From the Principal

Last Thursday we celebrated St Patrick’s Day with Mass before school, a short liturgy during Homeroom and some traditional Irish song and dance at recess.  As the Patron Saint of Ireland, St Patrick is significant to our College due to our Irish foundations.

History tells us that at the age of sixteen Patrick was taken captive and sold into slavery in Ireland. After six years working as a herdsman he escaped and eventually became a priest. He was made a bishop of Ireland and is remembered throughout the world as a great preacher and missionary of the Christian faith.

The story of St Patrick reminds us of those today who are still being taken captive and sold as slaves into domestic servitude, sexual exploitation or other forms of modern-day slavery. Advocating for and supporting those suffering injustice today is core to our Mission and values as a Catholic school community.  

We are currently raising funds for Caritas, through our Easter Egg raffles, to support their work to eradicate poverty and injustice. Their need for our support is even higher at present as they provide support to the people in the Ukraine in the form of food security; water, sanitation and hygiene; shelter, health care outreach and education support. 

All students and families can support our fundraising efforts for Caritas by donating Fairtrade Easter Eggs for the raffle and purchasing raffle tickets. Purchasing Fairtrade chocolate, is of course, another way in which we can advocate for and support just practices.

Yesterday our Year 7 students returned from their three-day camp on the Mornington Peninsula. For some this was their first school camp having missed out on their camp/s at primary school due to COVID-19. It was wonderful to hear from both students and staff how much fun was had on the camp, while strengthening connections within the year level! 

It has also been great to see students taking up the opportunity to participate in our Science and English extension programs that commenced recently, being held after school once a fortnight. As I visited the groups this week, they were very keenly participating and excited by the opportunity to extend themselves in an area of interest.

Our Swimming and Diving Squad have been training before school two mornings per week this term in preparation for the Secondary Catholic Sports Association (SCSA) carnival at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre tonight.  We hope all students and staff involved enjoy the carnival and that their training efforts lead to great results.

The Prayer of St Patrick

As I arise today,

may the strength of God pilot me,

the power of God uphold me,

the wisdom of God guide me.

May the eye of God look before me,

the ear of God hear me,

the word of God speak for me.

May the hand of God protect me,

the way of God lie before me,

the shield of God defend me,

the host of God save me.

May Christ shield me today.

Christ with me, Christ before me,

Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me,

Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit,

Christ when I stand,

Christ in the heart of everyone 

who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone 

who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

Amen

We Pray For

We ask for your prayers for members of our community and their families who have recently lost loved ones:

Merv Brady

Father of Kylie Carroll (Staff) and 

Grandfather of Erin Carroll (Year 12)

We pray that our loving God hold him gently in the palm of His hand.

Nicole Mangelsdorf

Principal