Principal's report

Term 2 

Term 2 has already been a busy one.  I will talk to some events specifically later, but in the area of sport, some of our students have already participated in the AGSV Golf Championship and the Colac School’s Clay Shooting Competition.  I wish the rugby teams the best of luck as they commence their season on Saturday, with the 1st XV playing Brighton Grammar at home, whilst the U14 and U16s will play their oppositions away.  

In the Performing Arts area, rehearsals are going well for the College production of ‘Newsies’, with some of our friends at Loreto College, and I look forward to watching some of our students at the ACC Oppen Debating & Public Speaking Competition next week at St Joseph’s in Ferntree Gully.  To all those who enjoy the co-curricular activities on offer, I wish you all the best this term, and to those who aren’t yet involved, why not try something new? 

ANZAC Day

I was so proud of the students who represented the College at the various services throughout the day and on Monday at a commemorative service in Melbourne.  The students who spoke, and the students who participated in the College Marching Band were respectful and talented.  Thanks to College Captain, Hugo Johnston, for his contribution to the Dawn Service and to his peers who supported him.  I really enjoyed breakfast with the Student Council in the Boarding House following the Dawn Service, it’s a real treat to spend this time with the boys, to get to know them better and to thank them for their commitment to remembering those who have fallen. 

Edmund Rice Day – Monday, 5 May 2025

I look forward to the celebrations on Monday, 5 May as we celebrate Edmund Rice Day.  The day promises to be packed full of events including Mass, our Walkathon, St Pat’s Has Talent and many other fun activities during the day.  I ask all parents and care givers to support their son(s) at the College with their fundraising efforts. If every student is able to raise $40 then we will be able to make a significant difference to one of the chosen charities.  I wish all the boys the best for the day and thank all staff for their efforts in the lead up to the day and on the day. 

Mother’s Day Mass and Breakfast – Friday, 9 May 2025

This is another event on the School Calendar that I really look forward to. A chance to honour and give back to the wonderful women in our lives.  As a boys’ school it is imperative that we thank and respect those who brought us into the world or who have loved and cared for us as a mother figure.  For those who are able to attend, I hope you have a joyful time on Friday, and I wish everyone the best for Mother’s Day on Sunday – to those who are soon to be mothers, already mothers, to those whose arms are empty due to the loss of a child, to those who are unable to see their child on the day, and to those who provide a significant presence to other people’s children – you are all appreciated.

 Passing of Pope Francis

We joined millions of mourners as we remembered with gratitude and celebrated the life of Pope Francis last weekend at his funeral. He was in many senses, a Pope of firsts…the first Pope from the southern hemisphere, the first Jesuit to be elected Pope, and the first to choose the name Francis. To many, Pope Francis will be remembered as a humble and sensitive leader who sought to reconnect the Church with the essentials of the Christian faith. He sought to follow his namesake, St Francis of Assisi – a 13th century Italian friar renowned for poverty, peace and his care of God’s creation – nature. 

On the night of his election, Pope Francis said ‘Let us pray for the whole world, that there may be a great spirit of fraternity’, which set the tone for his time as leader of the Catholic Church. Francis worked hard to modernise the church and to build bridges and connections with other world religions and congregations. He addressed important issues around abuse in the church, was an advocate for migrants, had a clear commitment to stewardship and our responsibilities to the environment, and was at times, actively involved in international affairs and peace brokering. 

Francis said that he wanted to lead a church that was ‘bruised, hurting and dirty’ because it was out on the streets, rather than one that was ‘unhealthy from being confined and clinging to its own security’. He spoke of this in his manifesto ‘Evangeli Gaudium’ (‘The Joy of the Gospel’) in which, he warned against a culture in the church which was bound up in outdated structures and customs or using rules to turn people into ‘harsh judges’. 

Pope Francis was committed to developing a more credible and contemporary church that is able to listen to and understand the culture in which it operated. 

There were clearly many who were inspired by Pope Francis and those who were his critics, both within the Vatican and more broadly. Some would say he was really successful in addressing the issues he highlighted as important and modernising the church, whilst others say he failed and did not do enough or was too slow to act or respond to certain issues. 

Regardless of this, we give thanks to God for the gift of his life and ministry, and for the countless ways he has inspired us to deepen our faith and live out our call to love and serve one another. I invite all to join us in prayer for the repose of his soul.

Gracious God, 

May our hearts be transformed by Pope Francis’s example.

Inspire us to carry forward his vision of a more just and compassionate world. 

As we reflect on the profound impact of his life and teachings, remind us of our sacred call to be instruments of change and reconciliation in our communities and in our world. 

Amen.

Federal Election 2025 – Supporting Catholic Education

As we approach the upcoming Federal Election on Saturday 3 May, we encourage you to take a moment to consider how your vote can support the future of your child’s education.

This election presents an important opportunity to reinforce the value and voice of Catholic education in our communities. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in announcing the election, referenced key issues impacting Catholic schools—especially around school choice and fair funding for all.

National Catholic Education Executive Director, Jacinta Collins, has outlined Catholic education’s election priorities under the banner “Catholic Education benefits all Australians”. These include:

• Ensuring affordability and choice for families
• Addressing student hardship, wellbeing and disadvantage
• Continuing to build and innovate for the future

Catholic schools make a vital contribution to the Australian community, educating one in five students, including a high proportion of those from low socio-educational backgrounds and regional communities. Our schools save taxpayers billions each year while delivering strong educational outcomes and lifelong benefits for students.

To ensure this contribution continues, we are calling on all political leaders to:

• Guarantee fair and stable funding, so Catholic schools remain accessible and affordable
• Expand support for student mental health and wellbeing, particularly for disadvantaged and rural students
• Invest in Catholic education infrastructure and early learning to meet future needs

Ahead of the election, we encourage you to review the Catholic Education Priorities Document and consider these issues ahead of casting your vote.

We will also be sharing a scorecard summarising the responses of political parties and candidates on these key priorities as they become available.

Thank you for continuing to support the mission of Catholic education in the Diocese of Ballarat.