“Let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24-25
Dear families and friends of St Edmund’s College,
Whilst I was in our Reception area last week, I was quite surprised and disappointed at the number of students who were making a beeline to the front office to collect a face mask. Boys were coming straight off the bus and into the office to collect the mask for the day – this was their first option for a face mask and it has been happening every day. I remind our community that it is not the responsibility of the College to supply face masks to our students and it is unsustainable for us to supply masks every day to large numbers of our student population. This is a family responsibility. We will supply masks in the case of loss or damage during the day at the cost of $1 each, with these funds going towards our annual fundraising for Caritas. I would ask our families to please ensure that all students (from Years 7 – 12) are leaving home with a face mask and at least have a spare face mask with them.
A reminder that the new optional winter uniform items (puffer jacket and new style beanie) are now able to be ordered online through our uniform suppliers, Ranier Schoolwear. Images of these were included in last week’s Vortex. Our students had an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the items when they were shown some samples last year, so I anticipate that the items will be very popular. I encourage you to go online early and order these items ready for our winter uniform season (beginning Term 2).
College Advisory Council News
I would like to congratulate the Chair of the College Advisory Council, Nichole Overall, for her successful campaign in the recent Monaro by-election (NSW). It looks like Nichole is the winning candidate and will represent Monaro on behalf of the Nationals. There will be a formal announcement regarding this as the results are formalised.
The end of last year saw the completion of tenure for two of our long serving Advisory Council members, Christa Gordon and Steve Buckman. I sincerely thank Christa and Steve for their time as Council members and their dedication in always wanting the best for St Edmund’s and its community.
We welcome three new Advisory Council members this year and look forward to the wide array of experience, expertise, contributions and perceptions they bring to the College:
Julie Fitzgerald
Julie has more than twenty-five years’ experience in senior finance and administration leadership roles, including the last thirteen years as a business manager of a large non-government school. She holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), is an invited member of the Golden Key Honor Society and a member of the Association of School Business Administrators.
Sarah Kelly
Sarah has been on the Committee of Karinya House since 2004, serving as Vice President and now President for the past 8 years. Sarah has vast experience, knowledge and connections of various charities and the philanthropic sector. She is also Director of My Fashion Empire (Australia) Pty Ltd as has held a number of government related positions. Sarah currently has two sons attending the College.
Craig Wagstaff
Craig is an old boy (Class of 1993) and is currently the General Manager of Canberra FM Radio. Craig has held a number of significant positions including director level, general management, leadership, financial stewardship, regulatory compliance, strategy and marketing/communications which have seen him work in Australia, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates with further project work in Indonesia, China and India.
We will be advertising within our College community very soon for a further two members to join the College Advisory Council.
Gospel Reflection
Luke 6:17, 20-26
Most of us would be very familiar with the Matthew’s account of Jesus’ sermon where he presents the beatitudes or blessings. Last Sunday’s Gospel reading gives us Luke’s version of the same sermon. Luke’s account is much shorter and his perception is that Jesus was directing his sermon at the apostles, rather than the assembled crowd:
“How blessed are you who are poor: the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are hungry now: you shall have your fill. Blessed are you who are weeping now: you shall laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of man”.
Of course, Jesus here is not celebrating or advocating poverty, hunger, misery and persecution. Rather he is highlighting the focus we should have in life – if we are “poor”, then we are not focusing on the material side of life; if we are “hungry” then we are not focusing on instant gratification; if we are “weeping”, then we are not focusing on ourselves but on the plight of others; if we have people “hating” us, then we would hope that we are fighting the good cause and being countercultural in what we do and what we stand for. On another level, and a little closer to home within the context of our 2022 scriptural theme, we see Jesus almost providing a list of those for whom we should demonstrate “love and good works”. It is clear that he is instructing us to look to those who are lacking the essentials to get through their daily lives, whether this be in a material sense (food, shelter, money, support) or a spiritual sense, and to those who are persecuted for what they do and who they are. This was the path taken by Blessed Edmund Rice in his work for the poor and uneducated youth of Waterford, and this is the path we need to look to in fulfilling our role as good citizens and as members of a Catholic school community.
St Edmund’s College Prayer
Dear Lord,
Grant that we may live each day to the full, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Let us cast away all worries and concerns into your Divine care.
Christus Lux Mea
Give us strength to confront all challenges that we face with hope and faith.
Let our community seek truth in all that we search for.
Christus Lux Mea
Let us stand for others always giving generously without counting the cost.
Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever
Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea