Mission Report

by Director of Mission, Mr Geoff Brodie

Last Friday our Year 12 students gathered for a retreat to start the year. Led by Mr Steve Lawrence, our young men were invited to consider human fulfilment, the facing of challenges, and the joy of living from within friendship with Jesus. For a Catholic school it offers a unique wisdom to the world that is prior to and informs our adventures in all the dimensions of education. This wisdom is that friendship with Jesus schools us in the love essential for us to know the truth, choose the good, and have the courage to live a beautiful life. As a school in the Edmund Rice tradition, we propose this wisdom manifests in the Touchstones: Gospel Spirituality, Liberating Education, Justice and Solidarity and Inclusive Community.

Steve Lawrence drew on Catholic wisdom to offer the powerful image of the resurrected Jesus still bearing the wounds of his crucifixion. Though Jesus has passed through death into the mystery of eternal life, his resurrected body still witnessed the drama of his life. As we enter 2021 with much hope and joy, we do not forget how 2020 challenged us, and what many people continue to confront. We look forward to a year offering the long-standing opportunities of the school year.

We welcome our new students and families for this year with the words of the Gospel proclaimed at the Mass offered during the Year 12 retreat:

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘Do not worry; do not say, “What are we to eat? What are we to drink? How are we to be clothed?” It is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’ (Mt 6:31-34)