Mission & Catholic Identity News

Peter the ROCK

Next Thursday, 25 June 2020 we will rock St Peter’s day liturgies in Tutor Groups via a live stream across both campuses. A much different environment than how we have rocked for the past few years, with a 1700 strong attended Mass at Casey Stadium!

The message and legacy of St Peter will still be reflected upon with the same level of purpose. 

Who is St Peter for me?

We all take something different from when we hear or see a person speak or act. It is the same with St Peter. I always like to reflect around St Peter’s day, about the legacy of St Peter for me.

I always like that Peter is characterised as humble. A humble fisherman who lived on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, which is a beautiful place. One of my fondest memories, is from a few years ago when I was privileged to be part of a study trip to Israel that spent some time near Peter’s hometown. 

I always like that St Peter's story shows a person of simplicity and faith. He suffered from a common human problem, in that he wanted to do and be good, but was not always able to live up to his goals. Jesus called him the rock which is an odd choice of name since Peter seems to have been passionate and impulsive rather than rock-like. But, Peter did stick with Jesus through his travels and was rock-like in his loyalty. I like that.

I have had some great experiences that have involved the story of Peter. With travel on the back-burner at the moment, I remember dreamily my first trip to Rome and like many people seeing St Peter’s Basilica for the first time. With a gelato in one hand and an expresso in the other. Another was walking the land or the ‘fifth Gospel’, in which Peter would have lived around the Galilee in Israel. Taking a sunrise dip near St Peter’s Church in Capernaum, with the sun rising above the Golan Heights is a memory that burns brightly. 

I have learnt that Peter’s legacy holds significance for the Catholic Church and therefore for us as a Catholic place of learning. A theological insight can be seen in Matt 16:13-23 with Jesus anticipating that the institutional Church would be developed after his death and resurrection. He names Peter as the ‘rock’, as called to be the foundation of the Church. Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him that he was to suffer ‘this shall never happen to you’ it is an example of the faith or fides qua, that Jesus expected of his followers and what was going to be required of them to continue his mission.

Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium presents a similar message to that found in Matt 16:13-23, with Jesus responding to the concerns of the disciples, that they must have faith and to build a Church that is for all people. Therefore, a key theology point outlined in Evangelii Gaudium, for us in a Catholic education context, is that the mission of Jesus is open to all and that Christians must commence a ‘new evangelisation’. Pope Francis is teaching a message to Catholic Christians, again similar to a message presented to Peter, that we the followers are the new ‘rock’, and that Christians today need to be part of a movement that includes all people.

Upcoming Events:

1. Our Term 3 Charity is St Vincent de Paul. Keep an eye on various events and activities that will be organised by our Social Justice Captains to support Vinnies.
2. Breakfast Club will be re-opening on both campuses at the start of Term 3.

Matthew Williams

Deputy Principal - Mission & Catholic Identity