Faith, Justice and Formation 

SOL Service Follow Up

I commend boys from Year 5 to Year 10 who authentically engaged with SOL Service this year. As a relatively new program in the College and with restrictions due to the pandemic, it is taking some time for people to settle into the program. Nonetheless, lots of boys did some brilliant stuff! Well done.

On the flip side, it was evident to me as I checked the recording in the College Diary that many have not engaged well with the program which is disappointing. Service and action are a large part of who we are as Edmund Rice people. It should never be unpopular to be community minded or to be willing to serve. It is necessary and something many of us may need from others one day. It often comes down to discussions at home as well as at school. A lot of concessions were made this year because of the difficulties during the pandemic, making it easier for people to simply take some time out of their lives to help others. When we are back to normal, hopefully next year, there will be very clear guidelines about what is acceptable. Much of this will be different to what I have accepted this year. It is not intended to be a ‘tick a box’ exercise (though clear guidelines and consequences are important in boys’ education), but an initiative to grow selflessness in an increasingly self-centered world.

We want our young men to be other person centered, and to have integrity in the process. It is a part of what all parents/carers signed up for when enrolling their son/s to come to St Patrick’s College. Sadly, while checking the boys’ service, it became evident to me that many points were fabricated, and that many parents/carers either didn’t sign off their son’s points indicating a lack of interest, or they helped their son’s fudge some of their service. It has been explained on all possible occasions that this program relies on integrity – what you do when nobody is watching. What are the lessons we are teaching the boys if we do not model this? There will be consequences for those who did not engage with the program or who blatantly lied in their recording; not what is really desired but necessary to ensure it does not continue. All the SOL Service program and the follow up of it is part of the journey we take to develop the quality young men we are well known for. This is what we want of our ideal graduates. This is what we need you to trust us with and work with us on.

It is hoped that a shared goal of all parents/carers and the College is to fulfill our Mission - Inspired by the Gospel and Edmund Rice, St Patrick’s College liberates the whole person and educates for resilient and spirited men who are challenged to serve. I/we see and admire those young men who humbly work for the other in small and large ways. Hope is not lost. There is still room for others to join the ranks.

Gillian Daley

Director of Identity