Mission Report

by Assistant Principal  -Mission and Identity, Mr Geoff Brodie

The Season of Easter ended last Sunday with the Celebration of Pentecost. As the Missal suggests

The coming of the Holy Spirit on the apostles at Pentecost marks the beginning of the time of the Church. Filled with the Spirit, the apostles preach in many languages symbolising the universal nature of the Church’s mission. All people, regardless of race or language, are welcome in Christ’s Church. Indeed, membership of the Church is not based on ethnic origin but on love, the greatest of the Spirit’s gifts. Everyone moved by love is a daughter or son of God.

Our teaching and learning at St Patrick’s College is motivated by the love that God has poured into our hearts. We continue every day in the great hope that education is a participation in God’s love and the renewal of creation. The Year 7 students have been experiencing a day of retreat this week. Through the deepening bonds of friendship that comes from spending a day together, we hope the question of God’s love will be recognised in the heart of each student.

This coming Sunday is the celebration of the Most Holy Trinity. Again, from the Missal,

The mystery of the blessed Trinity is too deep for us now. But gradually the Holy Spirit will lead us to the fullness of the truth of our God. Day by day we will grow in our sense of wonder that this God, who created the heavens and the earth, cares for us in an intimate, personal way. All we can do is cry out ‘Glory’ to the one God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

One important curriculum concept is “scope and sequence.” That is, what order of content is appropriate as student progress through the years, and how much detail should we enter into? The answer of course depends on the formative stage of the student – what is best for the student in the context of their flourishing life. It is no different with the life of faith and growing in the love of God. God’s love, because it is love, will come to us in ways that is best for us. We all have purpose and meaning in our life – it is a gift of being God’s children. The Holy Spirit grants us the courage and patience needed with each other, and with ourselves, as that great mystery unfolds in the daily adventures of living.

Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: to God who is, who was, and who is to come. Alleluia.