Mission & Identity

The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world

and that which contains all things

understands what is said, alleluia. (Wisdom 1:7)

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. 

When Pentecost day came round, the apostles had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech. (Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11)

There are some gifts we receive because we have chosen to cooperate with the truth and beauty of this world. We hear this rhetoric often from sportspeople: “We were lucky enough to come away with the win today.” There is a humility that we admire in such a sentiment, but we should not ignore the training that was done to succeed on the day. 

Then there are gifts we receive that come as pure gift: there is nothing we can do to earn such gifts, to bring them about, or have any responsibility in any way for their appearance. Such is the gift of God’s love that floods our hearts (Rom 5:5) and the Holy Spirit that fills the whole world. The gift of the Holy Spirit is the gift of sharing in the divine life of God, who is love. It comes as pure gift, for that is the nature of love.    

Love has its own calculus that does not conform to the limits of this world but indeed takes up and perfects the truth, goodness, and beauty of the gift of creation. The working of the Holy Spirit - through the unique call to holiness God sends out to each of us – unites us into the one love of God. 

There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose. (1 Corinthians 12:3-7)

Let us imagine the classroom filled with the Holy Spirit. 

When time for the class came round, the students and teacher had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of truth, goodness, and beauty which filled the entire room in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like a fiery question mark; this separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to ask questions about the curriculum, so filled with the desire to know how to live the life of good purpose that they demanded answers that satisfied the deepest desires of their heart. They then began to speak the many languages of Mathematics, English, History, and Science, as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech to communicate the one God found in every area of human endeavour. (c.f: Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11)

There is a variety of opportunities at St Patrick’s College but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of subjects to studied, extra-curricular activities to be taken up, or deeds of justice to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different students, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The way in which the Spirit is given to each student, and the unique direction in life each student discerns, is for a good purpose. (c.f1 Corinthians 12:3-7)

Let us be reminded that May is Edmund Rice Month and this includes our major fundraising event of the year. Our fundraising is a tangible expression of our identity as a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice Tradition, enabling all our students and staff to work together towards creating and offering a gift for souls in need. Love opens our minds and hearts to the dignity of every person. Love compels us to give to others what circumstance has deprived them. Let us be generous with the gifts we have received for this is the calculus of God’s love, come to us in the Holy Spirit, that takes up and perfects our world. Let us remind each other of those in need and the capacity we have to assist them. May the Holy Spirit fire our hearts to ask: what is stopping me from taking up this challenge? Students are invited to seek donations of at least $40 over the month of May to assist the work of our nominated justice partners: 

• Edmund Rice Community Services:
• Edmund Rice Aid Overseas Fund:
• Edmund Rice Camps Victoria:
• Caritas Australia:

Finally, I would like to share one of the many joy-filled stories emerging from the school production performed this week: School of Rock. On Wednesday over 750 students from our Catholic primary schools gathered in our Performing Arts Centre to attend the show. Without the need for a spoiler alert, the lead character offers an energetic prayer that “we may blow some minds with our high voltage rock.’ The prayer concludes, “In your name we pray” to which, in that moment, the audience responded spontaneously with “Amen.” In this moment there was no difference between cast and audience, and they were all united in the one joy of the show. That is the power of the arts, and the distinct language and gift of speech, united with all areas of curriculum, that the performing arts offers our students.     

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful

and kindle in them the fire of your love.

May all people welcome the Holy Spirit into their lives.