From the College Principal

Newsletter 7 2024

Dear Members of the St Andrews College Community,

I hope everyone had a great break. Congratulations on a solid start to Term 2. During the break there were a number of groups participating in tutorials in the senior school as well as our Acceleration Program. We took the opportunity to get a number of renovations and maintenance works completed. These included the Junior male and female student bathroom refurbishment with security cameras outside, new lights in the Junior Food Tech Kitchen, new Sound System in the Junior Hall/ Warranty repair to TV and removal of old projector screen, F7 internal refurbishment including new walls, painting, new A/C, carpet, white board, TV (on order) and Entrance Door, 400 student chairs for the Junior Hall, Test n Tag & RCD Testing on both Junior & Senior Campus, A/C Maintenance (both Campuses), New roof lining above the Canteen, Gutter Repair & Maintenance, Repair to flashings and ceiling in the Gym, Brickwork patching behind the Junior Hall and Repair to Senior Campus student Huts. I hope you enjoy the upgrades as they all serve to enhance the learning experience. Have a great Term.

It’s All About Learning

Gospel: Mark 16:15-20
Jesus is taken to heaven, and the disciples go forth to preach as Jesus commanded.

Background on the Gospel Reading

(In places where the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord is not designated as a Holy Day of Obligation, the feast is moved to the following Sunday.)

Today is our liturgical celebration of the Ascension of the Lord, when Jesus was taken to heaven on the fortieth day after Easter. In Cycle B, our Gospel is taken from the conclusion of the Gospel of Mark. Scholars have long noted some irregularities about the ending of Mark’s Gospel. There is a natural break in the story line at verse 8, when Mark’s report of the discovery of the empty tomb comes to an abrupt conclusion. This verse reports that the women were so frightened by what they had seen at the tomb that they told no one. This may be the original ending of Mark’s Gospel, but it is also possible that the more complete ending has been lost.

Some manuscripts of Mark’s Gospel, written between the fourth and ninth centuries, include what scholars have termed the Shorter Ending. This is often printed in our Bibles for reference. This ending indicates that the women told their story to Peter’s companions. Scholars believe that this ending is not original to Mark. They theorise that this ending was added by copyists who sought to resolve the original abrupt ending at verse 8.

Other early manuscripts include a Longer Ending that scholars also believe was written by someone other than the Evangelist. Nonetheless, quotations from this Longer Ending are found in the writings of the early Church Fathers, and it was accepted at the Council of Trent as part of the canonical Gospel of Mark. Our Gospel for today’s celebration of the Feast of the Ascension is taken from this Longer Ending.

There are similarities in the reports of Jesus’ Ascension found in the Synoptic Gospels—Mark, Matthew, and Luke. In each case, Jesus assigns his disciples the task of proclaiming the gospel message to the entire world. There are also notable distinctions. In the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, the disciples are sent by Jesus to baptise and to preach. In Luke’s Gospel, however, the commission to baptise is absent. Instead, Jesus directs the disciples to return to Jerusalem to await the fulfilment of his promise to send them the Holy Spirit. Curiously, only the Gospels of Mark and Luke actually report Jesus’ ascension into heaven. Matthew’s Gospel concludes with Jesus’ promise to remain with his disciples forever. Only the Gospel of Mark notes that Jesus ascended to sit at the right hand of God. In noting this, Mark teaches that Jesus’ ascension affirms the glory Jesus received from God after his death and Resurrection.

Even if this ending to Mark’s Gospel was written by someone other than the Evangelist, in the commission that Jesus gives to his disciples, there are elements that are quite typical of Mark’s Gospel. The signs that will accompany belief in Jesus are as vivid as the action performed by Jesus during his ministry. Those who believe in Jesus will be empowered to do what Jesus himself has done. During his ministry, Jesus sent his disciples to preach, to heal, and to drive out unclean spirits. Now they are sent again to do these things and more. From his place with God in heaven, Jesus helped his disciples, and he continues to help us as we try to live as his followers.

Mothers Day Breakfast and Mass:

Thank you to Mr Hoare, Mrs Anthony, Ms Tan, our Hospitality staff and students, Mrs Welch and Fr Kevin Redmond for all the work that went into celebrating our mothers and significant women on Thursday morning. We had a wonderful gathering for Breakfast before moving to St Andrew’s Church for the parish morning Mass. We gave the mothers a small gift as a sign of our appreciation for all they do. Happy Mothers Day to all mothers this Sunday.

The First Mother’s Day

The First Mother's Day proclaimed in 1870 by Julia Ward Howe was a passionate demand for disarmament and peace. The 1870 war in Europe made little sense to Julia Ward Howe. She wrote: 'why do not the mothers of mankind interfere in these matters to prevent the waste of that human life of which they alone know and bear the cost?....' 'Let women on this day leave the duties of hearth and home to set outline the work of peace'. Thus began here annual organisation of mothers' peace day festivals.

However, though Mother's Day was initially observed by women gathering to mourn the war dead and to devise strategies for peace, Julia Ward Howe's idea did not take hold, and she struggled for the next 30 years to have Mother's Day abolished when male politicians espoused a new version of the day where a more traditional view of mother was enshrined. In 1914 President Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday of May as Mother's Day.

Mother's Day Proclamation

Arise, then, women of this day! Arise, all women who have hearts, whether your baptism be that of water or tears! Say firmly: ‘We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have taught them of charity, mercy and patience. We women of one country will be too tender of those of another to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.’

From the bosom of the devastated earth, a voice goes up with our own. It says,

‘Disarm, Disarm!’

The sword of murder is not the balance of justice. Blood does not wipe out dishonour, nor violence indicate possession. As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war, let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel. Let them meet first, as women, to bewail & commemorate the dead. Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace, each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesars but of God.

In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that a general congress of women without limit of nationality may be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient and at the earliest period consistent with its objects, to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace.

Biography of Julia Ward Howe

US feminist, reformer, and writer Julia Ward Howe was born May 27, 1819 in New York City. She married Samuel Gridley Howe of Boston, a physician and social reformer. After the Civil War, she campaigned for women's rights, anti-slavery, equality, and for world peace. She died in 1910.

Youth Ministry:

The Youth Ministry Training Session was held Thursday, and will therefore be out of Sport. These same students will also be helping out with tomorrow's Year 7 Reflection Day on the Senior Campus for the entirety of the day. Thank you to Mary Arshilo, Rhianna Bartlett, Abbygale Batula, Ethan Caraig, Isabella Cardino, Jerome Chin, Timothy de Vos, Ana Donjerkovic, Ethan Escandor, Nikki Gasendo Lexi Iskander, Sebastian Tomas, Kaydence Wells and Samantha Xavier who have volunteered for this program.

ANZAC Day commemorations:

Thank you to Mr Camilleri, Mr Dunaeff, and Ms Malonzo for leading the commemoration on both Campuses last week. Thank you to the students who participated as well. We are so fortunate to be living in the country we do.

Shakespeare Showcase:

Thank you to all the students who performed pieces during the afternoon. Your interpretations were fascinating and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole Showcase. Thank you also to Ms Rujicica for facilitating this experience for the students and thank you to the staff, students and families who supported the performances through their attendance.

Theatresports at St Andrews College:

Congratulations to all involved in the Theatresports State Challenge this week. We entered teams in the Senior and Intermediate Divisions. Mr Lewandowski reported that he saw significant growth in the students and their response to the numerous activities/challenges that were put through in the Regional stage of the competition. Our Senior team comprising Jenille Calingao, Joycie Bacolod, Joy Legge and Jeda Osorio have progressed through to the semi-final stage and we wish them all the best. Our Intermediate team were up against Year 10 students and narrowly missed out on progressing to the semi-final stage. The team included Annabel Zaroutski, Kaitlin Cragg, Georgia Nash, Keanna Guerrero, Janvi Dallakoti. I am sure we will see them back next year. Well done.

Diocesan Student Council Workshop:

Thank you to our elected student leaders from Years 7-12 who spent time with Diocesan officials discerning the role of student leadership within our Diocese last Wednesday. It was conveyed to me that the students offered some valuable insights to take back to the Diocesan Head Office. 

Sporting Successes:

Congratulations to Romeo Atengco who again was selected in the Combined Catholic Colleges Open Volleyball Team to compete at the All Schools Championships. We wish Romeo and the team the very best.

‘It’s All About Learning’

Fidem in Christo

Dr Stephen Kennaugh
Principal