Principal
Opening School Mass and High Achiever's Assembly
Last Friday, we celebrated these two special occasions out at the Tennis Centre at Sydney Olympic Park. The acoustics of this venue were not ideal but overall, it was very cool and comfortable and afforded all our students a clear view of proceedings. Unfortunately, we were advised late in November last year that our usual venue, the Quaycentre, was closed for floor repairs until May this year.
Our Opening Mass set the scene for 2024, presided over by Old Boy Fr Ronnie Maree (’10) and Fr Jack Evans, and before it commenced, Year 12 welcomed Year 5 to the College in a moving ceremony.
In a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice, the tradition of commencing the academic year with an Opening Mass holds deep significance. We embrace this practice as the Mass benefits our community in so many ways.
1. It lays the Spiritual Foundation: The Opening Mass serves as a spiritual foundation for the entire school community. It reminds students, staff, and parents/carers that education is not merely about acquiring knowledge but also about nurturing the soul. For us, we believe that education liberates us to achieve our hopes and dreams. This year, we are focusing on the Liberating Touchstone which reminds us of our aim to support each boy in reaching their full potential and thriving in ways that matter to them. We hope to empower each of you beyond traditional academic achievement. So, by gathering in prayer, the community seeks God's blessings for the upcoming year.
2. It promotes Unity and Community: The Mass brings everyone together—students, teachers, administrators, and families. It reinforces the sense of unity within the school community. As they participate in the liturgy, they recognise their shared purpose and commitment to learning and growth, as described in the parable of the mustard seed.
3. It is an opportunity to celebrate our Cultural Diversity: Catholic schools such as ours have diverse student populations. The Opening Mass celebrates this myriad of cultures that come together to form a universal community of higher learning. It emphasises respect for different backgrounds and fosters a spirit of inclusion, one of our College Touchstones.
5. Finally, it reminds us of what sets a Catholic school apart from other schools, and that is our Mission and Identity: The Mass is an opportunity to remind everyone of our College’s identity and mission. It reinforces the values, ethics, and principles that underpin Catholic education. Through prayer and reflection, participants recommit themselves to this mission.
Our Opening Mass symbolised more than just the start of an academic year—it represented a collective journey of faith, learning, and community.
We then turned our attention to the recognition of the High Achievers of the Class of 2023. We heard from our Dux, James Bellamy, who shared his wisdom on how he achieved his success. In fact, the Class of 2023 achieved the strongest and most solid HSC/ATAR results in ten years.
As I discussed at our first assembly, 2024 can be the year that each student can grow and achieve his goals by applying the lessons from the parable of the mustard seed and the advice about changing small, atomic, old habits into new, productive ones.
The parable of the mustard seed is a story that Jesus told to illustrate how the kingdom of heaven starts from a small seed and grows into a large tree. The book that I have been referencing, Atomic Habits, is a guide that shows us how to build good habits and break bad ones by making small changes in our behaviour. Both sources teach us the power of starting small and compounding our efforts over time. The points I made at this ceremony were:
1.The parable of the mustard seed teaches us that the kingdom of heaven starts from a small seed and grows into a large tree. For each of our students, this is the inspiration for them to start with small actions and habits that will lead them to their desired outcomes.
I cited the following personal example:
"When I was in Year 9, I struggled to achieve the maths results I wanted and knew I was capable of. I hated doing homework and studying for tests. I felt like I was not good at maths, and that I would never improve. But then I decided to try something different. I decided to start with a small habit: doing one extra maths problem every day. It didn't matter how easy or hard it was, as long as I did it. At first, it was boring and frustrating. But I kept doing it every day, no matter what. Gradually, I noticed that I was getting better at maths. I started to enjoy solving problems and learning new concepts. I became more confident and motivated. I started to do more maths problems every day, and eventually, I was doing all my homework and studying for tests. My grades improved dramatically, and I even won a maths prize at the end of Year 10. All of this started from a small habit: doing one extra maths problem every day”.
2. The book Atomic Habits by James Clear shows us how to build good habits and break bad ones by applying four simple laws: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying.
These laws can help us create a system that supports our goals and makes them easier to achieve. For example: Another one of the habits that I have been keen to build is to read more books. I love reading, but I often find myself too busy or distracted to do it. So, a few months ago, I decided to use the four laws of Atomic Habits to make reading more obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying. First, I made it obvious by putting a book on my pillow every night, so I would see it before going to bed. Second, I made it attractive by choosing books that I was interested in and excited about. Third, I made it easy by setting a small goal of reading at least four pages per night. I knew I could do that, and it didn't take much time or effort. Fourth, I made it satisfying by tracking my progress on a personal calendar and rewarding myself with purchasing a new book each time I finish reading one. By using these four laws, I have been able to build a reading habit that I can enjoy and stick to. Now, I read at least one book every month, and sometimes more.
3. The parable of the mustard seed and the book Atomic Habits both emphasise the power of compound interest, or how small changes can add up to big results over time. We can use this principle to motivate ourselves and others to keep pursuing our goals and dreams, even when they seem far away or difficult. One of the most inspiring examples of the power of compound interest is the story of Malala Yousafzai. Malala is a young woman from Pakistan who fought for girls' education and human rights. When she was 11 years old, she started writing a blog for the BBC, where she shared her experiences of living under the Taliban regime. She spoke out against the violence and oppression that she and other girls faced. She also continued to go to school, despite the threats and dangers. She was determined to learn and grow, even when it seemed impossible. In 2012, when she was 15 years old, she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman, who wanted to silence her. She survived the attack, and instead of giving up, she became even more vocal and courageous. She moved to the UK, where she recovered and continued her education. She also started a global campaign for girls' education, called the Malala Fund. She travelled around the world, meeting with world leaders, celebrities, and activists. She spoke at the United Nations, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, and the Oxford Union. She wrote a best-selling book and inspired a documentary film. She became the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate and one of the most influential people in the world. All of this started from a small habit: writing a blog every day.
In conclusion, the parable of the mustard seed and the techniques that help us change our bad or unproductive habits, teach us how to grow and achieve our goals by starting small and compounding our efforts over time.
You can start with small actions and habits that will lead you to your desired outcomes. You can make your habits more obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying, and you can use the principle of compound interest to motivate yourself and others to keep pursuing your goals and dreams, even when they seem far away or difficult.
The boys have been urged just to start small and keep going. You never know how big of a difference you can make!
As the ancient Chinese philosopher once said and is repeatedly referred to, Lao Tzu reminds us, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Ash Wednesday - 14 February 2024
Today we celebrate Ash Wednesday, the first day of the liturgical season of Lent. In this season, we prepare ourselves to celebrate the high point of our Christian life, Easter. Each year, the readings for Ash Wednesday are the same. They call us to a change of heart and teach us about the traditional Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These disciplines are to be part of the Christian life during every season, but during the season of Lent, we renew our commitment to them.
The meaning behind tracing a cross on our foreheads with ashes (the liturgical sign of Ash Wednesday) is a summary of our Christian life. On one level, the ashes remind us of our origin and our death. (In the words of the prayer said when we receive ashes: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” The ashes are also the sign of our victory: the cross of Christ. In his death and resurrection, Christ conquered death. Our destiny as Christians is to receive the victory over death that Christ won for us. We acknowledge that victory when we “[t]urn away from sin and [are] faithful to the gospel,” words from the alternative prayer when we are signed with ashes.
The reading of the day is part of the Sermon on the Mount. In the sermon, Jesus warns his followers against acting for the sake of appearance. When Jesus’ disciples give alms, pray, and fast, they are to do so in such a way that only God, who sees the heart and knows what is hidden, will know.
Many of our community observe the Maronite Rite and commenced Lent on Monday of this week. Maronite Lent, also known as the Great Lent, commences with the observance of Cana Sunday. This day marks the entrance into the Lenten season for Maronite Catholics. Following Cana Sunday, Maronites celebrate Ash Monday, which corresponds to the traditional Ash Wednesday observed in Western Christianity. On Ash Monday, ashes are distributed, signifying the beginning of fasting and penance during Lent.
No matter whether we are Roman Catholic or Maronite Catholic, it is an important time in the liturgical year. It’s a time of spiritual reflection, prayer, and self-denial as Maronites prepare for the celebration of Easter.
A clean heart, create for me, God; a steadfast spirit renew within me. (Ps 51:12)
Days of Penance
We must take very seriously our penitential obligations and be sure to carry them out. [This does not] restrict our penance to fast and abstinence; in all cases, it has left room for our own responsible choice. We should carefully select the form of penance that we consider most appropriate for our own circumstances and growth in the Christian life.
Abstinence from meat, and fasting, are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. All who have completed their eighteenth year and have not yet begun their sixtieth year are bound to fast. ALL who have completed their fourteenth year are bound to abstain.
On all other Fridays of the year including the Fridays of Lent, the Law of the common practice of penance is fulfilled by performing any one of the following:
- prayer – for example, Mass attendance; family prayer; a visit to a church or chapel; reading the Bible; making the Stations of the Cross; praying the rosary.
- self-denial – for example, not eating meat; not eating sweets or dessert; giving up entertainment to spend time with the family; limiting food and drink so as to give to the poor of one’s own country.
- helping others – for example, special attention to someone who is poor, sick, elderly, lonely or overburdened.
Lent lasts from Ash Wednesday (14 February) to the Mass of the Lord’s supper exclusive (28 March). On Good Friday and, if possible, also on Holy Saturday until the Easter Vigil, the Easter Fast is observed.
Dr Vittoria Lavorato
Principal
SPC boys can do anything!
**except divide by zero