From the Director of Mission

Mrs Cathie Clarke

As remote learning continues, the need to remain connected intensifies, and last week we experienced a very successful on-line event that brought many members of our community together as we celebrated the feast of Saint Pope Gregory the Great.

Thank you to Kai O’Brien, Year 8, for your thoughtful and inspiring acknowledgement of country.

We will not forget the visit from Pope Gregory himself, who bore an uncanny resemblance to Mr Stephen Bullock. He invited us, as members of the College under his patronage, to accept the symbols of his mitre and crozier. They represent the things he stood for - leadership and courage, education and knowledge, writing and books, the important role of women, beautiful liturgy and especially beautiful music in liturgy and missionary work. Thank you, Pope Gregory!

We heard from Father David Catterall, Parish Priest of St Mary of the Cross Mackillop, Oran Park, who prayed a blessing on our community. Thank you, Father David.

With the technological skill and advice from Ms Lydia Khoury and Mr Don Perna, we were able to bring to life recorded messages from students who reflected on what it meant to them to be under the patronage of Pope Gregory. Thank you to all the students who contributed to this: James Hardiman-Stone (Year 1), Taylor Masterton (Year 2), Kye Harding (Year 3), Mikayla Faro (Year 4), Tessa Sabu Mandapam and Cooper Potts (Year 6), Kaleb Belak (Year 7), Joseph Bradley (Year 8), Hollins Eastgate (Year 9), Elliot Power (Year 10), Lucas Braithwaite, Blake Ciscato, Connor Fownes, Bryce Skillen, Hayden Tipping, Manoj Weerasingham and Evan Wulff (Year 11) and Jordan-Leigh Estephan, Lachlan McGufficke, Lachlan McInerney and Charlie Redman (Year 12).

Once again our Music department’s vision and excellence allowed our community to come together in song. Thank you to Mr Laurence Malaesilia and all the staff and students who contributed as we listened and sang along to Awake My Soul, The Song of Saint Gregory’s and the Sub Tuum. Contributors were Carlos Adina, Joshua Berhardt, Jonathan Bombardiere, Bryan Browne, William Cosis, Leo Degeling, Isla Foster, Archie Keenan, Charlie Keenan, Oliver Keenan, Willow Keenan, Angus Limbrey, Mr Benedict Limbrey, Joseph Limbrey, Leo Malaesilia, Mr Bernard Malone, Andrew Parkin, Ms Terezija Quinn, Alexandar Risteski, Tessa Sabu Mandapam, Old Boy Sergi, Ms Kathryn Wray, Gabriel Yousseph and Michael Yousseph.

It was then time for Mr Lee MacMaster to give his address and announce the College Student Leaders for 2022. Mr MacMaster spoke of Gregory’s work taking place at a time of crisis in the Church - not long after the Plague had caused famine, panic, and sometimes rioting throughout Italy. Gregory’s job was not to sit back and ponder how difficult it was, but to become active, a man of service.

With this in mind, we congratulate the Student Leaders of 2021 for their commitment, good humour, service and adaptability. We congratulate these fine young men and those who are about to begin their time as leaders of service. We look forward to working with them in upholding tradition while moving forward to make St Gregory’s College an even better place of spirituality, community and learning.