Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Carers

On Sunday 1st March through to Tuesday 3rd March, I had the great pleasure of attending the Lasallian Leaders Gathering for our region. At this gathering were leaders from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Pakistan. As many of you know, our College was founded by the De La Salle Brothers and the Ursuline Sisters. The two schools, De La Salle College and St Ursula’s College amalgamated in 1975 to form O’Connor Catholic High School. It was then renamed O’Connor Catholic College. 

O’Connor Catholic College holds a special place in both the Ursuline and De La Salle history in Australia. St Ursula’s, Armidale and De La Salle College, Armidale were the first schools set up by the orders on arriving in Australia. St Ursula’s was established in 1882 and De La Salle in 1906. Our Founders gave us a deep faith tradition - we are founded on faith - it is who we were, who we are and who we will be.

St John Baptist de La Salle (1651-1719) is the Patron Saint of Teachers. He was born in France in 1651.  His family was from the privileged class; however, after entering the priesthood, De La Salle committed himself to provide a Christian and human education to young people, and especially to the poor and marginalised. In 1680, at 29 years of age, John Baptist de La Salle invited young men to join him in devoting themselves to the Christian education of youth. He was canonised in 1900 and became the universal patron Saint of Teachers in 1950. Inspired by their Founder, the De La Salle Brothers developed into a worldwide Christian education community.

"To touch the hearts of the young and to inspire them with the Christian spirit is the greatest miracle you can perform, and it is the one that God asks of you; it is the purpose of your work with the young." (St John Baptist de La Salle)

PHOTO: St Angela Statue, St Ursula's College Kingsgove Artist: E. Piccolruaz 2017

The Ursulines were founded by St Angela Merici.  Angela was born to a farming family on the shores of Lake Garda in Italy in 1474. Angela Merici lived in the time of the Renaissance in Italy. This was a time of unparalleled explosion of artistic expression, preaching of new religious ideas and pastoral neglect by clergy. It was also the time that new groups engaged in social and pastoral work emerged.

Angela was concerned for the moral and personal well-being of the young women of her time who were particularly vulnerable. She had profound respect for each person, encouraging each to grow into their full humanity. An independent woman, she sought a way beyond the narrow life choices for women of the day - marriage or an enclosed convent. Faced with two alternatives - she saw and chose a third. In 1535, at about 65 years of age, Angela founded the Company of St Ursula. This provided an alternate vocational choice for women at this time beyond marriage or life in an enclosed convent. The Company of St Ursula offered women the opportunity to respond to God’s call to live a life of total dedication to God while still living in their own homes.

Act, have faith, make efforts, have hope, speak with all your heart and then you are sure to be amazed. (Angela Merici) 

Both of our Founders set the example to us in our modern age to be courageous and to stand up for what is right. They worked on the margins of society with the poor and disadvantaged.

The Lasallian Leaders Gathering’s Theme was Great Things are Possible. The focus was on how we, as LaSallian Leaders, can carry on the work of John Baptist de La Salle in our work today. How can we make a difference to the students, staff, parents and our whole community? How do we work with the most marginalised in our community to provide opportunities for all? The conference provided many practical ways to live our vision and that of our Founders in today’s world and provided the opportunity to connect with our Lasallian family from across the region. 

What new learning will you undertake this week?

Regina Menz