To the community of St Edmund’s College,
Last Sunday’s Gospel reading was the well-known account of Jesus feeding the five thousand – or the loaves and fishes story. The symbolism behind this account is quite significant. Once Jesus has blessed what he is to give out to the crowds, it multiplies. It not only becomes many times over the amount he started with, but even the leftovers are there in abundance to be gathered. We can consider this to be a metaphor for the nature of the kingdom of God, and we see this concept reflected in many other accounts in the New Testament (for example in the parable of the mustard seed). We often take for granted those things with which we are blessed – our families, our health, our education, our work and so on. If we were to take those things with which are blessed and share them with those around us, the fruits of this would be abundant. It is unfortunate that as a large society we are not in a position where we have the skills to do this effectively at the moment. How do we take what we are blessed with and share it in a tangible way with those around us? How do we multiply our blessings? How do we take something that only we have and turn it into something of abundance for others?
On one hand we would not really say that Edmund Rice had a blessed life. His wife Mary died a few years after their marriage, and his daughter (also named Mary) was born with several challenges and difficulties. But he did see himself as blessed, and he used his successful business and strong faith to lead a community of brothers who would start a revolution in educating the poor and marginalised of Waterford, Ireland. Edmund Rice took his few blessings and turned them into an abundance of love and opportunities for others. We turn to Edmund Rice as a wonderful model of how the Biblical experience of the loaves and fishes can be animated in a real and genuine manner.
Merciful God we praise you for your unfailing love.
We praise you for feeding our hunger for bread and for “the bread of life.”
We praise you for taking our little basket of fish and loaves and using it to feed others.
Lord we ask you for your care and healing touch for those who are sick.
We ask for your compassion on those who are suffering in our world.
We ask for your comfort for those who are grieving.
We thank you for your daily tender mercies.
We thank you for your daily love.
We thank you for your daily grace.
We call upon you Lord to empower us
as we declare who you are to a world who needs you.
We call upon you Lord to inspire us
as we seek to inspire others.
We call upon you Lord to strengthen us
in our own weakness.
We ask all this in your Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our Hearts, forever.
Pathways
Over the past few weeks the College has scheduled a series of events to guide students and parents through their transition from one stage of schooling to another. Last Thursday evening we had a very successful Information Night for our current Year 10 group going into Year 11 next year. Much was said about the various pathways available. Here at St Edmund’s we view all pathways as valid and substantial. Being a school in the Edmund Rice Tradition which values inclusiveness and liberating education, we value a vocational pathway just as much as a tertiary pathway. We perceive every student to be a unique individual with a future that will be completely his own. We support all of our students regardless of the pathway they have chosen and encourage them to do their very best in these pathways. Last Monday evening we had a Careers Information Night for Years 10, 11 and 12, with students and parents being able to meet with people from a number of trades and professions to explore options available to them. I was most encouraged to discover that many of the representatives at this event were in fact old boys who were keen on assisting our present students with their career options. This was followed on Tuesday evening with a session for Year 12 students guiding them through their post-Year 12 options, focusing on applications for university, CIT, etc. It is imperative that as a school we provide our students with as much information as possible regarding their subject choices, career options and individual pathways both in and out of school. This allows our students and parents to make decisions with a sense of confidence and with sound background knowledge. My thanks to Ms Marianne Geoghegan (Director of Teaching and Learning), Ms Leigh Pirie (Careers Advisor & Acting VET Co-ordinator) and Mr Alex Hausen (recent VET Co-ordinator, now Acting Clancy Head of House) in sharing their expertise, knowledge and wisdom and these events.
Defence Transition Mentor
We are extremely fortunate to have Mr Ian Harvey step into the important role of Defence Transition Mentor. Mr Harvey will bring a wealth of experience and wisdom to this role. I would encourage all of our defence families to make contact with Mr Harvey and commence regular communication with him so that our defence students are supported in the best way possible.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Angus Jones (Year 10, O’Brien) who will be competing in the NSW team at the Australian National Karate Championships in Queensland in early August. Angus will also be competing for Australia at the Pacific Cup Karate Championships in early October. Angus has also been invited to attend a Dragon Boat selection camp in Queensland in early September. At this camp, selections will be made for competitors to represent Australia in Dragon Boating in Thailand in 2019.
Rugby Old Boys Round
Saturday 4 August sees Round 9 of the Rugby competition – this is a gala day with most of our matches against Marist College Canberra here at St Edmund’s. I would encourage as many parents, old boys and current students (who do not have any co-curricular commitments at that time) to be a part of this day. This annual fixture culminates in the Heritage Game (the First XV match at 3pm), where the First XV play with heritage-style jerseys as an acknowledgement and celebration of the many students who have passed through St Edmund’s College. The Second and Third XV will also play Marist on Owens Oval prior to the First XV game. It would be wonderful to see the Moloney Grandstand full of parents, old boys and current students (in school uniform) to support our teams and encourage Eddies pride on this significant round.
Old Boys News
I have spoken to the Old Boys and Friends Committee about scheduling an annual Old Boys Mass here at the College commencing this year. This will be an ideal opportunity for old boys from all years to return to the College, celebrate Mass and then get together at various venues nearby to remember their time at the College. We will inform you soon of the scheduled date for the 2018 Old Boys Mass. From 2019 onwards, the Old Boys Mass will probably be scheduled for the day of the Rugby Old Boys Round, making this day a true reunion day for many of our old boys.
Christus Lux Mea
Joe Zavone (Principal)