From the College Principal

Newsletter 15 2024

Dear Members of the St Andrews College Community,

Congratulations to our Year 11 group who have completed their final assessments for the HSC Preliminary Course. We now move into the decision phase for many students regarding what electives to drop or not for their HSC course of study. We are receiving unprecedented numbers of enquiries for positions in Year 7 and Year 11 2025. Despite our substantial waiting list for Year 7, we have families who still hope to gain a place in our school. This is due to the wonderful teaching and learning that is evidenced every day as well as your support in maintaining a culture of high expectation in the Catholic tradition. Thank you.

Gospel Reflection: Mark 8:27-35
Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, and Jesus teaches that those who would follow him must take up his or her cross.

Background on the Gospel Reading

Today’s reading is the turning point in Mark’s Gospel. In the presentation of the life and ministry of Jesus found in the Gospel of Mark, the deeds of Jesus have shown Jesus to be the Son of God. Yet many, including Jesus’ disciples, have not yet realised his identity. In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks the disciples for a field report by asking what others say about him. He then turns the question directly to the disciples and asks what they believe. Peter speaks for all of them when he announces that they believe Jesus to be the Christ.

The word Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word for Messiah, which means “the anointed one.” At the time of Jesus, the image of the Messiah was laden with popular expectations, most of which looked for a political leader who would free the Jewish people from Roman occupation. Jesus does not appear to have used this term for himself. As we see in today’s reading, Jesus refers to himself instead as the Son of Man, a term derived from the Jewish Scriptures, found in the Book of Daniel and in other apocryphal writings. Many scholars suggest that the phrase Son of Man is best understood to mean “human being.”

Now that the disciples have acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, Jesus confides in them the outcome of his ministry: he will be rejected, must suffer and die, and will rise after three days. Peter rejects this prediction, and Jesus rebukes him severely. The image of Christ that Jesus is giving is not the image of the Messiah that Peter was expecting. Jesus then teaches the crowd and the disciples about the path of discipleship: To be Chris’s disciple is to follow in the way of the cross.

We can easily miss the fear that Jesus’ words must have evoked in his disciples. Death by crucifixion was all too familiar as a method of execution in Roman-occupied territories. It was also an omnipresent danger to the Christian community for whom Mark wrote. The path that Jesus was inviting his disciples to share meant tremendous suffering and death. This is the kind of radical commitment and sacrifice that Jesus calls us to adopt for the sake of the Gospel.

Year 9 Reflection Day:

Thank you to all the staff and students who facilitated and participated in the Year 9 Reflection Day. We had Year 10 students who assisted in running the day and contributing their own witness to the day as well as the Young Lasallian Group. Thank you to Mrs Anthony, Ms Tan, Mr Weaver, Ms Breeze and the team.

Year 10 Design & Technology Projects:

I appreciated the opportunity to view the amazing energy and space-saving designs developed by the Year 10 Design & Technology class this week. Working within strict parameters they were able to demonstrate a great deal of creativity. Thank you to Ms Serbin and the class for the invitation and engagement.

NSW Schools Cup Championship - Volleyball:

Congratulations to our girl's and boy's volleyball teams who participated in the NSW Schools Cup Championship last week. Both teams represented the College with distinction and the experience will develop their skill set significantly. Thank you to Ms Corpez for coaching and accompanying the teams with the boy's team securing third place on the day.

Fidem in Christo

Dr Stephen Kennaugh
Principal