Faith, Justice and Formation

St Patrick’s Day Mufti Day

Last Friday we celebrated St Patrick’s Day at our Friday morning Mass with his Feast Day being 17 March. The College’s patron saint, St Patrick, was born in Roman Britain around the end of the fourth century and died in Ireland in the middle of the fifth century. He faced hardship as a missionary priest in Ireland with opposition even from other Christians. Nevertheless, he worked hard to educate, evangelise, and unite the locals, ultimately having success. St Patrick is remembered for his simplicity and pastoral care, for his humble trust in God and for his fearless preaching of the Gospel. He is particularly honoured in Australia because of the many Irish people who settled here bringing with them the faith and zeal of St Patrick.

Due to various other events, we have delayed further celebrations for his Feast, so on Monday 25 March, we will commemorate St Patrick by wearing green mufti. This Mufti Day will be a major fundraiser for the Lenten Appeal.

All boys who wear mufti are to pay for the privilege according to the following:

$5 for general mufti / plain clothes
$3 if you wear a full item of green i.e. shirt, shorts, shoes (green spots, single stripes etc. will not count)
No cost to wear College uniform.

This money will be collected in homeroom on the day. Cash is required so we ask everybody to prepare for this over the coming days. (If boys wear mufti and do not pay please expect for them to be chased up! So, we ask everyone to work together for the greater good.)

St Patrick is so significant in our school community because of the Irish Christian Brothers legacy and the many Irish Catholics who came to Australia. Let’s show of belonging to this ongoing tradition while raising much needed funds for our Lenten Partners in this final week.

Attitude is Everything

No matter what we do our attitude will shape how well we do it. Positive energy will help create a success, while negative energy can destroy something. Our attitude can not only have an impact on ourselves and our own experiences, but also on others.

I’ve had some cause for concern over the past week on a couple of occasions where a poor attitude has dented a program or initiative. So many people do so many great things for the students of the College, including many of the students themselves. Sadly, this is starting to be taken for granted and many students are just expecting to be given life on a platter without any responsibility or effort on their part. It is often these students who get little from the experiences offered to them as they haven’t put in the effort. The Identity team has been pondering: Why has the attitude towards fundraising been in decline?

Today I just want to talk about one area that has declined at the College, largely because of challenging and negative attitudes; the area of fundraising and most specifically Lenten Fundraising. This is the major fundraising event for the year at the College and every cent that is raised goes to improve the lives of those who live on the margins of society. You’ve heard me remind you on numerous occasions of Edmund Rice’s words – “give to the poor in handfuls!” As Edmund Rice people, which we are, we are asked to put other people at the centre of our lives, to open our hearts and give space to the other rather than ourselves. This is what Jesus did as our greatest model. Edmund followed his mission, and we are called to do the same today.

I am constantly having it reported to me from staff and other students that when students are being asked to contribute to the Lenten Appeal they are met with an entitled attitude and this response – “my parents pay school fees so don’t ask me for anything.” School fees go towards many things at the College, but fundraising for those in need is not one of them; it is an act of generosity and a Catholic imperative. Lent is about prayer, fasting and almsgiving (charity). It is about going without something to give this, or the funds from this, to those in greater need, for example, go without the big spend at the canteen and give that money to the Lenten Appeal. There is plenty of cash splashed around just usually for one’s self.

Whatever happened to recognising the needs of others and working to do something about it? It is about being other-person centred. God only expects us to give within our means, just like the widow at the Temple (Mk 12:41-44) – we certainly don’t expect any more. However, it is our attitude that reminds us of what we need to do. If we subscribe to the teaching from Jesus that ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’ then we will ‘give to the poor in handfuls,’ but if our attitude is one centered on ‘me’ then we will not.

In the final few days of Lent, we endeavour to open our hearts and ensure our attitudes are made up of joy, giving and hope. But even beyond this time, when we live life in happiness and hope everything, we enter into will fill us with joy or at least we see the benefits.

Apathy is growing as much of our recreation becomes more passive. Our young people collectively express resistance to a lot of things, though there is always a group of positive do-ers, thank goodness! St Patrick’s College is built on action and more specifically social action – it is part of our DNA. I hope we can walk through life seeing the best in everything and being open to positive experiences and opportunities, while I also recognise that life is not always easy. We just need to remember that it is usually worse for others.

I implore us to spread the word to the families who do not read this, so we can all take the initiative to build an engaged, positive, and active faith-filled community. Let’s talk positively and put others at the centre of our hearts!

Thank you.

Gillian Daley

Director of Identity

Youth Mass - 6:00 PM Sunday 24 March on the Parish Green - St Patrick's, Mortlake

The Palm Sunday 6:00 PM Youth Mass at St Patrick's Mortlake will be held outside on the Parish Green. Mass is followed by pizza and drinks. All are welcome. Feel free to bring your own chairs from home for this Mass. If you have capacity to assist in setting up and putting away chairs for the Mass, we appreciate if you could come 15 minutes before Mass to assist.

Other Youth Masses will take place at 6:00 PM on:

Sunday 28 April
Sunday 26 May
Sunday 23 June
Sunday 28 July.

Fr Tom Stevens | Parish Priest