Assistant Principal - Religious Identity & Mission 

It has been a big week here at the College. On Tuesday we celebrated Shrove Tuesday where traditionally, we use up our perishables such as eggs, butter and milk before we enter Lent. The Year 10 Service Leaders, Oliver, Ryan, Lochie and Alex cooked up a storm, making over 200 pancakes which were quickly snapped up by the students. The money raised from the sale of the pancakes and ice-cream will go towards our Caritas fundraising, which will be launched next week. 

Ash Wednesday is one of the most important days in our liturgical calendar and takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting, which includes the wearing of ashes on the forehead. The ashes symbolise the dust from which God made us and everyone is welcome to receive the ashes. During Period 5 on Wednesday, all the students in the senior college attended a liturgy presided over by Father Suresh, where they received their ashes. 

New Beginnings

During Week 1 and 2 the Year 7 students went through the Spiritual Journey as part of their New Beginnings program. For many, this was their first visit to St Mary’s Cathedral and St Bernard’s Parish church. I’d like to commend all the Year 7s for their behaviour and engagement with the program and particularly the respect they showed to Father Leonard, Father Suresh and Sister Monica who led certain components of the Spiritual Journey. 

Year 11 Retreat

As part of the college’s commitment to the faith development of our young men, all Year 11 students will be attending a retreat next Wednesday, March 1 at the New Town Bay Rowing Centre. The retreat will be focusing on Servant Leadership, facilitated by an outside presenter, Dave Jorna. The students will be examining their own personal code, looking at knowing who they are, what they value and what they believe in. Knowing this helps you live a fuller life whilst making a greater difference for others. They will then go on to explore the lasting and powerful impact and influence they can have on others around them by acts of service. Dave Jorna is an engaging presenter and I believe the students will come away from the day with a renewed perspective.