Faith, Justice and Formation

Winter Sleepout

Last Friday, the 21st of July, the College held the annual Winter Sleepout. Being a part of it all for the first time, it was great to see upward of 200 students and staff putting their names down to partake in such a gratifying experience. 

The night began with a presentation from some of the boys in FIAT, as all students were provided with an understanding of the harsh and confronting realities of homelessness in Australia and worldwide. Hearing statistics and watching interviews reminded us why we were there and the importance of showing our solidarity, raising funds and awareness. One statistic which stayed with me through the night, was that more than 17,000 children under the age of 12 who experienced homelessness on Census night in 2021. Hearing stats like this changed the perception of homelessness in Australia for many and forced us to realise just how close to home this issue really is. 

Following the presentation, all boys and staff were provided with a simple dinner of soup and a bread roll, as we looked to try and replicate what an average night on the streets would look like, receiving food from homeless shelters or kitchens. Following the meal, we turned our attention towards the preparing of care packages which would go on to be sent out to families in need across the country. What was most enjoyable to see was the enthusiasm and cooperation of all the boys as we finished the packing quicker than ever before. All packages were sent to Saint Vincent’s De Paul along with over $6000 which was raised by staff and students present on the night. 

Before heading to bed, the group was led by Year 12 students, as we discussed several topics surrounding the issue of homelessness, concerned with our role in the solution and where homelessness fits into the social justice issues we face as a nation. It was especially great to see younger voices sharing their opinions and discussing the effect we can have as a community.

Sleeping with just cardboard and sleeping bags, all boys felt the cold that night, as we were able to get a small glimpse into the struggle experienced by so many, every night, all over the world. We all woke up the next day with tired eyes, but more importantly, a newfound gratitude and a deeper sense of empathy for the 122,000 who have no place to call home in Australia. 

Alessandro Romeo

College Captain

Alice Springs Immersion 2023

On the 18th of June, a group of young men, led by Mr Herro and Mr van der Meer, left their homes, school and families (and phones) in Sydney to travel to the centre of Australia on the annual Alice Springs Immersion. As we arrived in Mparntwe, we were eager to continue the long-standing relationship our school has with the St Joseph’s Flexible Learning Centre, meet the fellas, and learn more about the culture and beliefs of our first nations peoples. 

Throughout the main week of the immersion, we attended school with the fellas at the St Joseph’s Flexi, and often, ventured out onto country to learn about the Dreaming stories of the Arrernte people and live out the culture of the indigenous peoples. A great example of this was when we picked bush medicine by hand, to then crush it down into a rough paste, that was then boiled into an oil for it to be left to set. Our mob was provided with the rich knowledge behind the establishment behind the bush medicine and the reasoning behind its use. The medicine is traditionally used to treat coughs, colds, sores, cuts, headaches or burns – something that proved useful for some boys later in the trip! Learning about the ways that the indigenous peoples lived off the land was fascinating and reminded us that our Earth gives us everything we need to survive, whilst reminding us to only take what is necessary from the land without causing large disturbances to the environment. 

Another highlight of the week with the fellas was when we travelled alongside the Caterpillar, a mountain range that circles Mparntwe and dates back to Dreamtime, stopping at all the different culturally significant sites on our journey. We stopped at the Clay Pans, a large, dried basin of water; Corroboree Rock, a place where many indigenous tribes would gather; The Emily, Simpsons and Jessie gaps, where we were able to see ancient cave artworks and Ormiston Gorge, a magnificent natural gorge where some of us were able to swim in the river that ran through it. We all learnt a lot from the way the fellas had deep respect for their culture and were as eager to educate us about their heritage as we were to learn, meaning that, by the end of the week, it was hard to say goodbye to everyone we had met.

For the remainder of the immersion, we travelled out of Alice Springs to have a two-night camping experience closer to some more important cultural sites. During this time, we were able to tour Uluṟu and learn all about the natural wonder, as well as walk through Kata Tjuṯa and Kings Canyon, two more significant sites to the Pitjantjatjara peoples that were both breathtaking. Even the camping experience under the stars, next to a campfire, was something I will never forget, even if the rain did wake us up on our second night!

Personally, I think the greatest thing I took home from the entire experience was the ability to challenge the perception of others into the indigenous people, their culture and beliefs and their ways of living by speaking from first-hand experience – it is not something I will take for granted. I know I can speak on behalf of all those involved when I say that it was a once in a lifetime experience that we all took something away from, and that we will never forget.

Thank you to Mr Leslie, Ms Spagnuolo and Dr Lavorato for their work in making the immersion possible and making it run smoothly and, of course, to Mr Herro and Mr van der Meer, who gave up their time to accompany us on the immersion. The immersion would not have been the same without them, ready to provide us with their insight and wisdom and to challenge us to step out of our comfort zones, which we most definitely did. 

Daniel de Pasquale | Year 11 Student

PNG Immersion  

After four years of not being able to travel to the Edmund Rice Life Training Centre in Vuvu, Papua New Guinea for the renowned St Patricks College immersion, the program recommenced with the 2023 group of 12 young men and 4 teachers arriving at Sydney Domestic terminal at 4:30 AM in the morning. Spirits were high, bags were bulging and an adventure of a lifetime was about to commence. Not fully understanding what lay ahead, the 12 men of St Patrick’s College, supported and led by Mr Viney, Ms Rocca, Mr Menck and Mr Cooper set off to our northern most neighbours in Papua New Guinea. The veteran PNG travellers amongst us helped us cast apprehension aside, ready for the journey that lay ahead, the friendships to be forged and the memories to be made. Slight delays resulting in an unplanned layover in Port Moresby helped the group get acclimatised and ready for our arrival in Rabaul. The arrival, for us, was more than just a group of travellers arriving in a new destination. It was different. It was like long lost friends re-igniting friendships where they left off, some four years and multiple lockdowns ago. Arriving at Rabaul International Airport was met with a new blast of unfamiliar humidity, but an even warmer greeting by our hosts for the 13-day trip. The young men, our ‘mates’ from the Edmund Rice Life Training centre in Vuvu, with Br Bernard White met us with excitement and openness to their lives, their stories and their home. The trip was filled with so many amazing opportunities and fond memories it is hard to capture in writing. Whether it was the St Patrick’s men accompanying our hosts on their daily schedule, taking part in the quarterly coconut harvest, helping with the ‘agricultural work’, or trips to the markets through surrounding villages – the sights, smells, experiences and people along the journey were both inspiring, welcoming and warm. 

The men of St Patrick’s were fortunate to visit the Bita Parker War cemetery where students researched 12 Australian soldiers who fought and died on this foreign land during World War 2, a surreal and moving moment of the trip. Other memorable and significant moments of the trip saw our group of Australian’s and Papuan’s hike up Mount Mother and take part in a celebration of friendship hosted by Dame Sandra Lau – a personal friend and philanthropist of Br Bernard, Mr Viney and the Edmund Rice Life Training Centre. This final celebration and breaking bread together to say farewell was a very real, very visceral and very emotional closure to our journey together. 

As I reflect on this opportunity, I will be forever grateful and enriched by this journey. It may have only been 13 days away in total, but I am certain I speak for my mates when I say I know we are richer for the life lessons, friendships forged, and experiences harnessed on this amazing journey. Our nightly debriefs led by Ms Rocca challenged us to reflect a little deeper and consider what we personally might take away from this trip. For me, it was how fast bonds of friendship and brotherhood could be formed amongst people of different cultures, how, at the heart of who we are, we are all humans open to living life, loving and being part of something bigger. 

Patrick Doolin | Year 11 Student

World Youth Day Pilgrims Depart

Last Friday at assembly we commissioned thirteen boys and three staff to attend World Youth Day. This year World Youth Day is being held in Lisbon in Portugal from Wednesday 2 August to Sunday 6 August. It was founded by St Pope John Paul II in 1984 when he called upon the young people of the world to join him in Rome for a meeting to deepen and celebrate their faith. He knew and understood young people. He trusted them and believed in them. He knew that young people are deeply spiritual and receptive to God in their lives. And despite all of those who said it would not work, tens of thousands of young people from all over the world converged on Rome in huge numbers and so the World Youth Day Movement was born.

Nine of our young men from Years 10 and 11 flew out last Friday. They have already enjoyed visiting and praying at some of the most important sites in Rome and are currently on their way to Assisi. From here they will move on to Sienna, Padua, and Venice amongst others before then meeting up in Lisbon with four other young men who will depart next Friday.

Our prayers and blessings travel with them as they represent us all.

Adam Leslie

Acting Director of Identity