Catholic Identity & Mission News

Welcome back to Term 2 – I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable break! As we were concluding Term 1, we commemorated the sacrifice and the grief of the crucifixion of Jesus. Now we start Term 2 as a people of hope and joy – we are people of the Resurrection! Our patron saint, St Peter, featured in the Easter Sunday readings and his words encapsulate our faith in the life, teachings, and saving grace of Jesus, the Christ:

"Peter addressed Cornelius and his household: ‘You must have heard about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil. Now I, and those with me, can witness to everything he did throughout the countryside of  Judaea and in Jerusalem itself: and also to the fact that they killed him by hanging him on a tree, yet three days afterwards God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen, not by the whole people but only by certain witnesses God had chosen beforehand. Now we are those witnesses – we have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead – and he has ordered us to proclaim this to his people….”

The book from which this reading comes, the Acts of the Apostles, reveals that Peter worked tirelessly to build the early Christian community through hard work, dialogue, adaptability, and by being not afraid. As we start our new term, it is my great hope that like Peter, our work will continue to promote the reign of God through our hard work, our dialogue, our adaptability and by being not afraid. These were certainly themes of our Cranbourne Campus Year 10 Reflection Day which was held on Thursday, April 18 (the Clyde North Campus Reflection Day will be held next week on Tuesday, April 30). On Reflection Day, the Year 10 cohorts are invited to spend time in some personal reflection and also to work with others, especially on a new ‘scavenger hunt’ activity. Students make ‘memory boxes’ and fill them with personal reflections and funny and kind contributions from others too. 

The Reflection Days ask students to consider their sense of ‘Identity and Belonging’ and where their faith fits in. A reading from the prophet Isaiah features with those beautiful lines, ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine…..You are precious in my sight, and honoured, and I love you.’ And this is also connected to Pope Francis’ encyclical ‘Fratelli Tutti’ where he teaches that, ‘we were created for a fulfillment that can only be found in love’. As our recent holidays came to a close, there was a lot of bad news in the media including the killings at Bondi and the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. Taking time out to count our blessings is important but it also gives us the chance to reaffirm that we are called by God to be people of love and peace; to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly. This is the Good News and as Easter people, it’s now our turn to try to make this a reality for all in our world today. 

As a College community, we continue to pray for peace: Peace in our hearts, our families, and our world. Peace for those who are angry, sad, confused, and anxious.

Peace where there is violence, and peace in the minds and spirits of those who have experienced violence. Lord, we pray for peace

Ms Fiona McKenna

Deputy Principal - Catholic Identity & Mission