Principal's Message

Mass of the Holy Spirit and Golden Heritage Club

Schools, by their very nature, tend to host many and varied assemblies, presentations and events. In the last week, two very significant College events, centred around the celebration of the Eucharist, have clearly pointed to our identity as a Catholic school and highlighted the aspirations we have for our boys both at school and well beyond.

Last Friday, our entire College gathered for the Mass of the Holy Spirit – our Opening Mass for this academic year. The boys deserve much praise for the way they presented on the morning and for their reverent participation throughout our celebration. It was also lovely to welcome the many parents who joined the students and staff for our Eucharist celebration.

It says much about our place as a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition that we begin our academic year in communion, sharing the Eucharist and praying for God’s blessing on our endeavours. It demonstrates great strength and potential in our unity as a College Community whereby we can share in our commitment to live out Gospel values and seek the best for the students in our care. As part of his Homily, Fra Oscar challenged the boys to appreciate the gift of opportunity available to them and to deepen their appreciation of the Holy Spirit by likening it to the many forms of love and guidance that they experience in their own lives.

As part of our opening Mass, we had the very special honour of formally Commissioning our new Staff. The ceremony allowed Staff members new to the College, and those who joined our community during the past year, to receive a blessing and be presented with a candle symbolising their important role as models and mentors, of ‘lighting the way’ for our students. Our assembly then joined in prayer seeking the Holy Spirit to gift all staff and all students; a passion for learning, a heart for engagement, the wisdom of accountability and a commitment to Christian discipleship. 

Then, earlier this week, our senior Year 12 Class were joined for Mass by members of the Golden Heritage Club. Membership to this very special club is offered to those former Trinity students who are a minimum of fifty years post their own graduation from the College. This year, first year members from the Class of ’73 were welcomed by a large number of Golden Heritage members from as far back as the Class of ’48. What an incredibly humble, generous and inspirational group of men they are, and they took great delight and felt it a ‘special honour’ to join our Senior Class in the celebration of the Eucharist.

Their presence meant that our senior boys were provided with a very real example of the importance of staying connected to each other; and to your school. The bonds of mateship and strength of brotherhood was so wonderfully displayed by our special guests. Our own boys were challenged to appreciate the legacy that has been gifted them and the wonderful privilege and responsibility they have to both honour and build upon such a foundation. Further to this, some of Year 12 students were able to join our guests for morning tea where they certainly enjoyed tales from the school days past. Most importantly, they were able to hear the great wisdom that emerges from the life experiences of such special Men for Others.

Live Jesus in our hearts.