Issue 7 SJC News 2021

Celebrating St Joseph’s Mother’s Day Breakfast

Our College founder Blessed Edmund Rice was nurtured by his mother, Margaret Rice, who shared her great faith with him. On Monday morning, we gave gratitude for and celebrated our newest Mothers/Carers/Grandmothers to the College with their Year 7 and 8 students. While enjoying a beautiful breakfast prepared by our volunteer staff, Year 7 student Alex Assemani and Sue Collins our Koorie education Wworker led an Acknowledgement of Country followed by a prayerful reflection of gratitude.

Edmund Rice Day Reflection

Much excitement and anticipation was felt around our College in the weeks leading up to our annual Edmund Rice Day celebrations, held on Friday 30 April. After last year’s cancelled events, our students were eager to get involved with the list of activities offered.

The Edmund Rice Liturgy captured Edmund’s life journey. From his birth place in Westcourt where his faith began to finding success then heartbreak in Waterford. His complete devotion to those plagued by misfortune saw him establish and grow his first school for poor homeless boys, called Mt Sion. We listened to his story and connected its message to our own call to action at St Joseph’s College. We are very grateful to past students Will Magher and Ryan Birthisel for coming in and sharing their experiences of visiting St Joseph’s Vocational School in Kensekka, Uganda. The less than adequate living standards reflect the struggles of accessing education. It is for this reason we are very grateful to our St Joseph’s community for donating in the hope that every child in Kensekka will benefit from the school we help build.

The glorious weather enabled us all to enjoy the fun activities offered around the College including inflatable world, battle ball and our annual staff vs student Gaelic football match. Those participating in the cross country also enjoyed a successful day before returning for the celebrations.

All funds help support St Joseph’s Vocational school in Kensekka, the community in Viqueque, East Timor, along with Edmund Rice Camps and Lifeboat. A group of students and staff from St Joseph’s College gained an insight into the current needs of the Viqueque community in Timor Leste at the annual Geelong-Viqueque Friendship Schools Dinner on Thursday 29 April at Truffleduck. Our support was greatly appreciated and allows us to continue to maintain and strengthen the ties between our two regions. Guest speaker Brother Frank Hennessy shared his memories from his time in Timor Leste. He worked in East Timor for five years as a ministry leader where he changed the lives of thousands of Timorese. Heavy rains across the country in March and April have resulted in severe flash floods and landslides affecting all 13 municipalities in Timor-Leste to varying degrees, with the capital Dili and the surrounding low-lying areas the worst affected. Our funds will directly support the flood relief.

A message from the EREA Council for Edmund Rice Day

“Edmund’s charism and mission is ours – ours to shape and to turn into a dynamic, contemporary force. Such a force is very much needed in our complex and fragile world where both its peoples and its environment need the protection of a courageous loving hand.”

(Kathy Freeman and David White Edmund Rice Education Australia Council)

Our neighbours, near and far, friend and stranger “challenge us to listen compassionately and creatively to the hidden silences…” (John O’Donohue)