Assistant Principal - Religious Identity & Mission 

Catholic Education Week Mass 

Last week, on Thursday 10 August, we celebrated Catholic Education Week at St Mary’s Cathedral with a large number of Catholic schools from Southern Tasmania. The theme for 2023 was ‘Arise and go!’ which called us to follow in the footsteps of Mary as she was called to arise and go with haste into the world. So too are we in Catholic education called to arise and make a positive impact in the lives of others. 

St Virgil’s College exemplified this by supplying not only the music but a number of speakers for the Mass. Our Year 9-10 Choir combined with our Junior School Choir and rose to the occasion, filling the cathedral with beautiful music. Song choices ranged from traditional Mass Shalom parts to more contemporary music such as 10 000 reasons by Matt Redman and the final song “I Thank God” which was played by the Senior School liturgy band. Many people commented on the quality and poise of our students after the service. I’d like to thank the staff that contributed so much time and energy in getting all our students to this point – Mr Jack Machin, Mr Jesse Bowden, Mrs Jill Norton and Mr Aaron Tan. Our readers and altar servers also shone, demonstrating a respect for, and understanding of what they were undertaking. 

Feast of the Assumption Mass 

Our young men again stepped up for the Feast of the Assumption Mass on Tuesday 15 August, held at the SeniopSchool. 

The Church celebrates the Feast Day of the Assumption of Our Lady when according to our faith, the Holy Mother, “having completed her course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”. The Assumption signals the end of Mary’s earthly life and marks her return to heaven to be reunited with Jesus. While the bodies of both Jesus and Mary are now in heaven, there is a difference between the Assumption and the Resurrection. Where Jesus arose from the tomb and ascended into heaven by his own power, Mary’s body was taken up to heaven by the power of her Son. 

Father Suresh presided at this service and our senior choir and liturgy band provided the music supported by staff. All the students are to be congratulated for the way in which they conducted themselves during the service and I thank those involved.