Mission and Identity
- Year 5 Formation Day
- First Youth Mass of 2025
- St Peter's visitation has commenced
- Calling musicians
- Dinner, Fundraiser, Advocacy Night
- Reflection of the Week
Year 5 Formation Day
Their formation journey has begun!
Year 5 began their formation journey on Friday with their first formation day focusing on the ‘Why’ behind our charism - answering the call of Christ.
As one student summarised the life story of Blessed Edmund Rice while analysing the icon, ‘Edmund was vacuumed up by God’. We explored how every part of his being was surrendered to the animation of the Holy Spirit as he set out to serve the face of God in the hungry, the thirsty and the outcast.
Students used Biblical Micrography to unpack Matthew 25:40 to contemplate the gravitas of this call that played such a key role in how Edmund navigated his calling to a monastery of the streets.
We were delighted to see some early growth in our commitment to intentionally and explicitly teaching spiritual skills such as stillness and contemplative silence.
Thank you to the Junior School and the Mission Team for such an enriching day.
First Youth Mass for 2025
‘Pilgrims of Hope’ - The first Youth Mass for 2025 was celebrated on Sunday by students from Mercy Catholic College and St Pius X College. The light and enthusiasm of our young people gathered in faith and friendship is contagious. To see new students arriving because they want a taste of the spark that their peers experience, fans the flames of one’s own heart.
Our young people are the light through which God shines His face in a world that hides from its own reflection. May our faith communities continue to be shrines of hope in troubled times.
Thank you to Mr Callow and Mr Di Sano for their contributions to the Mass as well as Mr Balboa for his exemplary music.
2025 St Peter’s visitation has commenced
‘Somewhere over the rainbow….’ were the words being sung with nostalgic fervour as we arrived for our weekly volunteer shift at St Peter’s. The residents had gathered for choir practice and our wonderful young men moved with excitement to join them.
Following the last song, the students moved into conversations woven with laughter, intrigue and warmth, as ragtime music played in the background.
‘Sir, when can we come back? I’ve put in my calendar to talk to Sister again’.
Student after student asked how they could increase this ‘spark of connection’ they had made and experienced. In this world of transient and transactional relationships that are pressurised under the tyranny of the urgent, I continue to marvel at the gift our wisdom figures offer our young men through being so present, so still, so embracing of the precious moment.
The Spirit of God is tangible in such interactions. Feeling very blessed to witness such mini miracles each week.
Calling Musicians
We are delighted to offer the opportunity for musicians to take part in the canonisation celebrations of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, on 27 April this year. As shared previously, Our Lady of Dolours Chatswood is the only church in Australia to have a first class relic of Blessed Carlo. As such, there will be much celebration for our community when he is canonised in Rome. To assist with the celebration Mass, a specialised orchestra is being formed for this Mass.
Any student musicians from either Mercy College and St Pius X College who would like to offer their talents in service of this celebration are encouraged to completed the expression of interest form below:
Save the Date: Dinner, Fundraiser and Advocacy Night
On Friday 4 April at 6:00 pm, the College will be hosting ‘A Night of Hope’ as a dinner, fundraiser and advocacy night to support the recently visited disability school: Edmund Rice Centre Nairobi, Kenya.
Reflection for the Week from Br Frederick-James:
'A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.' (Proverbs 15:1) St. Thérèse of Lisieux lived by this wisdom, knowing that small acts of gentleness could transform hearts in ways that force never could. Her Little Way was a path of quiet, persistent love, trusting that tenderness accomplishes more than power.
Saying yes to gentleness means choosing the long path of transformation over the quick fix of control. It is trusting that love and patience accomplish more than coercion ever could. It is meeting the world with the tenderness of Christ, knowing that real change happens not when we overpower others, but when we make room for grace.
When we say yes to gentleness, we say yes to listening before speaking. We say yes to presence instead of pressure. We say yes to the slow work of love that dissolves bitterness and makes space for healing.
May you trust in the quiet power of a gentle heart.
May your words be soft enough to mend and strong enough to uphold.
May your Yes make way for grace to do what force never could.
Mr Daniel Petrie - Assistant Principal, Mission and Identity