From the Principal

Led by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and held annually since 1973, World Environment Day on 5 June has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach, celebrated by millions of people across the world. World Environment Day follows Laudato Si Week, when Australian Catholics are called by Pope Francis to reflect on the importance of our common home.

Following the writing of Laudato Si, Pope Francis wrote Laudate Deum (LD) as a reminder about the urgency of the Laudato Si’ message and the need for both personal and cultural transformation amidst our ecological and climate crises, writing that ‘…there are no lasting changes without cultural changes … and there are no cultural changes without personal changes.’ (LD, 70)

As important as World Environment Day is, perhaps our ongoing challenge is to strengthen our relationships with the environment and each other. Perhaps when we are truly open to the wonders of nature, and to living truthfully and lovingly together, we will no longer require a day to prompt recognition of what is so fundamental to human flourishing. With this in mind, I share an excerpt from the poem Blackbirds written by Julie Cadwallader Staub.

‘….yesterday I heard a new sound above my head

a rustling, ruffling quietness in the spring air and when I turned my face upward

I saw a flock of blackbirds,

rounding a curve I didn’t know was there,

and the sound was simply all those wings.

All those feathers against air, against gravity

and such a beautiful winning:

The whole flock taking a long, wide turn,

as if one body and one mind.

How do they do that?

If we lived only in human society

what a puny existence that would be,

but, instead, we move and have our being

here, in this curving and soaring world

that is not our own

so that when mercy and tenderness triumph in our lives

and when, even more rarely, we unite and move together 

toward a common good,

we can think to ourselves:

Ah yes, this is how it is meant to be.’

Lastly, I extend my thanks to all of the staff involved in our Year 6 Canberra Camp. No doubt there will be many stories to share with families tonight and my guess is the care and enthusiasm of the staff will feature strongly.

Daniel Mahon

Principal

Heritage | Issue 52 | June 2024

Welcome to the June 2024 edition of Heritage! We are excited to present a collection of captivating stories that showcase the outstanding contributions and accomplishments of John XXIII College alumni, students, and staff.