Principal
Student Leadership at SPC: The Challenge to Love
It was wonderful to see all the boys returning to school this week.
We took the opportunity to induct our Year 11 cohort into their roles of College leaders Year 12 (2022) in our famous Black Tie Ceremony.
The Black Tie and XII badge are outward symbols to the St Patrick’s College Community and the outside world that these boys are our school leaders. In the ceremony, we reflected on the letter St Paul wrote to the Corinthians about LOVE.
This well-recognised and much-loved passage from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is probably among the most often misunderstood and misused Christian Scriptures. Found in greeting cards or read at weddings, this passage has become associated with a noble and sincere love between a man and a woman. This description of the way of love is intended to capture a couple’s heart and thus lead them toward lifelong commitment.
But did you know that Paul probably never considered a marriage ceremony or vow when he penned these words? Understanding the use of the Greek word agape (ah-GAH-pey), which is the word Paul uses for love in this passage and appreciating the context in which one was to love are essential to understanding Paul’s intent. It is critical to understand how the apostle Paul understood the word ‘love’ in order to appreciate the true essence of this passage.
St Paul’s relationship to the Corinthian Christians is a complicated one. His first encounter with the Corinthians came as he first brought the gospel to them. He spent about a year and half in Corinth (an ancient Greek city), establishing the church there. When he felt like this work of establishing the church was done, Paul left the city and continued his missionary journey. It was about a year and half later that Paul wrote a letter to the Corinthians. We don’t have this letter, but we know about it because Paul mentions it in chapter five of the letter we call 1 Corinthians. He wrote in response to news that the church in Corinth was struggling spiritually. There were some serious problems with how they lived their lives.
Love (agape) in this piece of scripture has a single meaning, which is defined as ‘putting the needs of others ahead of one’s own.’ It was at the heart of the Christian experience; it shaped the Christians’ understanding of God’s own character, and it was the chief expression one Christian would use toward a fellow believer and the world. In Paul’s description of love, he leaves no room for it to be anything less than attending to the needs of others.
The gifts of the Spirit, as useful as they were for the gathered community, are meaningless when performed for personal glory or selfish ambition. St Paul’s description of the character of love begins by his mentioning two positive attributes: patience and kindness. He follows that by contrasting love to negative attributes. St Paul makes it clear that love begins when someone else’s need supersedes one’s own. That is why it is such a perfect reading for today as you evolve from the eager faced boys who entered here in 2015 to the young men who will lead the College in 2022. You have grown. You have matured. You are ready. It will not always be easy. But I have very high expectations of each and every one of you.
As leaders of the College, Year 12 is called upon to think before they act; to do nothing out of selfish motivation but instead humbly consider others before themselves.
Love Is Patient
This kind of patient love bears with offenses and is slow to repay or punish those who offend. However, it does not imply indifference, which would ignore an offense. Patient love is often used to describe it.
Love Is Kind
Kindness is similar to patience but refers to how we treat others. It especially implies a love that reacts with goodness towards those who have been ill-treated. This kind of love may take the form of a gentle rebuke when careful discipline is needed.
Love Does Not Envy
This kind of love appreciates and rejoices when others are blessed with good things and does not allow jealousy and resentment to take root. This love is not displeased when others experience success.
Love Does Not Boast
The word ‘boast’ here means ‘bragging without foundation’. This kind of love does not exalt itself over others. It recognises that our achievements are not based on our own abilities or worthiness.
Love Is Not Proud
This love is not overly self-confident or insubordinate to God and others. It is not characterised by a sense of self-importance or arrogance.
Love Is Not Rude
This kind of love cares about others, their customs, likes, and dislikes. It is about inclusivity, one of our touchstones. It respects the feelings and concerns of others even when they are different from our own. It would never act dishonourably or disgrace another person.
Love Is Not Self-Seeking
This kind of love puts the good of others before our own good. It places God first in our lives, above our own ambitions. This love does not insist on getting its own way.
Love Is Not Easily Angered
Like the characteristic of patience, this kind of love does not rush toward anger when others do us wrong. This love does not hold a selfish concern for one's own rights.
Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs
This kind of love offers forgiveness, even when offenses are repeated many times. It is a love that doesn't keep track of every wrong thing that people do and hold it against them.
Love Always Protects
This kind of love will always expose the sin of others in a safe way that won't bring harm, shame, or damage, but will restore and protect.
Love Always Trusts
This love gives others the benefit of the doubt, sees the best in others, and trusts in their good intentions.
Love Always Hopes
This kind of love hopes for the best where others are concerned, knowing God is faithful to complete the work He started in us. This hope filled love encourages others to press forward in the faith.
Love Always Perseveres
This kind of love endures even through the most difficult trials.
Love Never Fails
This kind of love goes beyond the boundaries of ordinary love. It is eternal, divine, and will never cease.
The Class of 2022 is challenged to ‘love’ all the boys at St Patrick’s and to put their needs above their own.
As Henry Ward Beecher once said; “Greatness lies not in being strong, but in the right use of strength”.
Year 12 (2022): Our challenge to you is to use your strength, authority, and position as the senior Year group to show your strength through gentleness.
Year 12 (2021) More Great news
I want to take the opportunity to share a great news story about Thomas Allsopp in Year 12. He has received an academic and athletic scholarship to Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan USA, starting 7 January 2022 to play rugby whilst studying for a Bachelor of Administration and Management majoring in Sports Administration. A wonderful personal achievement for Thomas and a terrific reflection on his family and school.
Staff News
We were delighted to hear news from Mr Ashton Brayshaw (Science Faculty) announcing the birth of his third child, a son, Benjamin Patrick David Brayshaw. Mother and son are doing well, and the baby is now at home with his siblings. He was born at 3.6kg and 51cm long.
We congratulate Mr Samuel Rowlings (PDHPE Faculty) on the arrival of his daughter Mila Eve Rowlings on 22 October, weighing 2.8kgs and measuring 50cms. Mum and bub doing well! And in his own words, “I’m very smitten”!
In Memoriam
Please keep in your prayers Mr Steven Fochesato (Director of Co-curricular) whose father, Peter Fochesato, passed away last week. He is survived by his wife Teresa, his two sons, Steven and Daniel, daughters-in-law and grandchildren. One of his daughters-in-law, Mrs Nikki Fochesato, is also a member of our College staff in Archives and Media Communications. We know that this is a tough time for both Mr and Mrs Fochesato so we will keep them in our thoughts and prayers.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace.
Amen.
Dr Vittoria Lavorato
Principal
SPC boys can do anything!
**except divide by zero