Assistant Principal – Religious Identity & Mission

Bethlehem House Appeal  

We have launched our appeal for Bethlehem House and we are asking students and families to donate any of the following new items:  

• Soap, shampoo, razors and deodorant  
• Socks, underwear, beanies and caps  
• Drink bottles and reusable coffee cups  
• Bags of lollies or chocolates  
• Mini Christmas puddings  
• Crackers/bon-bons  
• Fruit mince pies  
• Christmas biscuits  

Please drop items into the Junior School Office, or the Senior School Office, by the end of November. The items will then be bagged up in the gorgeous paper bags decorated by the primary students last year before being delivered to Bethlehem House.   

Bethlehem House is a St Vincent de Paul centre that provides accommodation and 24-hour support for men experiencing homelessness in the Hobart area. They are the largest provider of crisis and transitional accommodation in Tasmania and SVC is proud to support them through this appeal.  

Remembrance Day  

On Monday 11 November, our St Virgil's College community came together for the Remembrance Day service to honour those who died in war and gave service to their country.  

Three Year 9 Service Leaders—Jamie Gibbs, Clement McKenna, and William Turner—laid poppies on stage. These poppies represent those who have given their lives in battle because they are the flowers that grew on the battlefields after World War One ended. They have become a symbol of remembering not just those who gave their lives in World War One, but all those who have died on behalf of their country. 

Our service was marked by the haunting sound of "The Last Post," played by Andrew Barnett, Ms Gabrielle Ball's husband, whom we thank for his time and beautiful contribution. As we observed a minute of silence and raised our flags to "The Rouse," we remembered the lives lost and paid tribute to the resilience and bravery of so many.  

Lest we forget. 

Class Masses 

During 2024 our core classes have attended Mass in our chapel with Fr Suresh officiating. We are very aware that our students are all at different stages in their faith journey, so these Masses are instructional in nature, designed so each student can learn about, understand, and participate in each stage of the Mass. The Mass is an opportunity for us to join as a community to pray and celebrate together. Jesus instructed his apostles to “Do this in memory of me’ at the Last Supper, and so we memorialise Jesus’ death and resurrection at each Eucharistic celebration. We look forward to celebrating and sharing more liturgical events with our classes next year and during the final weeks of 2024.