Mission and Identity

A beginning and an end

Yesterday the College celebrated its Commencement Mass. Presided by Fr David Ranson, Vicar General for Broken Bay, we unpacked together the student  theme for 2026 ‘For all, with all’ along with our scripture focus: “Put on the full armour of God Ephesians 6:13”. Through art, music, movement and prayer we offered the hopes and aspirations of our community to God for the year ahead. 

In his Homily Father David gave profound advice when discerning our aspirations and hopes for the year ahead:

'The late Jesuit Superior General, Pedro Arrupe, once wrote words that still speak powerfully today:

What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what gets you out of bed in the morning, what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what breaks your heart, and what fills you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.

At the beginning of a new school year - with new hopes, new friendships, new challenges, and new opportunities - those words invite us to pause and ask an important question: What am I in love with? Where is my passion? Indeed, this is where our sense of vocation is sourced. The writer Frederick Buechner once said that vocation is "the place where our deep gladness meets the world's deep need." In other words, our vocation is born at the intersection where the passion of our hearts meets the hunger of the world. We might keep this in mind as we discern our future, but that place of intersection happens every day - in our classrooms, on the playground, in staff rooms, in moments of care, learning, struggle, and growth. It's about how we live, how we love, and how we respond to injustice and beauty.'

Congratulations to all students and staff involved in preparing our Eucharistic celebration and we pray that all members of our community keep that intersection front of mind and spirit for 2026.

Yesterday was also significant for me personally as I had the privilege of preparing the Commencement Mass while at the same time appreciating that it was my last Mass at the College. My heart was a cradle of liminal space as it had one eye with anticipation looking to next week and my new role, while the other eye was looking backwards with deep gratitude for the extraordinary young people, staff and parents that I have had the honour of serving here at St Pius X.

May God forever hold this community, this beacon of flourishing faith in the palm of His hand. In that spirit, may this prayer born of the 2026 College theme bring blessings and purpose for the year ahead:

O Breath of God, who stirs the dawn and whispers hope into wounded places, gather us now beneath Your wide and sheltering light.

In a world splintered by fear and restless striving, call forth the gifts You planted in us before we ever learned our own names. Let our hands be instruments of mending, our voices be rivers of truth, our steps be pathways to peace.

Clothe us in Your holy armor, not as warriors of might, but as healers in a hurting world: Fasten upon us the Belt of Truth, a steadying ribbon of clarity wrapped around our uncertain places - that we may stand upright in a time of shadows and shifting ground.

Set over our hearts the Breastplate of Righteousness, gleaming with integrity, forged in Your mercy - that we may live as those made whole, radiating compassion instead of fear.

Slip onto our feet the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace, light as dawn, ready as wind - that we may walk into broken spaces carrying calm like lanterns, and sow reconciliation where discord grows wild.

Raise for us the Shield of Faith, broad enough to catch every burning arrow of despair, division, and doubt. Let its strength remind us that love is still a fire that darkness cannot quench.

Crown us with the Helmet of Salvation, a circlet of hope resting upon mind and memory - that we may remember who we are: beloved, reclaimed, renewed.

And place in our hands the Sword of the Spirit, not for wounding, but for cutting through lies, for stirring courage, for speaking Your living Word into the silent ache of the world.

In this Year of St Francis, teach us his daring gentleness. Make us sowers of peace - where hatred festers, may we plant tenderness; where wounds divide, may we bind with compassion; where fear shouts loudly, may our quiet love remain.

O God of justice, peace, and holy longing, shape us into people who work for all and with all, who serve with humility, who refuse to abandon hope, who build the world You dream of - one act of truth, one step of peace, one heartbeat of faith at a time.

Amen.

Mr Daniel Petrie - Assistant Principal, Mission and Identity