2023 | ISSUE 6 | Identity News

Opening our Hearts and Minds to Kensekka this Edmund Rice Day

This week we pray:

Loving God, you sent your Son, Jesus, into the world to bring good news to the poor, happiness to those who are sad and suffering, and hope to those who struggle. Through the example of Jesus, your Son, and the life of Blessed Edmund Rice, may we come to know your ways to open our hearts and minds to show our love and care for those seeking an education in our world. Just like Fr Emma, who like the good shepherd, is caring for his community in Kensekka, Uganda, striving to provide them with a liberating education only possible with our support. We pray for Mr Paatsch as he travels to visit the community of St Joseph’s Kensekka that we are so connected to. As each family makes their donations online https://www.trybooking.com/au/donate/sjcedmundriceday2023 we can enjoy our 12^th of May Eddy Rice Day celebrations knowing we are living our touchstones of liberating education, justice and solidarity, inclusive community and gospel spirituality. We pray in gratitude for the generosity of all who have made their online donations so far. Amen.

When we support communities such as our friends in Kensekka, we are working towards achieving many of the Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

That's the ANZAC Spirit

We began Term 2 continuing the season of Easter, rejoicing in the new life the risen Jesus gives us, offering us hope and peace.

As we gathered as a St Joseph’s Community on Wednesday 26^th to resume Term 2, we remembered the ANZAC soldiers who fought to protect our country. The Westcourt student leaders led their ANZAC Commemoration Ceremony and welcomed guest speaker, old Collegian, Peter Read. Peter emphasised the importance to stop, pause and reflect on the sacrifices that so may service people and their families have made for the freedoms we enjoy in our country today.

We acknowledged the presence of three of our staff members who have served our country. Our Human Resources Manager, Lieutenant Colonel Rolf Audrins, Conspicuous Service Cross and Bar. Lieutenant Colonel Audrins spent 27 years in the Australian Regular Army which included deployments to Afghanistan, Syria and Timor-Leste and service in Antarctica. Along with our Careers Coordinator Karen Shum, former Major, Royal Australian Educational Corps, who served for 15 years in the Australian Regular Army, with postings across Australia, including Darwin, Puckapunyal, Canberra and Enogerra. Our Music Teacher and Conductor John Collinson served the Australian Army Band for six years and played the last post and rouse at our Edmund Rice campus ceremony.

The focus for ANZAC Day 2023 was an understanding of the phrase, ‘That's the ANZAC spirit.’ College Captain Jaeger Fawcett, reminded us that as you get off the bus and enter the college, you not only walk past the sculpture of St Joseph the carpenter, and his son, the teenage Jesus, but as you enter our reception, the ANZAC spirit is present in the names of the old Collegians of St Joseph’s College on the plaque, who served their country. We payed our respects to them as we lay a wreath at the base of the plaque.

This year Anzac Day 2023 marks 70 years since the fighting stopped in the Korean War. We reminded students when they next head to Melbourne, take note to view the Korean War Veterans Avenue of Honour on the corner of Melbourne Road and Bell Parade, Rippleside. The Avenue of Honour commemorates those who served in the Korean War. The Korean War took place from 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953.

Another significant memorial that reflects the ANZAC spirit that can be found locally, is The Geelong & District Peace Memorial which can be found in Johnstone Park, Gheringhap street, Geelong which features the names of approximately 3,500 personnel who enlisted from the Geelong region and served in World Wars One and Two. The building also contains a number of honour rolls, which commemorate the Korean, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam and Iraq conflicts, United Nations operations, Medical officers, Nursing services, and Prisoners of War. Lest we forget.

Help us to strive for peace in all we do.

We make our prayer in the name of our Risen Lord. Amen

Mary Malone
Director of Identity