Principal's Message

Edmund Rice Day

Enjoying this wonderful Autumn weather on Tuesday, our College was able to celebrate Blessed Edmund Rice Day. Beginning with a very special Eucharistic Celebration, students then heard various presentations from respective Service Agencies in and around Perth. After recess, our annual Fun Run for India was held. Students and Staff completed courses set around our river location utilising the nearby Windan, Matagurup and Causeway Bridges, raising important funds to continue our support of our partner schools and centres in India. Following the Fun Run, everyone enjoyed food and fun as part of the stalls and activities organised for lunchtime and the afternoon. I am very proud of the way that the boys engaged in our Feast Day and am humbled by their generosity in seeking to contribute to creating Justice and Solidarity for those less fortunate than us.

Edmund Rice Day celebrates the rich history of Edmund Rice Education and its ongoing place across the world. At Trinity College, it provides a focus on our context as a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition and challenges us to reflect on the values upon which an Edmund Rice education is built. Across the world, in very different and diverse contexts, Edmund Rice schools, care centres and charity groups continue to provide formation opportunities, educational pathways, support and guidance to many young people and families.

While many within our College community would be familiar with the historical story of Blessed Edmund Rice, what we seek to do as a school is to continue to honour the legacy and mission of his ongoing work. Our strong Christian Service program and mantra of being ‘Men for Others’ is a reminder of these values. At a time when our world is witness to ongoing conflicts, and a rising trend of extremism and violence, we must continually examine the ways in which we educate and encourage our young men to challenge such matters and develop respectful relationships. Furthermore, we must examine how we might help form our boys, so they continue to be selfless in their outlook and compassionate in their care for everyone. 

This sense of relationship, authenticity, compassion and community is at the heart of an Edmund Rice education. It would seem that the values of care, courage, faith and stewardship so wonderfully demonstrated by Blessed Edmund Rice so many years ago, remain just as important today. As a community we must continue to instil in our boys, the ability to see injustice, the courage to challenge this appropriately, and the wisdom to do things differently and positively for their future. This is what a ‘liberating education’ seeks to do.

Edmund Rice was somewhat a counter-cultural visionary, who understood deeply the transformative power of a holistic education, which nourished young people academically and in Gospel Spirituality. He challenged the ailing system of his time. He could not disregard those in need despite his own life being disturbed. The values so wonderfully displayed by Edmund Rice remain as important today as they did some 200 years ago. This, in fact, may be the most appropriate way to celebrate the feast of Blessed Edmund, in keeping his vision alive, within the context of our world today. As we enjoyed our celebrations and reflections on Tuesday, I was reminded that our College continues to be a place where young men encounter each other, the world, and their own faith, inviting the opportunity for action, transformation and liberation. Each one of our students is a special part of this enduring legacy of Blessed Edmund Rice which, we pray, lives and develops in each one of them.

Live Jesus in our hearts

Mr Darren O’Neill

Principal