Catholic Identity & Mission News

The themes of the weeks of Advent are my inspiration for this final newsletter article for the year. 

HOPE: The new year promised such hope after so much time locked down last year. Hopes were dashed a bit when the February Year 12 Retreats were cancelled because of COVID scares but from then on, we progressed through the year planning and actually delivering on events, activities, liturgies, camps, reflection days and retreats. Our initial hope turned out to not be ill-founded and we were able to get our ‘groove’ back slowly and surely in 2022.

LOVE: Our community grew with new students and staff in 2022 and in typical St Peter’s fashion, all were welcome. We shared our gifts and talents with our school community and reached out to those in need in our community through advocacy and action. Our 2022 annual theme, ‘Therefore prepare your minds for action’ was put to good use! We experienced God through our love of one another especially in our time of great sorrow at the passing of our friend and colleague, Jim Constantinou. As tragic as that time was, what stays with me is the love and courage shown by so many, including Jim’s beautiful family. 

JOY: There is joy to be found in learning with others who know and care about us. The laughter and companionship that form such a big part of so many of our programs translated into staff and students feeling connected to this Catholic community. And the end of year masses, followed by the annual ‘Tug of War’ competition show that our students are diverse and they delight in being with each other be it in prayer and song, or yelling and pulling at a rope for House points. School in all its facets is so often fun!

PEACE: We have tried to work locally as part of a global community here at the College. We have embedded our ROCKS (our whole school approach to positive behaviours) and been mindful of conflicts and issues affecting our own school community and the wider world. As Christmas approaches, we have again endeavoured to think more of others than of ourselves through our Vinnies Christmas Appeal and fundraising efforts. We pray for peace in our hearts, minds, families and world through our daily prayers and our lived actions at the school.

We are a proud, diverse Catholic community and as the 2022 academic year closes and Christmas and summer holidays are upon us, I pray that all in our community will be blessed in experiencing hope, love, joy, and peace until we gather again in 2023. My sincere thanks to the many who have contributed to building the Catholic Identity of the College and worked to fulfill its Mission this year and I wish all in our College community a very happy and holy Christmas!

Fiona McKenna

Deputy Principal - Catholic Identity & Mission