Catholic Identity & Mission News

As we approach the halfway mark of the year, we finish Term 2 with the great celebration of St Peter’s Day.  Peter, the humble fisherman and apostle of  Jesus, made such an impact on others that nearly 2000 years later, we remember and celebrate him. What a life he lived! Our celebrations will commence with Mass on each campus, joining together in the Eucharist to give thanks for St Peter and his example, one we aim to imitate here at the College.  He was enthusiastic, fearless and resilient. In our First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter is imprisoned but through God’s intervention, he walks free. Like many of us, at first Peter experiences doubt and hesitation when faced with God’s invitation to be free, it seems too good to be true! It is these human emotions of Peter which make him such a relatable saint, one that staff and students alike are invited to connect to on St Peter’s Day.  It’s not that we want to be doubtful and hesitant, but they are often part of the human condition and so we counter them in our school motto of ‘Be Not Afraid’.  These ideas of ‘freedom’ and ‘fearlessness’ are two attitudes we hope to instil in our students and graduates. Too often, society’s (and our own) expectations and pressures can weigh us down. We are all gifted one precious life and it is remarkable that Peter’s one life had such an impact. But in our own ways, we are well on the way to having an impact on others especially if we feel free to be ourselves and to give things a go. During this week, our students have experienced various workshops, ‘Try a VET’ activities, received exam feedback and have started a new semester of learning. It’s their chance to start again –learn from and build on past efforts – and work to improve as best they can. We learn from St Peter that with hope and courage, and with God, all things are possible. So as we celebrate St Peter’s Day, let us also celebrate this great lesson from the life of our Patron! 

Fiona McKenna

Deputy Principal - Catholic Identity & Mission