Faith & Identity

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ 

(Matthew 16:13)

On that one question hangs the authenticity of St Patrick’s College. 

We are deeply fortunate that Matthew’s Gospel is a ‘cheat sheet’ that includes Simon Peter’s answer. “You are the Christ… the Son of the living God.” Our faith rests on the mysterious and most beautiful truth that “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” John 3:16) 

God is never more than a breath away from our every question, our every desire, choice and action. And how do we know this? Jesus explains to Simon Peter that “it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.” That is, the authenticity of St Patrick’s rests entirely on the gift of faith that confesses Jesus as Saviour and Redeemer, and it is for us to reply with the unconditional love that proclaims “Yes!” to this gift of faith. All that we do at St Patrick’s College flows from that one life-giving affirmation. 

This came to life at our recent Touchstone Assembly. This student-led gathering celebrated both what we are doing at the College and why we are doing it. Special mention should be made of our Touchstone leaders for their informative and inspiring report to the community. 

• Gospel Spirituality - Patrick Buttler 

• Liberating Education - Noah Eales

• Justice and Solidarity - Archer Mohr

• Inclusive Community - Hunter Vansomeren

Also important at the Assembly was the leadership of College Captain, George Charles, and Vice Captains Cameron Belleville and Taj Bobrowski, who spoke to the call to transformation and faithfulness that is embedded in the Touchstones of an Edmund Rice Education. 

A special moment was when staff member Mr Jamie Bobrowski spoke passionately about his immersion to Kenya and the Kibera slum in Nairobi, which is Africa’s largest urban slum housing over half a million people across just 2.5 square kilometres. 

Mr Bobrowski spoke of the overwhelming assault on the senses that is a slum, but how he quickly encountered the joy of the people who choose hope over despair. Mirror of Hope is a “hand-up” organisation that is assisting children from most impoverished backgrounds through the provision of an education, as education is the most effective tool in fighting the poverty. 

Mr Bobrowski joyfully announced Mirror of Hope as one of the College’s new justice partners and called our students to action in the future to support all our justice partners through works of transforming and loving service. 

Our gratitude is also to Fr Eladio Lizada OSJ who led us in prayer at the Assembly: 

Grant us, Lord God, a vision of your world as your love would have it:

a world where the weak are protected, and none go hungry or poor;

a world where the riches of creation are shared, and everyone can enjoy them;

a world where different races and cultures live in harmony and mutual respect;

a world where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love.

Give us the inspiration and courage to build it, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And we do all this because of our faith in Jesus Christ, who has revealed to us the God who is love. And made in God’s image, we are called to love without limit and so share in the death and resurrection of Jesus that transforms suffering into joy. This is our authenticity.