Dear Parents,

Last week I gathered for an evening with educators and faith leaders for an introduction to the Tony Blair Face to Faith Foundation.  The aim of Face to Faith is to increase religious literacy amongst young people by providing them with the opportunity to connect with those of different faiths and cultures to discuss key global issues.  The occasion was sponsored by Edmund Rice Education Australia.  As globalisation pushes us ever closer, it is vital that faith should not be used as a force for conflict and division.  Faith is something that offers much in a world which provides many opportunities but just as many challenges.

The Face to Faith Foundation encourages people to respect and value the beliefs of others, to understand what those beliefs really are and to let people of different faith see the values that they often share.  The great religions have in common the values of respect, justice and compassion.  These have never been more relevant to bringing people together to build a better world.  We all know, however, that religious faith can also be used to divide.  In our time, and throughout history, we have seen how it can be distorted to fan the flames of hatred and extremism.

Our religious curriculum provides a number of opportunities for the boys to improve their religious literacy, not least in a program offered in conjunction with Isik Islamic College for a number of boys in Year 10.  Year 10 boys all visit a place of worship sacred to a tradition outside the Christian family.  Our Year 10 retreats also touch this vital theme.  It is my hope these programs will continue to grow and provide further opportunities to develop relationships and promote respect in a world desperate for peace and understanding.

One of the greatest strengths of any organisation is the quality of its community.  The special character of so many aspects of school life is due in no small way to the wonderful work done by parent volunteers.  We are blessed by their work and thank the Presidents of our various parent associations for their leadership throughout 2009.  These sixteen support groups play a vital role in building community and in supporting the co-curricular life of the College.  We are fortunate to have parents whose generosity with their time, together with their talents and resources, have provided so much in enhancing the educational experiences for the boys. 

I extend my deepest gratitude for the contribution so many parents continue to make to the St Kevin's community.  In 2009 they are:

Mrs Cate Noonan - Glendalough Mothers'
Mrs Cheryl Dempsey - Past Mothers'
Mrs Sandra Staffieri  - Senior Mothers'
Mr Garry Dowd  - Fathers'
Mr Michael Zappone - Old Collegians'
Mr Lee Iafrate - Foundation
Mr K P Liew - Aquatic
Mrs Ann Maccarrone - Basketball
Mr David Clancey - Cricket
Mr Ken Broadhurst - Football
Mrs Ann O’Donnell - Music
Mrs Judita Vaitiekunas - Rowing
Mr Paul de Guingand - Rugby
Ms Anna Hayes - Parent Enrichment Program
Mr Anthony Baldasso - Soccer
Mr Martin Nally - College Board

One of the most significant events in the College calendar is the annual Remembrance Eucharist for recently deceased Old Collegians.  Families of the deceased and members from the College community celebrated Mass with Fr Lawrence Lennard SJ, as we remembered the former students who have died in the last year.  Among those we honoured were dedicated Public Servants, professors of academic institutions across the world and members of our brave military services from World War II to the liberation of Timor.  There were men who lived on the land and who were central figures in their rural community, as well as distinguished professionals in the field of Law, Surveying, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Pathology and Medicine. We celebrated men of the Church, community volunteers and exceptional grandfathers, fathers, potential future fathers, sons and husbands.  These men will always be Kevinians and a candle was lit in the Chapel of St Kevin to honour each Old Collegian.

Ultimately the quality of a school is judged by the graduates it produces, and that judgement can only be made many years after they have left school.  What sort of person did they become? Did they grow those Edmund Rice qualities planted in them at St Kevin's?  Did they leave a thumbprint or a footprint on their world, making it a better place for their presence?  The gentlemen we recognised and celebrated at our remembrance Eucharist certainly left their mark on society as men of compassion and conscience. They left their world a better place.

Waiting

In later life, he befriended a more loving God than the people looking after him were ever able to find for themselves let alone anyone else.

Paul came to my mind on Monday when both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition offered an apology to half a million people often known as ‘the forgotten Australians’. Mr Rudd spoke of ‘the cold absence of love, of tenderness, of care.’ He said: ‘we look back with shame that so many of you were left cold, hungry and alone with nowhere to hide and with nobody, absolutely nobody, to whom to turn.’

 It’s not just that Paul and so many others missed out. The sadness is also that people missed out on them. Our eldest son, Benny, is the same age as Paul was in the story. Benny, aged six, is just completing his first year at big school. You’d need a dozen whiteboards to write down all the things he has learned along the way and not all those lessons have been easy for him. But as he has been learning he has also been teaching us. One night, he had something strange and wonderful to share. He couldn’t divulge the secret until bedtime, after his little brother and sister had nodded off. At last, under cover of dark, he was ready to share his secret. He had learned a prayer off by heart. It was the Our Father. He made this announcement in the sure knowledge that we would never have heard it. Indeed, as he stumbled through the lines, it was as if I had never heard those words before. He brought them back to life for me.

‘Daddy,’ he asked. ‘What does daily bread mean?’

I had to think.

It means having enough.
But not having too much.

Mr Michael McGirr
Head of Faith and Mission

James Sharman
Year 7A
For significant contribution to positive relationships within the Smith Building.

Dale George
Year 8F
Displaying compassion towards his peers during times of need.

Timas Harik
Year 9
For his timely assistance given at Waterford.

Jonathan Choi
Cusack 2
Always striving for
excellence in all endeavours.

Please see the College Calendar for full details.

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