Principal

Prayer for the Minneapolis Tragedy

Many of you would have heard of the tragic events at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. Two children are dead and seventeen are injured after a shooter opened fire during a Church service to celebrate the return to school after summer vacation. It is very difficult to read of these events without being deeply affected. 

Through the communion in Christ that we have with all Catholics worldwide, and as fellow workers in the vineyard of Catholic education, we feel this tragedy here in Australia. As the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV said, we experience a "spiritual closeness" with all those affected by these events.

Upon hearing the news, I faced an overwhelming feeling of powerlessness.

In life, we often face moments where we feel powerless—unable to fix a situation, change someone’s mind, or heal a deep hurt. Whether it's a parent watching a child reject their values, a church misunderstood by society, hearing about a huge tragedy or someone wounded by trauma, the instinct is to act or speak. But sometimes, there’s nothing we can do—and that’s okay.

Drawing inspiration from Mary, the mother of Jesus, who stood silently at the foot of the cross, we learn that “pondering”—quietly holding pain and tension—can be a powerful response. We create space for healing, understanding, and transformation in silence and presence. This isn’t resignation, but a deep act of love and strength.

When we can’t fix things, we can still choose to stand with compassion, carry the tension, and wait for grace to do what our words and actions cannot. Sometimes, doing “nothing” is the most meaningful thing we can do.

Mary didn’t make that mistake. Neither did Jesus. They pondered. Pondering, bearing the unbearable, is waiting inside of tension so that our souls can grow so that we don’t give back hurt for hurt, bitterness for bitterness, hatred for hatred.

This can be consoling to know. We are too hard on ourselves because of our inadequacies. In many of the most intimate and painful situations of our lives, we are precisely not able to fix things, be adequate, or redeem the situation. Sometimes there’s nothing to be done … but nothing can be enough, as it was for Mary, under the cross. Sometimes all we can do is to stand silently, in strength, bearing an unbearable tension, waiting for our hearts to do something our actions can’t, namely, transmute misunderstanding into understanding, confusion into insight, anger into blessing, and hatred into love.

I ask that we pray, together with the Holy Father and in his words, “for their eternal rest and for peace, fortitude and consolation in the Lord Jesus”. 

Anxious: Helping Your Child Navigate a World of Worry

It’s heartbreaking to see our kids struggling with anxiety. The statistics paint a stark picture: anxiety disorders are on the rise, affecting approximately one in seven primary school children and one in four adolescents. We see our kids burdened by fears and worries, their confidence fading, and sometimes even experiencing panic attacks. As parents, we desperately want to help but often feel lost or unsure of what to do.

In the course of my work, I regularly come across young people who have had a spectacular fall-out with their friendship group and then the thought of being at school creates a genuine fear and anxiety. If one of your children suffers from anxiety and you are struggling to support them, try watching this webinar by Dr Justin Coulson.

Anxious: Helping Your Child Navigate a World of Worry offers a lifeline. In this presentation, Dr Justin Coulson will unpack what anxiety looks like in children and provide you with simple, practical strategies that are both clinically proven and easy to implement at home.

Empower yourself with the knowledge and tools to support your child’s emotional wellbeing and help them build resilience in the face of anxiety.

Here's the link to watch the recording of the Term 3 webinar:

https://happyfamiliesfamilyeducation.ac-page.com/answers-with-dr-justin-anxious-watch.

Sports Fund-Raising 

I thank all the families who donated to our sports fund-raising – the Scoreboard and the Farrell Room. As of 3 September 2025, many thanks to these people who have added to the cause:

The links to these tax-deductible campaigns are here:

Br Berg Electronic Score Board      

Farrell Weights and Fitness Room  

Staff News

• Mr Kieran Gibson commences his four weeks of Long Service Leave this week, and we welcome Mr Ricky Istifan into the role of Acting Head of TAS up until the start of Term 4.

   

• Ms Rachel Driessen (Mathematics faculty and job-share partner with Ms Berta Challita) has tendered her resignation and will conclude with us at the end of this term. Once arrangements have been made to replace her, I will let the Community know.

   

• As this week draws to a close, I would like to thank Ms Mary Mouawad who has been Acting Enrolment Officer and Ms Emily Saoud who has been supporting me as the Acting Executive Assistant to the Principal. Mrs Cristina Polito will resume her duties on Monday, 8 September 2025.

   

• The expected arrival of Mrs Natalie Katrib to our RE Faculty will be delayed due to personal circumstances.

In Memoriam

• We keep in our prayers the family of Katrina Feige (TAS Staff), on the recent passing of her father Cec Lindley. He is grandfather to Oliver Feige (Year 11), Lachlan Feige (Year 9) and Old Boy James Jabour ('20).  

   

• We also pray for Heath Patterson (Year 11) and Old Boy Darcy Patterson (Class of 2021 – College Captain) and their family who recently lost their beloved grandmother. 

Dr Vittoria Lavorato

Principal

SPC boys can do anything! 

**except divide by zero