Mission and Identity

Welcome back to the new school year.

It has been a testing and often tragic summer for us as a nation, with the bushfire crisis and now floods causing death and destruction on a scale that is sometimes unimaginable. Many of us would know people affected, or at least be familiar with the areas that are impacted; my mother’s family is from Bairnsdale in East Gippsland, where we spent many a school holiday, so the images from those fires became somewhat personal. It didn’t take long for the blame game to get into full swing, which thankfully was taken over by the gratitude and praise directed towards the firefighters who so bravely risked their lives to save others.

Then, attention was shifted to the way in which people from here and right around the world banded together to support those most affected by the fires. It is when we are at our finest; looking out for those who are most in need. It is not just an Australian trait, as people from lots of countries react similarly in times of disaster. Nor is it confined to a particular religion, as I’m sure a number of you would have seen various Hindu and Muslim community groups journey to the fire-zones to supply free meals and supplies. But it does remind us as Christians that Jesus was pretty big on making sure that those who have nothing are given what they need, and that true happiness comes when we do things for others that can never be repaid.

If there was a silver lining on the summer, it gave an excuse for the greatest cricketers of a generation to come together last Sunday for one more game. Tell me you didn’t enjoy seeing Ricky Ponting and Brian Lara wield the willow once again, or Brett Lee steaming in off a long run. By the way, as a former teacher of Luke Hodge, I can tell you that, despite what he says, he was a more than handy cricketer as young bloke. Now, when is that All Star footy game happening…….?

On matters closer to home, next Friday is our College Opening Mass, which will be at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Last year some of our students thought it was very nice of St. Mary’s school to allow us to use their church, but just a reminder that the Cathedral is the peoples church, and belongs to all of us in the Archdiocese of Hobart. It is also a great building to visit and explore, so I am sure the students will enjoy our visit there.

Anthony Chapman

Director of Mission and Identity