Newsletter 16 2021

Dear Members of the St Andrews College Community,

Welcome back to Term 4. It promises to be another productive term with much to look forward to. Our Year 12 student body has arrived back in ‘Study Bubbles’ and will return as a chort on Monday 19 October, with the rest of the school recommencing on Monday October 25. While the return to school plan has changed, our commitment to learning growth has not. We look forward to welcoming the new Year 7 2022 student group later in Term 4, as well as transitioning Year 10 into Year 11. Our new Year 12 Student Leaders have already developed many initiatives that will lead the Student Leadership Team in further positive directions. I really enjoy seeing the ideas of our student body come to life. It was wonderful to see the excitement in the eyes of our Year 12 students who have been present over the last couple of weeks. It was like they were in Year 7 again. We are really looking forward to seeing all of you back in the coming weeks.

‘It’s All About Learning’

Reflection: Gospel Reading John 6:1-15

Jesus feeds the crowd of more than five thousand people with five barley loaves and two fish.

Background on the Gospel Reading:

Through most of Lectionary Cycle B, our Sunday Gospel readings are taken from the Gospel of Mark. Over the past two Sundays, we heard how Jesus sent his disciples to share in his mission. If we were to continue reading Mark's Gospel, we would next hear his report of how Jesus feeds the crowds in the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. Our Lectionary, however, leaves Mark’s Gospel for the next several weeks and instead presents this event from the Gospel of John. In John’s Gospel, Jesus’ multiplication of the loaves and the fishes is presented as a sign of his authority and divinity. Jesus interprets the meaning and significance of this miracle as a sharing of his Body and Blood. This chapter is sometimes called the “Bread of Life Discourse.”

In many important ways, John’s Gospel uses the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes to teach about the Eucharist. Like the Last Supper, this miracle is said to have occurred near the time of the Jewish feast of Passover. (In John’s Gospel three Passovers are identified.) Jesus’ language is similar to the language he used at the Last Supper as reported in the Synoptic Gospels. John’s description of this event also anticipates the Messianic banquet of heaven, as the crowd reclines and all hungers are satisfied with abundance. This connection is further amplified by the response of the crowd, who wants to make Jesus a king. John is teaching us that each time we celebrate the Eucharist, we are anticipating the eternal banquet of heaven.

Recall that John’s Gospel tells the story of the Last Supper differently than the Synoptic Gospels. Instead of describing the meal and Jesus’ actions with the bread and cup, John describes how Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. We hear this Gospel when we remember the Last Supper on Holy Thursday. This recollection of Jesus’ action at the Last Supper complements the institution narrative of the Synoptic Gospels and Paul’s Letters that we hear repeated at each Mass.

In both stories about the Eucharist—the washing of the disciples’ feet and the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes—the Gospel of John teaches us that the Eucharist is an action. Our word Eucharist is taken from the Greek language and describes an action: “to give thanks.” In the Eucharist we are fed by Jesus himself, and we are sent to serve others.

John’s Gospel notes the detail that the bread blessed and shared with the crowd are barley loaves. This is the food of the poor. It reminds us that God feeds and nourishes us, fulfilling our physical needs as well as our spiritual ones. In the Eucharist, we are sent to serve the poorest among us.

The story of the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes recalls a particular aspect of the Mass. In this miracle, Jesus transforms a young boy’s offering of five barley loaves and two fish. In the offertory at Mass, we present the fruits of our labors, represented by bread and wine. These gifts, given to us first by God as grain and fruit, are returned to God in our offering of thanksgiving. God in turn transforms our gifts, making this bread and wine the very Body and Blood of Jesus. We also offer ourselves in this exchange, and we, too, are transformed by the Eucharist.

Accolades for Hayley and Wasim: 

Congratulations to Hayley and Wasim who have been selected for a panel at the Faith in the Future Virtual Symposium on Wednesday 27 October  (3.00-4.15pm). Dr Lyn Sharratt is the guest speaker and Geraldine Doogue AO is the MC and Facilitator of the Panel. They will be discussing ‘How Every Student Deserves to meet and exceed their potential. How can we do that?’ The link to register is below. It is free. https://200years.catholic.edu.au/2021-virtual-symposium-registration/

Building Works:

The College Hall on the Senior Campus wall panelling and the addition of more Apple TV’s has been completed. It looks amazing and it’s multi purpose nature will add to how we learn.

The Art classrooms on the Senior Campus are completed. I look forward to hearing your reactions.

The Hall Flooring on the Junior Campus is completed with the line marking done. Mr Alata tells me the Basketball court and surface is excellent. Let me know your thoughts when you return.

We look forward to sharing these wonderful facilities with the student body upon your return in Term 4.

Enrolment for Year 7 and 11 2023 

NOW OPEN