Principal Reflections

PRINCIPAL REFLECTIONS

           A message from Dr Jake

Dear Parents & Friends,

“Remember way back when….” Are the opening lines to many a nostalgic review of history when perhaps this Irish piece of humour had some relevance: 

“An airman had to bale out and landed battered and bruised in a field just outside Belfast. A crowd gathered round and one of them said to the airman, ‘What happened?’ He said, ‘My parachute wouldn’t open.’ The Irishman replied, ‘Ye should have known. Nothing opens here on a Sunday.’

There was a time when nothing opened on Sunday and Sunday was a day of rest. Sunday usually offered a hot roast, desserts and cakes not to be seen on any other day of the week. Somehow, parents organised their children into their best clothes and walked a kilometre or two to their parish church to attend Mass. Altar servers were in abundance and most families dropped a small coin in the Poor Box.

What happened on Sunday wasn’t the sum total of the Catholic ritual. Homes had at least one religious object on display, either in the form of a picture of Mary or the Sacred Heart, or a favourite saint or a crucifix. Family members had their own rosary beads; medals and scapulars were worn and family prayer was shared. Children took small change to school for the Missions and a Columbian calendar was hung in the kitchen. Religious practice seemed fairly much to be a part of everyday life.

So what has happened to that rich Catholic tradition? What’s replaced it? Have we become so busy with the ‘human’ side of life that we no longer have time for the Spiritual? 

Way back in the 4th Century St Basil made this observation of the Christian people of his time: “While we try to amass wealth, make piles of money, get hold of property, overtop one another in riches, we have palpably cast off justice and lost the common good.”

Round about the same time St. Augustine shook the establishment with this statement: “If you wish to love your neighbour as yourself, divide your money with him.”

Sixteen centuries later these are rather challenging statements for people who call themselves Christian and send their children to Catholic schools. 

Families strive to provide the best opportunities for their children and their choice in schooling is important. Our teachers strive to provide the best learning opportunities for our students. The impact of such commitment has seen our school results continually growing as the various learning initiatives are implemented across our school. 

No wonder we are one of the top 8 non government primary schools in Australia. 

Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us as we are only too happy to help.

Peace & Best Wishes

Dr Jake Madden

(Principal, St Edward's Primary School)