Faith and Mission
Wisdom of the Heart
College Theme 2024
Our College theme this year is Wisdom of the Heart. Wisdom is received from many sources: stories, songs, speeches, works of art, performances, conversations with friends and family, and personal experiences.
Wisdom is more than knowledge; wisdom is reflecting on the human experience to come to a greater understanding of how to make good choices to live a good life. Wisdom is actually something we can understand quite easily. If you were asked to think of someone you know who is ‘wise’ you would recognise that they are more than smart, the ‘wise person’ seems to see a situation, reads it well and knows how to act.
The Bible describes wisdom as a gift of the Holy Spirit. When we receive a gift, we make a choice of whether to use it or not. We can choose to put it away and forget that it has been given to us, or we can actively make good use of it. When we choose to use the gift of wisdom, we will notice changes in our lives and the lives of others; we will be confident to seize life-giving opportunities, we will think deeply and critically, and we will constantly seek harmonious relationships with others and the environment.
The image of the heart is helpful on different levels. Anatomically, the heart is a muscle and we know that the more we use a muscle the more we strengthen it. Spiritually, the human heart is where we desire Jesus to be so that he can guide our actions, motivations, thoughts and words. Each time we proclaim the Lasallian invocation, “Live Jesus in our hearts, forever”, we acknowledge our need for the wisdom and inspiration of Jesus, and the call to live our lives at the service of others.
Pope Francis encourages us to exercise Wisdom of the Heart, especially as we see the world of information and communication develop, and the use of Artificial Intelligence expands. He warns that we must not lose sight of what it means to be fully human. Pope Francis says that our reflections on the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) must begin with the human heart for that is ‘the inward place of our encounter with God’.
Wisdom of the Heart will lead to growth and transformation.
It encourages us to look inside and ask ourselves:
| Head | Who is someone that I consider to be wise? What can I learn from them and their approach to living a good and wise life?
Do I actively use the gift of wisdom to make good choices to live a ‘good life’?
Are the messages I receive and give worth listening to? Do they contribute to the wellbeing of others? |
| Heart | Am I open to change through the influence of positive role models?
Do I make time to encounter God in prayer so I can reflect on my life and the positive choices that I am making? |
| Hands | Do I embrace learning and social opportunities that will help me to grow?
Do I actively contribute to the harmony of my community and respond to the needs of the wider world? |
The Season of Easter and the ANZAC Spirit
Last week we celebrated Anzac Day to commemorate the sacrifice of Australian and New Zealand military personnel who have died during war.
Anzac Day originally commemorated the Australian and New Zealand forces that landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkiye on 25 April 1915 during the First World War. They were part of the allied mission to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul), which was the capital of one of Germany’s major allies, the Ottoman Empire.
Gallipoli was expected to be a quick military campaign, yet it became a long battle that was characterised by mass casualties on both sides. The bravery of the Australian and New Zealand forces during this campaign left a profound legacy that is still commemorated to this day.
During our cross-campus College broadcast, we honoured the bravery and commitment to peace and justice of all who died in war and those who returned home bearing the physical and psychological scars of war.
We commemorated Anzac Day within the Easter season - the great season of the Church’s year that celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus. The Gospels of Luke and John describe that when the resurrected Jesus appeared to his followers he spoke words of peace. Jesus said, “Peace be with you.” This traditional Jewish greeting, that desires peace of mind and heart, is as needed today as it was 2000 years ago.
The two key themes of Easter and Anzac Day resonate with the needs of the world today - Peace and Service. So, may we be mindful of the words of St Francis of Assisi as we pray:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Ria Greene
Deputy Principal - Faith and Mission