Community

In October last year, Pope Leo XIV published his Apostolic Letter “Drawing New Maps of Hope” to mark the 60th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s Declaration on education, Gravissimum educationis. Pope Leo’s letter sets out for our times the “extreme importance and relevance of education in human life.”  

One the many insights this letter proposes, insights that invite us into the constant teaching of the Catholic Church, is that “educating is an act of hope and a passion that is renewed because it manifests the promise we see in the future of humanity.” As with all such documents, every word is deliberate and chosen for its depth. Importantly, education is about the hope that searches beyond our first and second efforts, beyond the immediate, what we think is humanly possible, and trusts in the fact that we live in a friendly universe: a universe that is a gift of God’s love, wisdom, and mercy. 

Through hope we transcend human limits. Furthermore, when the Christian speaks of passion, we are referring to what we are willing to suffer much for, in imitation of Christ on the cross, who transformed his suffering into the eternal joy of the Resurrection. Christ is the hope and passion of the St Patrick’s College community.  

Please allow me to quote one paragraph of Pope Leo at length. 

“Christian formation embraces the entire person: spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social, physical. It does not pit manual and theoretical skills, science and humanism, technology and conscience against each other; rather, it demands that professionalism be imbued with ethics, and that ethics be not an abstract concept but a daily practice. Education does not measure its value only on the axis of efficiency: it measures it according to dignity, justice, the capacity to serve the common good. This integral anthropological vision must remain the cornerstone of Catholic pedagogy. Following in the wake of the thought of Saint John Henry Newman, it goes against a strictly mercantilist approach that often forces education today to be measured in terms of functionality and practical utility.”

These are the inspiring criteria for measuring the authenticity of the St Patrick’s College community. Importantly, this week was another source of evidence supporting our lived and animating desire for authenticity. 

St Patrick’s Day commenced first with Mass celebrated by Bishop Paul Bird C.Ss.R, College Chaplain Fr Eladio Lizada OSJ, and Old Boy by Fr Eugene McKinnon. The celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist, that which may seem impractical and out of date to a modern world, is an encounter with Jesus Christ: an encounter that offers this world the justice and dignity that raises and perfects our spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social, and physical nature into the unity of love. 

The respect shown by our students during Mass is surely evidence that our young souls recognise what is at stake in their education. As our day of celebrations flowed into giant green doughnuts, a trivia competition (thanks to the rain interfering with our plans for outdoor activities), a sausage sizzle, and the House Singing Competition, students moved beyond all functionality and practical utility, lifted by the joy of friendship, and chose to be a community. 

Importantly, the day is planned and offered simply as the opportunity to abide in the gift of friendship – with Christ, fellow students, and staff – for which there is no higher value. Eternal life is accepting the gift of sharing in the friendship and love of our Trinitarian God: the perfect act of love between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Made in the image of God, this is the authenticity of community at St Patrick’s College. Undoubtedly, this is the authenticity that motivates and directs every activity of our College.

Our Athletics Team also created an experience of community when they competed in the Associated Catholic Colleges Athletics Carnival. Did I say competed? I meant to say (loud and clear) the team was crowned Division 2 Champions.

However, I am mentioning this joyfully because of several conversations with team members. Each one spoke of the jubilant bus trip home as they shared what the achievement meant, and that experienced unity was the non-functional goal in itself, the gift of the day. Joy is its own reward. 

During that journey home, no student wished to be anywhere else than in the company of the peers and staff who were united not by any abstract concept, but by the reality of what they had created and achieved together. This is the authenticity of the St Patrick’s College community. And this creative force is alive in all the dimensions – educational, wellbeing, and extra-curricular – of the rich and complex life of our College.   

Finally, at our St Patrick’s Day Assembly the College community paid tribute to our retiring College Patron, Bishop Paul Bird. Mr Steven O’Connor offered the following words: 

Upon being ordained the eighth Bishop of Ballarat in October 2012, the Most Reverend Paul Bird chose the motto "Peace be with you." Bishop Paul, always a witness to the beauty of the Catholic Church's liturgical tradition, has held to his motto throughout his leadership. When, in 2013, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse brought the Ballarat Diocese and St Patrick’s College into international headlines, the Church needed leaders of peace and healing. The significance of Bishop Paul’s leadership continues to be felt today and will unfold further as the Church witnesses God’s love in faithful service. The vitality, hope, and joy of our College community are evidence of this.

Bishop Paul, who as Patron of the College, has been a welcome and regular visitor over the years. Whether leading our community in the celebration of the Most Holy Mass on St Patrick’s Day and Edmund Rice Day or offering a reflection to staff on the power of The Beatitudes during formation, Bishop Paul always lifted our hearts in praise of God and reminded us of the special role of education in God’s wise and loving plan. Committed to his motto of peace and faithfully serving the community of St Patrick’s College since 2012, we pray that Bishop Paul will enjoy a grace-filled retirement for many years to come, and we shall keep him always in our prayers. Peace be with you, Bishop Paul.