Tribute to Emily Goldthorpe

 We Remember...We Give Thanks

On Friday 17 April 2015, Emily Goldthorpe who graduated from Mater Dei Catholic College in 2014 was involved in a fatal car accident. The prayers and thoughts of the entire Mater Dei Community, as well as the wider Riverina Community have been with the Goldthorpe family since that night.

Emily was a much loved member of the College community. A young woman of strong faith, Emily is remembered for her gentle and compassionate spirit. With a constant concern for others and their wellbeing, Emily approached her relationships with empathy and a smile on her face. As a student, Emily had a diligent and mature approach to school life and learning and was a strong supporter of all College events. A sensitive and caring young woman, Emily selflessly modelled our College motto to “Live God’s Message”. She was full of goodness.

As a staff we gathered with ex students and senior students on Monday 20 April and with the whole College on Tuesday 21 April.  To help with our understanding and healing, I provide Fr Bernie’s Homily given at the Prayer Service as well as a Prayer Card.

Sometimes tragedy is just that – tragedy.

It defies reason, understanding and comprehension. It is in such a time that I feel most weak, most human and most vulnerable.

We come together as adults – during our life we try and prepare ourselves for what life throws at us – some of this we can control a lot of it we can’t.

We can’t because we are frail - human – free and other people around us are free – free to make mistakes in the same way that we make mistakes.

We believe in a God that is merciful and just, kind and loving, so kind that he doesn’t wrap us up in cotton wool – so kind that some things in life threaten us and we begin to understand our frailty and the pain – and sometimes the suffering – that comes with that frailty. Sometimes we reach the end of our tether and can only say – with Jesus – “Father into your hands I commend your spirit”.

We come together also as teachers – we try and prepare those in our care for what life throws up at them.

Part of this is to help them recognize their own frailty. We can help them learn this through books and lessons, but mostly we teach by example.

In these circumstances, we are given a special opportunity to share the meaning of the beatitudes: ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted’ and ‘blessed are the pure of the heart for they shall see God’.

We teach it by sharing our pain with them and allowing them to share their pain with us – and one another. We share our frailty by saying ‘we do not have any answers because there are no answers. Sometimes life is bigger than what we make it and in the pain of today we come together to share our faith – to be a community – a community that believes Emily’s life continues with her God and although she is lost from our presence it is a presence that can draw closer to each other and closer to the reason why Mater Dei Catholic College exists at all.

We pray for her eternal rest and our comforting peace.

Emily remains in our prayers, our hearts and in our memories.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.

And let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace.  Amen.