From the Acting Principal
- Prayer for Anzac Day
- Welcome to Term 2
- Holiday Tours and Activities
Prayer
In this time of reflection, we call on our God who is full of love and compassion. Confidently, in the hope of the resurrection, we pray.
We pray for all men and women who served and bravely lost their lives in battle during times of conflict, especially members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. May they rest in the peace of Christ and rise in glory on the last day. Let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord hear our prayer
We remember all families, parents and children who lost loved ones through war. May the light of God's hope and strength comfort them. Let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord hear our prayer
We pray for all engaged in diplomacy around the world. May they always work towards achieving peace through respectful negotiations and a dialogue of mutual understanding. Let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord hear our prayer
We pray for all political leaders. May the Holy Spirit help them to make wise decisions and to build relationships that lead to peace. Let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord hear our prayer
We pray for all who have been engaged in commemorative services and ceremonies on Anzac Day. May their prayers and witness provide comfort and inspiration to all who grieve for those who died in war. Let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord hear our prayer
God of mercy, send forth your Spirit of peace to our world as we ask you to grant our prayers for those who have fallen in war. We ask this prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This prayer was a very moving experience to commence Term 2 and was followed by our Anzac Day Commemorative Service. Led by our Assistant Principal – Mission & Identity, Ms Donna Dempsey, and our Mission and Identity Prefects, Ben Di Tommaso, Nick Parker and James Spencer, along with our young men of the College, the gathering created an atmosphere of absolute respect and reverence as the story of our first two Old Boys to be killed in action, Jacob de Sisto and Anthony Gillespie was shared with the Assembly.
We thought of these two young men stood in this same playground and two years later paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending their country. We not only remember Jacob and Anthony, along with the 110 Old Boys of St Pius X College who have served Australia in conflicts, but all men and women who gave up their lives in battle so that we may have peace. May we never forget and always remember them.
Welcome to Term 2
It was great to welcome all our young men back for Term 2 and especially our Year 12 students who resume normal classes after completing their Mid-Course Examinations at the end of last term. It is now such an important time for our Class of 2018 to receive all the constructive feedback and have positive reflections as they further their studies.
Our Principal, Mr John Couani, is having well deserved Professional Leave this Term and I have the privilege of being the Acting Principal in his absence.
We welcome also Mr Sean Brannan to the role of Acting Deputy Principal; Mr Simon Yue as Head of Student Services and Ms Alexandra Foord to Year 8 Coordinator, along with Ms Jacqui Loughman and Mr David Dunne, who join the Pius community this term on the teaching Staff.
We also welcome William Alcide (Year 8) and his family to the College this term.
Holiday Tours and Activities
Over the holiday break our First XI Football defended their title in being undefeated Champions at the EREA Carnival held in Canberra and continued their football development with further competition in the St Andrew’s Cup. I thank Mr Steve Quilty, Mr Simon Yue, Ms Leisa Proc and Mr Chis Semaan for their management and coaching of our team.
I was fortunate to go with the 15’s Rugby Tour to New Zealand for the first week of the holidays. It was an outstanding experience where our young men played three very tough fixtures against fellow Edmund Rice Schools, who gave us very strong opposition. Though unsuccessful on the scoreboard, the improvement in the Team’s performance and skill level was excellent. It is no surprise why New Zealand are the Rugby World Champions. The Tour did not only reap the benefits in Rugby development but the cultural immersion and the camaraderie within the group was indeed a highlight. With 23 young men travelling together at all times, we received high praise constantly from members of the public on our boys’ manners, respect and appearance. An absolute credit to each of our young men. Thank you to Mr Joe Lynch, Mr Sean Brannan and Mr Benn McBrearty for their efforts in this most successful experience.
Our Duke of Edinburgh Silver Medal Expedition was conducted in good weather in our Blue Mountains in the first four days of the holidays and I thank Mr Paul de Silva and Mr Luke Barbour for providing our young men with this opportunity.
Our Junior School Rugby made their traditional journey to the Armidale Rugby Carnival. Competition was tough for our Prep Rugby but Mr Greg Virgona and Mr Glen Carroll highlighted the positives that came out of this experience as they begin their season this term.
On top of these many opportunities there was a three day Football Skills Camp at Oxford Falls in the first week of the holidays with 68 attendees and a two day Rugby Clinic at Oxford Falls in the second week with over 85 of our young men in attendance.
Seminars, workshops and marking were also conducted at the College to ensure the continued development and preparation for the benefit of our students.
*****
What remains with me so powerfully was the absolute respect and reverence set by our young men in our opening Assembly. It has certainly set an excellent tone for the commencement of this term. We look forward to advancing this as we continue collectively in the development of each of our students.
Mr Mark Casey - Acting Principal