Principal's Message

Feast of The Assumption Mass

This morning, our College gathered for our special Eucharist Celebration of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a recognised Holy Day of Obligation within our Church. The students deserve much praise for the way in which they joined together with College Staff in a most reverent manner for our celebration. The Spirit of Community that was displayed was a wonderful reflection of our identity as a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition.

College Chaplain, Fra Oscar Aguilera celebrated our Mass and gave a wonderful Homily that centred on the special place of Blessed Virgin Mary. This focused on her role as both the first disciple of Jesus, and as the Mother of Christ. He asked the boys to reflect upon the moments of joy in heir own lives and to be genuinely grateful for all that they have. Fra Oscar then challenged the students, and staff, to acknowledge and celebrate the very special role of all mothers and indeed all women, highlighting the genuine care, selfless love and deep hope they provide to us all. It was a very important and always timely message.

In an ‘all boys’ school, such a message about the important and central role of women in our lives is vital and very much consistent with similar messages in different forums. I am particularly proud that within our College, events such as International Women’s Day, Mother’s Day, Respect education and Pink Sock Day have such prominence. Such a focus on the special role of women forms an essential part of the Curriculum and the Formation programs within Trinity College. Boys engaging in meaningful discussions about respectful relationships and the important role of women in their own lives forms part of our holistic education for the boys. We do so in the spirit of partnering with families to educate, raise and form young men who will make a real difference in their own families, communities, wider society and the world.

While Fra Oscar spoke beautifully about Mary as the Mother of Christ, he respectfully challenged our boys to genuinely acknowledge their own mothers, mother figures and women in their life. In that same spirit, I will take this this opportunity to acknowledge the many women who work and volunteer in our College and thank them for the wonderful and essential work they do in supporting, teaching, coaching, leading and mentoring our young men. I thank the mothers and mother figures for the love and care they provide for their son/s. Our College community must be representative of our broader society in that our students must see women equally in positions of influence as well as care; in leadership as well as service; and in supporting our ongoing endeavours as educators seeking to instil knowledge, faith and values within our young men. For this, I am sure, you join me in hope and prayer:

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen

Live Jesus in our Hearts

Mr Darren O’Neill 

Principal