2023 | ISSUE 16 | SJC Newsletter

Identity News

Year 7 Renewals sharing the Compassion, Integrity and Innovation of St Joseph’s College

Our Year 7 students recently completed their Renewal Days focussing on the theme ‘Journeying’ with reference to our three college values of: Compassion, Integrity and Innovation.

Journeys are made up of lots of things. Many firsts, celebrations, disappointments, new learnings, experiencing new things. A part of our journey is to figure out where we belong, what makes us happy. Many people are in search of becoming the best. Having the best clothes, the best job, the most money, the best holidays, the best car. These are all material things. They do not guarantee happiness. Happiness comes from within you and how you contribute to the wellbeing and happiness of others, finding happiness becomes part of our faith journey. Following in the footsteps of Jesus can help us on this journey.

Guest speakers Mr Purdy shared his spiritual journey to the World Youth Day pilgrimage in Lisbon this year and Mr Jones shared the challenges and humbling experience of trekking the Kokoda trail journey with students earlier this year.

Students reflected on the poem, ‘Footprints in the Sand’, and were asked to think about a moment in their lives where they may have experienced God walking with them. They wrote this on their footprint.

"My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you."

A prayerful liturgy was celebrated in our chapel where students participated in listening to the Gospel reading and prayers of the faithful while reflecting on how we are all called to journey through life guided by compassion, integrity and innovation. They were challenged to think compassionately about the impact we can have on others and all of God’s precious creation when we act with integrity in the everyday decisions we make as young people.

Each class also went on their own journey as they took a pilgrimage around the College visiting various stations of significance to the history and values of our College charism as a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition. Here are some reflections and knowledge gained from students along the way.

‘The Bunjil sculpture is an important feature of the Reconciliation Garden which was opened in 2017, and Bunjil is the Creator Spirit of Wadawurrung Country.’

‘When we get off the bus and enter the school past reception we are greeted each day by the Joseph statue, a carpenter with his teenage son Jesus. To recognise St Joseph, who our College is named after, Sculptor Pauline Clayton was commissioned in 2004 to work as an Artist in Residence with St Joseph’s College students from Year 10, 11 and 12 to complete a life size bronze sculpture of St Joseph the worker.’

‘In 1857 when the blue stone for B Block was laid for the Orphanage, at this very site, there was a bottle containing coins of the time and a copy of the Catholic Almanac placed in the cavity buried underneath the foundation stone.’

‘At our Recycling Shed, some of the innovative things that we make out of plastic include Eddy coins, place mats, golf tees, and Christmas decorations.’

‘While viewing the First Nations art work created by Bri Bri Apma Hayes, using IPADS we used a QR code listened to a narration explaining the local connections to country by our First Nations students of the series of art work panels near the staffroom entrance.’

‘Susan Belluzzo our St Joseph’s College Archivist, showed us around the Heritage Centre and taught us about the importance of sharing the history and significance of the items from the journey of St Joseph’s beginning, when Br Butler was the first Principal and it was officially opened and blessed by Archbishop Mannix on Sunday 3 February 1935 until now.’

Belinda Milverton
Faith Development Coordinator

2024 Investiture of Student Leaders and FIRE Carrier Ceremony

The Identity Team have been actively preparing students for the various significant events including the celebration of the Investiture of our 2024 Student Leaders and the FIRE Carriers. Our Student Leadership Coordinators Rachael Swatman and Cassandra Coogan led the handing over of the 2023 Student Captains, Touchstone and House Leaders that they have mentored, to the upcoming 2024 elected leaders. We look forward to working with the 2024 Leaders to continue to bring to life our EREA Touchstones with their goals and initiatives for the year ahead.

Proceedings began with our 2023 Westcourt First Nations Leader Zachariah Miller making an Acknowledgement of Country before the commencement of the FIRE Carrier Ceremony.

The FIRE Carrier Ceremony marks one of the most significant ceremonies at St Joseph’s College. Ben McDowall, our First Nations Coordinator commissioned our 2024 Fire Carriers:

Friends Igniting Reconciliation Education with the words, ‘May the spirit of the fire be in your eyes, your ears, your thoughts, your words, your heart and in your hands.’ We congratulate our staff FIRE Carriers Angela Gionis and Meleah Zanos and students, Daniel Di Danto, Henry Stephens, Felix Poel and Zachariah Miller.

We give thanks for Fr Jude Johnson from St Mary’s Parish Geelong, who joined us to bless the 2024 new leaders, their badges, blazers and ties to mark the sacredness with which leadership is held in our community and serves to remind us of the example set by Jesus and the Christian values to which we aspire. These symbols they will wear are a reminder that leadership is not about impressing others, but is grounded in service to the community.

Just as our guest speaker, Old Collegian class of 2012, Andrew Mogic – Director at the Royal Bank of Canada in Los Angeles shared, “Remember that, as future leaders, your choices matter, not just for your own success but for those around you as well.”

Mary Malone
Director of Identity