From the Principal

Newsletter 7 2022

Dear Members of the St Andrews College Community,

We are four weeks into the Term now and I am seeing a great deal of focus from students and staff. Many learning activities are being offered to the student group and we are getting significant numbers taking up the challenges. One aspect of my role as Principal is visiting classrooms and witnessing the enthusiasm first hand. Keep up the good work everyone. Well done.

‘It’s All About Learning’

May, Memories, Mothers and Mary Reflection:

In our Catholic tradition, we set aside the month of May to acknowledge, remember and pray with Mary, the Mother of Jesus. In the month of May we also recognise bereaved mothers whose child or children have died and in Australia, we remember all the significant women in our lives on Mother’s Day. Whilst this is a day of great joy for some of us, for others, this is often not a day of celebration but a day of sadness, regret, pain and trauma. Looking through the eyes of a Mother I find myself wondering about these times, ‘Why just one day or one month?’ Ought we not celebrate, remember, pray, acknowledge every day? Is the Mother of God not worthy of my attention daily? As a mum and a daughter should I not be celebrating the miracle of motherhood, and if my journey is one of loss, sadness and pain – do I really want to be bombarded by the Hallmark cards, rosary crusades and all the advertisements and hype?

International Bereaved Mother’s Day – falls on the first Sunday in May, this day honours mothers who have lost a child/children. It is also a day to recognise women who cannot be a mother due to infertility or other reasons. These women suffer greatly every day and according to psychologists, losing or not being able to conceive a child is one of the worst traumas a human being can experience. When a child dies, a mother loses a piece of her own heart and the losses associated with the hopes and dreams in seeing that child reach their potential are real. Besides suffering psychologically and biologically, mothers face a host of other challenges. They might mourn the loss for many years. They may experience triggers from well-meaning questions like, “how many children do you have?” or, “how old are your children now?” According to studies, mothers who lose children are more likely to suffer from physical and mental health issues, if the grief is unprocessed. A bereaved mother will never again be able to hold that child in their arms, but they will forever hold that child in their heart.

When you have lost a child, Mother’s Day can feel like a Memorial Day. There is no English word for a parent whose child has died, no equivalent of ‘widow’ or ‘orphan.’ There are few people more invisible on Mother’s Day than the mother who has lost her child and her role as a mother. In the early days after a child’s death, joining in with other parents’ conversations about their children can seem to make people self-conscious and even the mention of your child’s name aloud, can cause some people to shrink away because your child has gone. However, this is the thing: Your child has not gone. The child who made you a mother has not disappeared. You are still a mother, and you can keep celebrating being your child’s mum. As resurrection people, we believe that in death, life does not end, it changes.

Acknowledging those who may grieve the loss of a Mother on Mother’s Day is painful. For those grieving the death or absence of their mother, feelings of longing, yearning, sadness, loneliness, depression, anger, bitterness, alienation and despair can rise to the surface. For many, the day becomes about just getting through. Obviously, there is no replacement for your mother or for the hopes, dreams and needs you might have because you have not had the mother you longed for.

Although Mother’s Day is secular in its origin, there is much that is sacred about the celebration of Mother’s Day. How fitting that we celebrate Mother’s Day on a Sunday, when we can offer gratitude to God for the many roles that our mothers and those who act as mothers to us play in our lives. Mary is the model of all mothers, she is also the first disciple, and there are many lessons we can learn from her about motherhood and being a disciple. While the Scriptures do not offer us much information about Mary, we can learn so much from her life.

She was a woman of deep prayer, who faithfully practised the ritual prayers of her Jewish upbringing and like most mothers, we know that Mary would have taught her son how to pray. Prayer was an essential habit to Mary, as a mother and disciple. Mary placed God’s will before her own. Her “yes” to the will of God to bear his son, Jesus, could not have been easy for a young, unmarried woman, yet Mary set aside her own desires to do what God asked of her, which is the definition of love. In learning to accept God’s will, Mary also learned to embrace challenges and difficulties. We also witness Mary’s strength at the crucifixion when, despite seeing her son tortured and brutally murdered, Mary remains at Jesus’ side until the very end. How insulting when we view women as feeble! Mary clearly illustrates the strength that women have, a quiet, yet fierce resolve that is necessary for all mothers and disciples.

The Month of May is set aside for the Mother of Jesus, Mary, who is the mother figure, most central to the Catholic tradition. Some statues suggest that she did nothing but gaze piously at the sky or out into the distance and I truly believe that we do her a great disservice by pretending that her life was idyllic and not messy like our lives. The truth and the connection, especially for mothers, is that she suffered the same push-pull emotions that all mothers do, delighting in her child’s growth yet knowing that every day brought her closer to his departure. Mary lived with a tension, as we do, she lived with the dreams and the pain and because Mary experienced the loss of her child, many bereaved mothers feel close to her. Mary was fully human, she endured bewilderment, confusion, disappointment and pain. She was no stranger to excruciating loss, she embraces those to whom Mother’s Day brings only nightmares.

In this month of May, in this Easter Season, let us remember, honour, and pray for and with all women, especially Mary the Mother of Jesus. Alleluia! Alleluia! He is Risen. Alleluia!

Alleluia!

Creative & Performing Arts Showcase next Tuesday:

I am really looking forward to the Creative and Performing Arts Showcase on the Junior Campus next Tuesday. The time and effort that has gone into the preparation from both staff and students will be on show. Looking forward to seeing many parents, grandparents, and family members.

PDSSSC Cross Country Friday May 12:

Congratulations to all students who took part in the PDSSSC Cross Country last Friday. Congratulations on the way you represented the College and the way you cheered for each other. You have done yourselves and the College proud. Congratulations to Jake Parkes (Year 12) who will continue on to the Combined Catholic Colleges level in coming weeks.

CSDA Debating starting Week 2 Term 2:

The Debating season is into Week 3 now and we have dominated our opposing schools in the first two rounds. Congratulations not only goes to the competitors but also to the many students who attend in support roles such as Time Keepers and Chairpersons. We have had over 50 students assist each week we have hosted which demonstrates a great deal of school pride and commitment. We appreciate it immensely. Thank you to Ms Pett for her organisation and all staff who assist in preparation and adjudication.

Year 8 Drama Day:

Congratulations to Year 8 and the way they got into the Drama Day today. They showed a great deal of enthusiasm and aptitude. Thank you to Mrs Edwards, Ms Kelly and the teachers for their organisation and facilitation of the day.

Year 10 Immersion Day:

Congratulations to all the students who immersed themselves into our faith in action day today. The experiences were diverse and challenged them as young men and women. Thank you to Mr Clarke and the staff who organised and facilitated the experiences.

Toilet Renovations Senior Campus:

They are well underway with both toilet blocks due for completion before the Higher School Certificate commences. I have shown the Senior Student Leaders the proposed layout and we have made some minor additions based on their feedback. We are hoping for the first block to be finished in a couple of weeks.

Enrolment for Year 11 2023 NOW OPEN

Year 7 2023 already has a significant waiting list

Fidem in Christo

Dr Stephen Kennaugh
Principal