this foundation of our identity, and if you don't know yet, discover those things that make you happy, the things that make you smile."
"Let your light shine before others: We must continue to be a role model for everyone outside of our St Joes community. Each and every one of us has something good that we can offer. We can all learn from others so our light shines brighter. When your light shines everyone will see it. Some will acknowledge it, some will bless it, some will reject it but all will see it."
"It's not up to us to judge what people think, it is only our responsibility and god given invitation to continue to let it radiate throughout our life, and pass it onto the people we meet."
"Remember ‘You are the light of the world.’ Jesus is telling us that each of you are the light of the world, he's not saying you might be, he is not saying you could be, he is not saying you would be, he is saying that you are. So use it, hold on to its essence and make it a part of you. "
"As we go forward in our lives it is important to not only focus on ourselves but each other. Continue to connect with each other, don't lose what we have developed these past few years but especially this year. This is ultimately the greatest gift we can give."
Lee Pethybridge
College Leader - Faith and Community