From the Principal
John XXIII College
During the week there have been many opportunities to celebrate the significant contribution that our graduating Class of 2026 has made to the College. Our graduating Year 12 students are certainly ready for their next chapter, but also conscious of the importance of expressing gratitude to their teachers, which has been refreshing to witness during the week. At the time of writing, the finishing touches are being made in preparation for tonight’s Year 12 Valete and Supper, which we are all looking forward to. Yesterday, we celebrated the significant contribution our Year 12 students made to our College during their Day of Invitation Mass and Assembly. Please find an excerpt from my Address to our graduating Class of 2026.
…I was reminded of a more modern-day interpretation of this need for kindness during the excellent Year 10 Atticus Finch Justice Award Finals, mentioning to Year 10 students at the time that Deborah Tannen, a professor at Jesuit Georgetown University, has written strongly about what she calls “the argument culture”. She says the argument culture:
‘rests on the assumption that opposition is the best way to get anything done: The best way to discuss an idea is to set up a debate. The best way to cover news is to find people who express the most extreme views and present them as ‘both sides’. The best way to begin an essay is to attack someone. The best way to show you’re really thoughtful is to criticise. The best way to settle disputes is to litigate them.’
“Smashing heads does not open minds,” observes Tannen….
….My sense is that you also have a good understanding of how precious time is. I have heard this understanding expressed in various forums including public speaking competitions, when Zeph spoke so eloquently about the need to stop and smell the roses and Charlie and Noah about the 7 Minute Theory.
I have always been fascinated by the concept of time. Time is one of life’s great mysteries. Time can speed up or slow down depending on your frame of reference.
Intuitively, I, and perhaps you too, understand that some seasons are fleeting and others seem to stretch on forever. A single moment can alter the course of a life and entire years can disappear with astonishing speed. I would suggest to you that this is not a cause for concern but, instead, a call to live with intention; but to live with intention is not to believe that every plan will work or every decision will be right or the path ahead will always be clear.
This is not wasted time though. It is during those times of uncertainty that the deepest learning occurs or as the philosopher Goethe wrote, ‘Talent is built in the calm, character is built in the storm.’
I am confident that when you are faced with life’s inevitable challenges and have to answer life’s difficult questions, you will do so well informed by our College values. And when you do this, I am also confident that our world will be the better for it.
As you depart our College and embrace your new adventures, then, we pray that you take with you those special gifts that a Catholic, Ignatian education offers. Our hope is that you:
continue to carry within you, a compassionate heart
recognise that true wisdom is shown by love and gentleness;
pursue the Magis with your commitment to human excellence
Or as former Australian of the Year Richard Scolyer wrote this year in his open letter to All Australians:
‘If my legacy was to continue beyond these words, I would be delighted and humbled to be remembered as a proud everyday Aussie who "gave it a crack", and in doing so, inspired others to pursue their dreams and passions with humility, love and compassion.’
So be courageous as you take your goodness as people for others into the world.
As you have heard me say before, ‘Kindness is the greatest wealth of all. May you always have lots of love to share, lots of good health to spare and lots of good friends who care’.
Or as St Ignatius taught, ‘Love ought to show itself in deeds more than words’, but you already know that…
College Festival to Celebrate 50 Years
In 2027, John XXIII College will celebrate 50 years since the amalgamation of Loreto Claremont and St Louis’ Boys School in 1977.
Save the Date – Saturday 3 April 2027
To acknowledge this important milestone, the College is planning a celebration on 3 April, 2027. More details will be forthcoming; however, in the meantime, please save the date!
Daniel Mahon
Principal