2023 | ISSUE 5 | SJC Newsletter

St Joseph’s started in 1935 and at some point, in its early years, a school song was written. Over time this song fell out of favour and in the early 2000’s then College Principal Paul Tobias wrote our current school song ‘Ad Alta Virtute’. If you visit reception at the Edmund Rice campus you will see the words frosted across one of the large windows.

‘Ad Alta Virtute’ is the College’s Latin motto and has long been understood to translate as “to strive for the highest” with the additional nuance “in a manly way” with the additional understanding that ‘manly’ does not mean ‘macho’ but rather noble and virtuous. While we have been able to regularly explain this to students, many people hearing the song, particularly for the first time are struck by the incongruity of the translated term ‘manly’.

Last year I wrote to James H. K. O Chong-Gossard, (Associate Professor of Classics at Melbourne University) to confirm the accuracy of our translation. His reply included the following:

"Ad alta" literally means "towards the heights" and "Virtute" means "through courage" or "by means of courage". "Virtus" does have the root "vir" in it, which is Latin for "man"; and there are some dictionaries that will translate it as "manliness". But I would argue that its basic meaning is "courage", originally courage in warfare; but even in antiquity itself, it came to mean an ethical kind of courage, a kind of 'doing the right thing', from which English gets its word "virtue."

So, in the end (my translation is): "Towards the heights through courage."

With the approval of Paul as writer of the song we have chosen to make a minor change with the line “We strive for the highest in a manly way” changed to “We strive for the highest with courage every day”. The new version of the College song will be ‘launched’ and performed for the first time on Edmund Rice day this year.

Last month marked 10 years since appointment of Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis. While in the Western world there are no shortage of people, Catholics and otherwise, prepared to ignore and or denigrate the Catholic Church, there appears to be overwhelming positivity about Pope Francis and his 10 year ministry. Some of those who are critical, argue that he has not done enough reforming or has not brought about reform quickly enough but even his detractors generally agree that there have been many steps in the right direction.

A recent article by Christopher Lamb in “The Tablet” reminded me of what Pope Francis has achieved in a decade as Pope. It is believed that the first words uttered to Francis by a colleague after his appointment were “don’t forget the poor” and his commitment to leading a Church focused on those most in need has been faithful to this. The poor are most at risk from the effects of climate change and our obligation to care for the earth has been another (related) theme of this papacy. Francis leadership has also been pastoral shifting teaching to a more gospel based (and less doctrinal) vision of seeing every person as a child of God. One example has been to refuse to condemn gay people simply saying “who am I to judge”.

In reading this article I was reflecting on whether St Joseph’s has been faithful to 10 years of Pope Francis’ leadership. I concluded that while we can always do more, we have been faithful. We have sought to be inclusive and welcoming of diversity in all its forms, we have a strong focus on sustainability and environmental initiatives and that we have been faithful to our obligation to support those in need. This has been particularly true of our support in providing food and education to families in Kensekka Uganda. In the third week of next term we will celebrate Edmund Rice day which will once again provide this generous community with the opportunity to remember “don’t forget the poor!!”

In the last few weeks the College has conducted nine weekday tours of the college for prospective families. These have been exceptionally well attended with over 500 families shown around by a small group of our current students. It was particularly pleasing to see many families from outside the Catholic primary school system considering St Joseph’s for their son’s secondary education. I would like to thank and acknowledge the work of College Registrar Adel Mawson for her work in making these tours successful. We have one more tour early next term with enrolment applications closing on 5 May.

I will be overseas for most of May and will return to work on June 13. My travel includes a visit to St Joseph’s vocational secondary school in Kensekka to see firsthand the difference our community is making and to discuss the resumption of senior student immersions to Uganda. I will also be attending an international gathering of leaders of Edmund Rice schools in Ireland and meeting with a group of old collegians in New York. From the start of week 2 next term Lisa Pope will be acting Principal and John Mitchell will be acting Deputy Principal Learning.

This weekend we celebrate Easter and the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and life over death. As believers in the risen Christ we are people of profound faith, hope and love. I wish you and your family every blessing for the Easter season.

God Bless

Tony Paatsch
Principal