Newsletter 4 2021

Dear Members of the St Andrews College Community,

Thank you to all who played a part in a very successful Open Day last week as well as the additional tours on Tuesday 16th March we needed to conduct to avoid people missing out due to such a high demand. We are almost full in Year 7 2022 and we are filling up vacancies quickly for Year 7 2023. It has been a pleasure to watch all the students have a go at all the opportunities available to them at the College to enhance their learning and self development. The fact that many students are stepping out of their comfort zone and extending themselves is a credit to their resilience and their striving to be the best they can be. 

‘It’s All About Learning’

Lenten Reflection:

Glow With Easter Joy

In the Season of Lent, we are encouraged to reflect and examine our relationship with God, others, and ourselves. To help me do this, I often choose to read a book or select a theme to focus on during this holy season.

One of my favourite paintings is Rembrandt’s The Prodigal Son and the book, the Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen, is the one I am reading yet again, this Lent. I find the theme of reconciliation is always significant for me as I look through the lenses of my spiritual journey, and personal wellbeing, particularly as I have now most definitely entered the second phase of my life. The first being the busy, growing, learning and establishing time of education and career, growing friendships, finding a partner, building a home and family. The second stage being more about sitting with the questions and reflection of what all that means for me now, as I look at my life and the world around me through the lens of reconciliation as in forgiveness. I question the ‘why moments’ of my life - Is it working? What is my belief and understanding? Where is God in the crisis, grief or turmoil? What is my purpose?

The reflection and Lenten pilgrimage for me is travelling through the stages and personalities in the painting and the parable. Who am I? What is my relationship with the others in the story as I take on each person’s role: parent, child, sibling, community member? How do I reconcile my actions and how do I reconcile the actions of others whose behaviours and actions impact my life? These are the questions that we all sit with, act on and grow from. These questions can be pondered in our chosen faith tradition without ownership or connection to any faith tradition. 

The story that Jesus tells has an inner message, an invitation to spiritual and moral growth that is as prevalent today as it was over 2000 years ago. The sibling rivalry, the greed, the jealousy, the arrogance, the fear, the judgement, the disrespect to our elders, the entitlement is all present, but it is the trust, homecoming, affirmation and reconciliation at the end of the story that I hope and strive to emulate. This is the message of God, the painting, the parable and my Lenten journey.

Acknowledging that God’s reconciling arms are open and that my growth moment is in accepting this unconditional love, that I am worthy of this love despite my behaviour at times, that my life journey and actions have value, that I am valued and loved is a magnificent moment of awakening and truly reconciles me to my story, my truth and my relationship and spiritual journey with Jesus.

Reflection and reconciliation are not just for Lent, they are for every day. We are all invited to return to God, or to enquire for the first time, however we choose to connect. The invitation is beautifully explored by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in 'God has a Dream'. It is for us to return to and trust in God’s dream every day. Lent might be a good time to begin this journey:

"I have a dream God says, please help me to realise it. It is a dream of a world whose ugliness and squalor and poverty, its war and hostility, its greed and harsh competitiveness, its alienation and disharmony are changed into their glorious counterparts, when there will be more laughter, joy, peace and compassion,  caring and sharing. I have a dream that …my children will know that they are all members of one family, the human family, God’s family, My family.”  [Desmond Tutu, 'God has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time'; (New York: Doubleday, 2004; 19, 20)]

Spiritual growth for us, whether we are in the first or second half of our life, whether we are the privileged, the indulged or the marginalised is to know everyone is loved by God and we are to love one another as God loves us in thought, word, and deed.

St Andrew’s Parish Holy Week & Easter 2021 Mass Times  

For the Attention of Parishioners: There will be a change in the Mass Timetable during Holy  Week. Under our Covid 19 safety plan masks are to be worn. 

Please remember that under the current restrictions we are limited to approximately 300  which includes the piazza area. It is a matter of those who arrived first will gain admission. We would encourage others to watch the live stream ceremonies that are offered. 

PALM SUNDAY, March 27~ 28: Vigil Masses: 5 PM and 6:15 PM;  

Sunday morning Masses: 7 AM, 8:15 AM, 9:30 AM (live streamed), 10:45 AM. 

WEEKDAY MASSES: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 9 AM (live streamed);  No morning Masses for the rest of the week & No Wednesday evening Mass. 

Mass of the Chrism at St Patrick’s Cathedral: Wednesday evening 

MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER Thursday, April 1: 7 PM (live streamed) 

STATIONS OF THE CROSS on Good Friday, April 2, 10 AM 

Good Friday 

CELEBRATION OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD: 3 PM (live streamed) Good Friday Adoration until 7 PM 

EASTER VIGIL, Saturday, April 3: 6 PM only (live streamed) 

EASTER SUNDAY, April 4: Masses at 7 AM, 8:15 AM, 9:30 AM (live streamed) and 10:45 AM. 

The Sacrament of Reconciliation:  

We do encourage parishioners to make the most of the opportunity to go to confession either  before Easter or after Easter. This year, due to the current situation, things will be slightly  different. 

Saturday, March 27: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM; 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM 

Monday, March 29: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM 

Tuesday, March 30: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM 

Wednesday, March 31: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM 

Thursday, April 1: 9 AM – 10 AM 

Saturday, April 3: 9 AM – 10 AM

Year 11 Retreat:

The four venues reported that they had a wonderful time and I thank the Clergy, staff and students for the way they entered into the experience. Further reports are included later in the Newsletter.

Congratulations to our Boys First Grade Basketball Team:

Congratulations on being Minor Premiers in the Metropolitan Catholic Schools Competition and Runners-Up. The boys had a wonderful season also finishing Runners-Up in the PDSSSC Gala Day and are looking forward to the upcoming Combined Catholic Colleges Tournament. The boys played with  great spirit, sportsmanship and pride. Thank you to Ms Pett and Mr Alata for coaching the team.

Public Speaking:

Congratulations to Joshua Sammut who represented the College in the Grand Final of the CSDA Public Speaking this afternoon. At the time of printing we do not have the results but it is a fantastic effort to make the Grand Final in both Year 8 and now in Year 9. I was impressed with every speech. The quality, thought and conviction were at a very high level. Well done to all students involved as well as Ms Pett, Mrs Simmonds, Mr Camilleri, Ms McKechnie, and Mrs Utoikamanu for their assistance. We are privileged to have such dedicated staff and students.

Sporting Successes:

• Congratulations Hezekiah Mauu in Year 10, has been a member of the Nepean Rowing Club since 2019. He will be participating in the School Boy Head Of The River tomorrow at the Sydney International Regatta Centre and he will be representing St Andrews College. 
• Georgia Green has qualified for NSWCCC for 50 Free, 50 Fly, 100 Back and 50 Back.
• Zaine Nassar who has made the PDSSSC Opens Touch Football Team to play in the NSWCCC tournament.
• Jai Pereira who has made the PDSSSC U/15’s Touch Football Team to play in the NSWCCC tournament.
• Issabella participated in the 14-15 years 5km event at the 2021 Australian National Open Water Championships finishing in a respectable 17th place. We are very proud of her. 

United Nations NSW State Conference:

Congratulations to Wasim Rahman (Year 11) on his selection and attendance at the United Nations NSW State Conference at the International Grammar School in Sydney. Last weekend he attended the conference and participated in a range of UN Model debates, interactive problem-solving workshops and discussed the COVID-19 Pandemic and the impact it had on the international community; socially, economically, and politically. He was asked to represent Somalia in the Commission on Population and Development Committee. This was a great opportunity for Wasim as he was able to meet like-minded students from across the State and represent the College with pride. I encourage more students to attend similar events in the future.

Wasim has been invited to the United Nations National Conference for a duration of four days during the month of either June or July. He was selected alongside 10 other students out of the 200-250 attendees. This is a great opportunity for Wasim to represent the College at a national level and to represent NSW youth. Well done Wasim.

Congratulations to Maddoux Panaligan Year 11:

Maddoux Panaligan appeared in the Westfield Summer Commercial. He is the one wearing the blue onesie riding a hoverboard. Congratulations Maddoux and best wishes in future roles.

Year 5 Primary School Visits:

I am finishing my Primary School visits in attending St Patrick’s Blacktown and Mary Immaculate Quakers Hill, and St John Vianney’s Doonside. I really enjoy the opportunity to take ex students back to their primary schools for two reasons. The first is the show how much they have developed as young men and women, and the second is to demonstrate all that is on offer at our great school from a student perspective. I know the Primary Schools are very proud of their ex students.

Enrolment for Year 7 and 11 2022 and 2023 NOW OPEN

If you have a friend or family member looking to enrol for Year 7 and 11 2022 and 2023 (students currently in Year 5 and 6) please contact the Office ASAP for an enrolment pack to avoid disappointment. We do not have many positions left for Year 7 2022 at present so please be quick to enrol.