Chaplain's Corner

10 years with God’s love

Happy 10th anniversary in the city, St George’s! It is a satisfying feeling to see the faces of our students in the advertisements on the backs of buses in the city. I was equally thrilled to see the faces of our students on the cover of the West Australian magazine, advertising our school celebrating 10 Years in the City of Perth. 

The article in the West Australian proudly says, “As Perth’s only vertical school in the heart of the city, St George’s Anglican Grammar School presents a modern education with a difference.” The article describes us as “a small school with a big heart!” and “a school like no other”. The mention of the unique vertical nature of our school building left me reflecting on the vertical and horizontal beams of the Cross. 

In seminary, we were taught that the vertical beam symbolises our relationship with God. We look up to God, our creator, who looks down on us as a loving father, while the horizontal beam symbolises our interpersonal relationships. The two beams together make up the Cross on which Jesus was crucified. On that Cross, love conquered hate, forgiveness conquered punishment, and ultimately, life conquered death. When Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12), he meant that we must love one another the way he loves us. Jesus laid down his life for us. Today, we can demonstrate our love for one another through little acts of kindness such as checking on others in class and/or at home, smiling often, offering a helping hand and having a positive presence.. By so doing, we indeed demonstrate that we are “a small school with a big heart!” and this is what I see at our school on a daily basis in my classes, at St George’s Cathedral and as I greet the students every morning.

Fr Gift Makwasha

School Chaplain