Principal's Report

Dear Families,

Welcome back to another term, I hope all families had the chance to spend some time with students especially with those undertaking their final year of schooling (Year 12) during the break to start to plan the remaining weeks that are left. Planning ahead is important because before any of us realise it this term will be drawing to a close and our Year 12 students will be preparing to finish their schooling, undertaking study for exams or looking to commence work / further study.

Pope Francis has appointed a new Archbishop of Melbourne, Bishop Peter Comensoli as Archbishop Hart prepares to retire. Archbishop Hart has been our Archbishop since 2001. I wish to acknowledge Archbishop Hart’s leadership and ministry during this time. The Church teaches us that the unifying figure in each (arch)diocese is the bishop. St. Ignatius of Antioch, who was a student of St. John the Evangelist, and who was the 3rd Bishop of Antioch after Sts. Peter and John, wrote to his followers in the year 105AD that wherever the bishop is the Catholic Church is there.

I write today to recognise Archbishop Hart and to publicly state how much we, as the Catholic community  of Catholic Regional College Sydenham  appreciate everything that you His Grace has done for the church every day. Archbishop Hart’s homily at each Mass he has celebrated with us have always been thoughtful and so well-delivered so as to ensure that His Grace connected the Gospel message of Jesus with our students and their lives. His Grace really lets every member of the congregation feel that they are special, thought of and loved by Christ.

And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. - Jeremiah 3:15

I know that His Grace has never sought to  earn the accolades of others, but I firmly believe that it is important to recognise the impact that an Archbishop can have  and His Grace as our shepherd has positively changed the lives of many people. Archbishop Hart has nourished us spiritually with knowledge and understanding so that each of us could grow closer to Christ and through our love of Christ closer to God.

His Grace has always taken a particular interest in both the Federation of Catholic Regional College and in Catholic Regional College Sydenham having visited on numerous occasions to speak with staff and students as well as to celebrate Mass. We thank Archbishop Hart for all he has done for us and for the Church.  I have included the Archbishop’s homily from our 35th Anniversary Mass celebrated at St Patrick’s Cathedral last year.

Bishop Comensoli, our 9th Archbishop in Melbourne is currently the Bishop of the Broken Bay Diocese in NSW and will take up the role of Archbishop for the largest diocese in Australia on August 1. I will be asking our student leaders to send a card on behalf of all students to Archbishop Hart thanking him for all he has done for the Church including Catholic Regional College Sydenham as well as a welcome to Archbishop Comensoli.

SERIOUS CONCERN

I have been concerned about reports that a concoction of drugs mixed together in drink form and referred to as ‘lean’ or ‘blue drank’ has re-emerged in the local community in recent weeks. Families should be concerned and worried because this concoction of medications readily available in most homes, when mixed together, can be lethal. The substance combines various readily accessible ingredients when mixed together into a drink slow down vital organs, making the consumer feel light headed and as though they are ‘leaning’ over or the world is spinning. Stupidly, those who have taken such a concoction have placed their lives at risk as it is incredibly easy to overdose on such a concoction resulting in vital organs, including the heart and lungs, to slow or shut down. This can easily result in death. We urge all families to have ongoing conversations about these issues and will continue to provide information such as this when the College becomes aware.

Yours Faithfully

Brendan J Watson OAM

Principal