“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,
There was some great spirit in the air last week and especially on the weekend as many of our sporting teams entered their semi-final and grand final games. At the time of writing this article not all details were available regarding the Rugby Union grand finals, but we were all buoyed by the fact that we had 12 of our 16 teams in grand final games. A special congratulations to our senior teams, the Second and First XV, for their wins on Sunday. We will have a summary of all weekend Rugby grand final details on our social media platforms over the next few days.
Our First XI Football team is off to their grand final game this coming Saturday, and no doubt we will have several of our basketball teams moving towards their grand final games in the coming days.
Last Friday we held an informal whole school assembly to remind our boys about appropriate behaviour and sportsmanship. I must say that I was very proud of our student spectators on Sunday. They demonstrated a very high level of sportsmanship in terms of their reactions to the opposing teams, and I received extremely positive feedback from several parents and members of the wider Rugby community saying the same thing.
A few years ago Pope Francis wrote that “To give the best of oneself in sports is also a call to aspire to holiness”. He explained that sports can be a great instrument of formation and sanctification, especially for young people. To be good at a sport takes commitment, something often lacking in a throwaway culture and a culture of instant gratification. “The Christian life resembles a marathon rather than a short sprint,” the document explains. “Sport helps us in this regard by teaching that it is worth embracing long-term challenges.” Good sportsmanship acknowledges the skills and talents demonstrated by players from both teams, as well as acknowledging the long-term time and on-going effort of the players ands coaches. A victory without good sportsmanship is a hollow victory, if a victory at all. We will always work hard here at St Edmund’s to put the positive culture of sport and the many values and qualities associated with this well and truly above the perception that the final prize is the win and nothing else.
Many thanks to the fathers and father figures who attended our Father’s Day Mass last Friday. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel was bursting at the seams and we will need to have this event at a larger venue next year. We are embarking on a program here at the College to partner with our community of fathers to focus on their work in enhancing positive relationships. Currently we have two Father-Son weekends every year held at Tuross. This semester’s weekend is booked out and I would encourage anyone interested in this program to talk to Mr David Kelly or Mr Michael Monagle to discuss the nature of the program and the timing for next year. We are also participating in a program called The Fathering Project, which is an evidence-based organisation that aims to promote positive fathering behaviours and fathers’ engagement with their children. The Fathering Project recognises that fathers, and father figures, play a vital role in children’s lives. The evidence demonstrating fathers’ potential to positively influence their children’s health and mental health, social success and academic achievements is now robust, indisputable, and compelling. See https://thefatheringproject.org/about-us/ for further information about the program. We will keep you informed of the programs and resources that emerge from our participation in The Fathering Project.
Some great fun and good learning was had by students in Mr O’Rourke’s Year 6 class least week. I was kindly invited to view their Science projects based on energy, and what I saw was truly a festival of imagination, knowledge and entertainment. Students developed their own drones, cars, lifting-equipment and even a poker machine! Thanks to Mr O’Rourke and his students for this wonderful event.
Acknowledgements
- Congratulations to Tom Wragge (Year 8, Mulrooney) for receiving a sports award from local politician Andrew Leigh (Member for Fenner). Tom was presented with a Local Sporting Champion Award in recognition of his achievements representing the ACT and Baseball Canberra at the 2022 Australian Junior League Championships (Adelaide) and previously at the 2021 Australian Little League Championships (Lismore).
- Congratulations to Phillip MacNamara (Year 6, Mulrooney) for representing the ACT and St Edmund’s College at the School Sports National Swimming Championships in Brisbane a couple of weeks ago.
Prayer for Fathers
Loving God,
you entrusted your Son Jesus,
the child of Mary,
to the care of Joseph, an earthly father.
Bless all fathers and father figures
as they care for their loved ones.
Give them strength and wisdom,
tenderness and patience;
support them in the work they have to do,
protecting those who look to them,
as we look to you for love and salvation,
through Jesus Christ our rock and defender.
Amen.
Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever.
Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea