John XXIII College Newsletter

Faith and Mission

This Sunday, 26 May is Sorry Day. It is a significant event that acknowledges and commemorates the historical mistreatment and injustices inflicted upon Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, because of government policies of forced removal of Indigenous children from their families, commonly known as the Stolen Generations.

 

The Stolen Generations refer to the period from approximately the late 19th century to the 1970s, during which Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and communities by government authorities and placed into institutional care, foster homes, or adopted by non-Indigenous families. This policy had devastating and long-lasting impacts on Indigenous individuals, families, and communities, leading to cultural disconnection, trauma, loss of language, identity, and connection to land and culture.

 

Sorry Day holds significance because it serves as a national acknowledgment of the pain, suffering, and intergenerational trauma experienced by the Stolen Generations and their descendants. It provides an opportunity for all Australians to reflect on this chapter in the nation's history and to express remorse and empathy for the injustices inflicted upon Indigenous peoples.

 

At the heart of our school's mission lies the motto: 'Seek Justice.' These words are not merely a phrase to be recited, but a guiding principle that permeates every aspect of our educational journey. To seek justice is to actively engage in the pursuit of harmony, equity, and understanding among all members of society. It is a commitment to recognising and rectifying the injustices that continue to plague our world, whether they be social, cultural, or historical.

 

We cannot begin to fix the problems of the present without accepting the truth of our history. Sorry Day asks us to acknowledge the Stolen Generations and, in doing so, reminds us that historical injustice is still an ongoing source of intergenerational trauma for Aboriginal and Torres Islander families, communities, and peoples.

 

Next week, we have a range of activities to promote National Reconciliation Week. We want to continue learning about our shared histories and cultures and explore how each of us can join the national reconciliation effort. 

 

Janeen Murphy

Deputy Principal Faith and Mission

Community Mass

Thank you to Year 10 students who prepared and participated in our Eucharist this morning, where we celebrated the Solemnity of Mary, Help of Christians, patron saint of Australia. In the Catholic tradition, Mary is honoured for her participation in the mission of Jesus, and as an inspiring role model of faith and prayer. 

 

The Australian icon of Mary, Help of Christians is by Alan Pomeroy and is installed in the ANZAC Memorial Chapel in Duntroon. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary’s prayer, the Magnificat, proclaimed in the Gospel from Luke, is beautifully captured in the art work of Loreto sister, Susan Daily ibvm. 

 

 And Mary said:

‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord

and my spirit exults in God my saviour;

because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.

Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed,

for the Almighty has done great things for me.

Holy is his name,

and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.

He has shown the power of his arm,

he has routed the proud of heart.

He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.

The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away.

He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy

– according to the promise he made to our ancestors –

of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

 

While the Magnificat is timeless, another member of the world Loreto family, Sr Olga Warnke ibvm. has given us a contemporary translation from the German: 

 

My soul glorifies the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour!

For he has blessed me lavishly

and makes me ready to respond.

He shatters my little world

and lets me be poor before him.

He takes from me all my plans

and gives me more than I can hope for or ask.

He gives me opportunities and the ability to become free

and to burst through my boundaries.

He gives the strength to be doing, to build on him alone,

for he shows himself as the ever greater One in my life.

He has made known to me this!

It is in my being servant that it becomes possible.

For God's kingdom to break through

here and now.

Source: https://jesuitinstitute.org/Pages/Prayers.htm

 

Next week, Community Mass will be prepared by students in Year 8, and all families are warmly invited to attend this Eucharist, and especially parents who are new to the College. Don’t worry if you have not been to a Eucharist before, it is relaxed and joyful.  There are no reserved seats – just come to the Chapel and sit where you are comfortable, in time for an 8:00am start. Those able to stay are welcome to gather for coffee afterwards in the Circle of Friends Café.

  • Fridays in Term time
  • 8:00am start – 8:30am finish
  • College Chapel

Congratulations

Congratulations to the Year 4 students who recently made their First Communion at Saint Thomas Apostle Parish in Claremont. 

 

Louis Beach

Scott Bontempo

Martin Cabrera Carcuro

Abigail Cawley

Sofia Chiaroni

Harrison Chung

Sally Cooper

Miles Finucane

Zara Gauci

Ashton Godfrey

Jack Hales

Samuel Hewer

Ethan Laffey

Jemima McGinty

Lucy Moloney

Hugo Palmer

Madeleine Papineau

Georgia Pazin

Lachie Rohr

Matilda Smith

Samuel Smith

Matthew Stynes

Ashwin Suppiah

Alby Thompson

Mia Walter

Addison Wright

 

Congratulations, also to Year 6 students who were confirmed last weekend, at the feast of Pentecost, and whose names will be published next week. Families are encouraged to send group photos for the newsletter. 

 

Parents are reminded that copies of sacrament certificates should be sent to the College.

 

Sacrament program information from some of our local parishes, including City Beach, Claremont, Cottesloe, Doubleview, North Beach and Subiaco, appears on the College website in the Parish Sacrament Programs section. 

 

Further information:

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