Mission & Identity

Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed, your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:31-34)

St Patrick’s College would be inauthentic – we would betray our Pillars and our Touchstones – if we did not strive for the kingdom of God in everything we do. This is no pious sentimentality or grieving for a lost age when people were ‘more religious.’ Striving for the kingdom of God includes ensuring that every choice and action we make is consistent with the faith and trust that perfects the knowledge gained through our own experiences; it is ensuring that our vision for the future is consistent with the hope that patiently and creatively transforms all suffering; and it is ensuring that our desire for justice includes the forgiveness and mercy that heals the wounds of human weakness. 

Committed to the vocation of assisting parents in the formation of young men of character and compassion who are gifts to their community, we must meet the challenge of ‘today’s troubles’ to ensure every endeavour is motivated and directed – receives meaning and value – through the faith, hope, and charity that are the gifts of God’s kingdom. This is the standard we accept as a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition. A busy and short term, such as the one that concludes this week, can tempt us to focus on (and even be worn down by) the practical and immediate questions we confront every day. Let us take the term break to rediscover and reaffirm that it is God’s righteousness – the perfection that is the gift of eternal love – that is our true joy.   

Last Friday we marked Fathers' Day (note the location of the apostrophe) with our annual Mass and Breakfast. Our emerging student choir, under the expert tutelage of Mrs Majella Muller, enriched our prayers and thanksgiving with their beautiful singing. In his homily, as he always does, Fr Eladio Lizada OSJ offered insights into transforming our living through joyful and courageous faith in Jesus Christ. Thanks to Mr Mitch Leviston and Mrs Helen Lee for their work in preparing the Mass, and to Mr Nyarth Wang, Ms Tanya Drake, and their team for the breakfast. Importantly, special thanks to all those who braved a chilly start to attend both the Mass and breakfast. From such choices flows the life and witness of our community. As we proclaimed in our First Reading from St Paul: 

You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be thankful.

Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; and never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

This term also saw our SAGERS (Student Action Group Environmentally Smart) take on their biggest initiatives thus far for 2025, with the Social Justice Assembly followed by Nude Food Day. The Assembly was run by students who courageously stood before peers and informed them about what initiatives at the College, such as tree planting, litter audits, paper recycling and monitoring the CDS bins. We were joined by our facilitator from Resource Smart Schools Victoria, Inga Hamilton, who delivered an engaging and thought-provoking talk to the students. This presentation will be long remembered by students. 

The next day the canteen was closed for business, with a Nude Food menu instead being offered, to raise funds for future SAGERS projects. With the assistance of Brett Earl and the Faith in Action team, a range of staff and SAGERS students, we were able to almost sell out on a very busy Friday, raising over $2,000. The biggest thank you goes to Karen Spezza from the Food Technology centre, who cooked up enough delicious food for the whole school. 

The funds have already started making a change at St Pat’s, with Vocational Major students getting to work to assist with the planting of a native bush tucker courtyard behind the staff room. It has been wonderful to see so many students and staff getting involved this term and cannot wait for the veggie garden upgrades coming in Term 4. (Thank you for Ms Lauren Handford for her wisdom and enthusiasm and for submitting this SAGERS update for publication)