To the community of St Edmund’s College,
Last week I wrote about the community of St Edmund’s being a Gospel community, defining who we are and what we do and say. I explained that as members of a Gospel community, we have a responsibility to ensure that Gospel values are more than just words and messages here at St Edmund’s College – they must be animated and lived out every day with everyone around us. By coincidence, this happened to be the focus of a presentation I attended last Friday at the Catholic Leaders Formation Symposium, held at the Cathedral offices in Manuka. Professor Br David Hall is a former Catholic school principal and is currently the Dean of La Salle Academy for Faith Formation & Religious Education at the Australian Catholic University. David quite rightly made the point that even people with no religious affiliation or spiritual beliefs can display Gospel values in their everyday lives and relationships – their display of service, courage, justice, hope, love, reconciliation and community can be just as strong and deep as any devout Christian. Br David asked the question – what makes Gospel values different for us as Christians?
The answer, of course, lies in our relationship with Jesus Christ. We demonstrate the truth of the Gospel when we see all of life as worship, stewardship, discipleship and faith. We view all of creation as belonging to God and we place our efforts into caring for this creation. We view all people as children of God and as our brothers and sisters, and we work to deepen our relationship with Christ through our relationship with other people. Pope Francis has said the Gospel is not an idea or a philosophy but a living relationship with Jesus Christ, “Without Jesus there is no Church.” Pope Francis reminds us that “Christ calls everyone to go out, to encounter others; he sends us, asks us to move in order to bring the joy of the Gospel.” It is our relationship with Christ and our relationship with his creation that leads us to serve God and his people in the way that we do – through the active, relational living out of Gospel values.
The Eucharist gives us a regular sacramental and sacred opportunity to deepen our relationship with Jesus. We meet God in the mysterious and dramatic sacrament of Eucharist as God gives himself to us, and we try to shape our lives into a loving gift for God. This is the challenge for all of us as members of the Gospel community of St Edmund’s College.
As we go about our day O God,
As we strive to walk with Jesus as people of love,
Remind us that we are the face of Christ,
Who is with us always.
May your grace, mercy and peace,
Bless us, keep us and transform us all,
This day, now and forever.
Amen
Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our Hearts, forever.
Many thanks to Mr Fred Zarb and Mr Angus Watson who led a group of Year 11 & 12 students in the construction of a greenhouse for the residents of HOME in Queanbeyan last Friday. HOME is a place for men and women with mental illness who cannot live independently or may be at risk of homelessness. I am sure the greenhouse will bring much joy and many further opportunities for the residents. This is a clear example of being in real community with those around us.
Three of our Year 12 leaders were recently interviewed for an article in the Sunday Canberra Times regarding the lowering of the voting age. Many thanks to Noah Wright, Zane Hogan and Matt Winchester for participating in this article and for sharing their perceptions and wisdom. The article can be found here:
Gifted Learning Information Evening: The Students’ Perspective
This coming Thursday 23 August, we are holding a night of discussion where students share their experiences of the gifted learning opportunities at St Edmund’s College. This will commence at 5:30pm in the Br RJ Wallace Hall.
Whilst members of our own community might be aware of this event, I would encourage you to please inform others outside of our community who may have an interest in an event like this and invite them to join us for the evening. At St Edmund’s College we offer very flexible timetable arrangements for gifted students – arrangements which most other schools in Canberra do not take into consideration at all. More information and registration details can be obtained from this link: https://sec.act.edu.au/gifted-evening/
During this informal evening, our students, parents and teachers will discuss what it is like to be gifted, the importance of individualised education and the nuances of raising a gifted child. This will be done through a student panel discussion with a Q&A session. Areas of focus will include subject, year and radical acceleration including the impact of mentoring, enrichment and extension within an age appropriate classroom. Hear also from parents of gifted students, and their teachers who are supporting them on this unique learning journey.
Years 7 – 12 Father’s Day Mass, Thursday 30 August
Please note that our regular scheduled morning Mass on Thursday 30 August will be our Father’s Day Mass for the fathers, grandfathers, significant male role models and students in our high school (Years 7 to 12). I encourage as many high school students, fathers, grandfathers and significant male role models as possible to attend the Years 7 – 12 Father’s Day Mass at 8.20 am on Thursday 30 August.
For further details and to register please see the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/fathers-day-mass-years-7-12-tickets-49159741109
The Junior School will have its own Father’s Day Mass the following day (Friday 31 August) – details for this event have already been distributed to students of the Junior School.
Important Upcoming Dates
Old Boys’ Mass
At this stage, we are planning to hold our inaugural Old Boys’ Mass on Saturday 27 October. This will be a mid-morning event in our Chapel with a light lunch provided at a nearby venue. Please save the date – we will be providing specific details very shortly.
Old Boys & Friends 2018 Golf Day
The Old Boys & Friends Association are once again holding a Golf Day on Friday 16 November at Queanbeyan Golf Club. Tee-off will be at 3.00pm, there will be a BBQ lunch available from 2.00pm. Presentation of prizes and an opportunity to catch up in the clubhouse from about 5.00pm. I would encourage as many parents and friends of the College to attend this day and enjoy the spirit and friendship of the Eddies community. For further details and to register please visit https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/old-boys-and-friends-association-annual-golf-day-tickets-49162098159
Christus Lux Mea
Joe Zavone (Principal)