All Saints and All Souls Day
Today we celebrated the Feast of All Saints Day with a liturgy at 7:45am in the College Chapel. The gentle spirit was with those who gathered to remember those saints in our lives who we have guided us through life in one of two roles: As formally proclaimed saints of the Church as patrons of schools, significant persons of study and confirmation names; or as those saints who have filled our lives as teachers, significant relatives and mentors. Today in our Liturgy, beautifully crafted by the Charism committee under the creative leadership of Mrs Jo Kenderes, we explored how saints have formed and informed our lives through the lense of respect.
On All Saints Day, in the Lectionary, the Gospel reading is Matthew 5:1-12, the Beatitudes. Lisa Kelly writes, “The Beatitudes are less about who I am and more about how I see everyone else. They are about seeing others through the eyes of Christ”. Perhaps over the weekend, you might like to take some time to remember the saints in your lives.
I found sitting with the wisdom at Ignatian Spirituality a great help when I was writing my reflection on my maternal Grandmother, Moya Clare Howard. Here are some of our reflections we shared this morning. I hope these encourage you to think about the saints in your lives as we celebrate All Saints and All Souls Day this weekend.
What Elisabeth Carey taught me about Respect when I arrived as a Year 7 in her Tutor Group, by Erin Griffin
Starting high school everything was very new, big and scary. From the moment I joined my Tutor, Elisabeth was there with the biggest smile on her face every single morning. She was so kind and genuine to everyone and I don’t think there was a day I saw her without becoming aware of her bubbly personality. I remember once being completely lost, having absolutely no idea where my class was and Elisabeth stopped, came up to me to check if I was ok and then walked me all the way to my classroom. Just this tiny act of kindness showed me how much she cared for people, and it was acts like this that made her so memorable to everyone. Following her example, I have tried to make other people feel welcome and comfortable at school. Elisabeth is a true example of a Vinnies Girl, and lived out all of our College values especially Generosity of Spirit and Respect for others.
What Sr Jane Frances Millane SSpS taught me about Respect when I was living and working in PNG, by Ms Sonia Clancy
Sr Jane was an American Holy Spirit sister who was called to be a missionary. She went to Papua New Guinea in 1962 and became not only a School Principal, but was integral to the policy making in education in PNG. Everyone in education had either heard of or knew Sr Jane. I was in my early to mid 20's when Sr Jane was my Principal and she was a strong, courageous, generous and humble woman. She modelled respect to all people she met and worked with, acknowledging the inherent dignity of her students, her teachers, nurses, her secretary, trade store owner, the workers, the parents, the local villagers, her fellow nuns and most of all to me - a young know-it-all teacher. She set high expectations. She gave me positions of leadership, such as the Dean of Girls, providing me with opportunities to succeed sometimes and be there when I stumbled. I recall a moment where she was the only person to meet a distressed traditional land owner who was angry and upset that the school was on his people’s land. Sr Jane encouraged him to lower his machete and talk; together they were able to see that the gift of his land for the education of his peoples’ children was profound and could not happen without those who were here: The missionaries, the volunteers and the local teachers. It was his gift that enabled our gift to be shared. Sr Jane was an incredibly inspiring woman and I was blessed to have her as my first Principal.
What St Thomas More taught me about Respect as a primary student, by Isabeau Gallardo Walker
St Thomas More is a saint who taught me about respect throughout my childhood years. Being my primary school patron saint, much of the values instilled in me were on the basis of his teachings of respect and courage. St Thomas More was beheaded in 1535 for defying Henry VIII. He lived a life with moral courage, adhering to his Catholic faith. He wasn’t afraid to stand up for what he believed in, even when the consequence was death. He is remembered as a fair lawyer, respecting all people no matter what. This led him to become the patron saint of politics. St Thomas More has taught me much about respecting other people’s beliefs and showing respect to everyone no matter who they are, and I try to live my life following these teachings.
What St John Paul II taught me about Respect with First Nations peoples, by Sophia Cotis and Mr David Woolbank
Pope John Paul II grew up in Poland, and experienced life under Hitler’s terrifying regime. He loved art and theatre and watched the horror of destruction that hatred can bring. As a young priest he observing the extraordinary promise of Vatican II. Then as Pope he could see what was possible when respect for human life and freedom of opportunity were real for people; he was instrumental in the dismantling of the communist block and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Pope John Paul II knew what respect could bring, and so, in 1986 he addressed the Indigenous people of Australia and he had this to teach us:
Your culture, which shows the lasting genius and dignity of your race, must not be allowed to disappear. Your songs, your stories, your paintings, your dances, your languages, must never be lost. Through your closeness to the land you touched the sacredness of man’s relationship with God, for the land was the proof of a power in life greater than yourselves.
What my Grandma taught me about Respect and resilience, by Rachel McLean
Grandma was a resilient woman. She was a twin who loved her family, especially her sisters and joined two of them to learn the how to nurse with the sisters of charity. She fell in love with my grandfather one evening walking home from a dance. After a short courtship they married and settled in Bathurst where they raised a family of 5, he working mornings, she nights. At the age of 40 she was diagnosed with MS and for the next 47 years managed this frustrating disease with grace. While grandma often wanted to dismiss health care professionals, complain about her physical condition and go to bed and not get up, she didn’t. She stayed the course. She upheld what it means to be a member of a growing family and committed to living life in a wheel chair as best she could. She loved deeply and generously. She respected the life she had been given and lived within the physical confines that had been imposed on her through MS. I thank her for her courage. I thank her for teaching me how to love.
What St Mother Teresa of Calcutta taught me about Respect for those who are thirsting, by Ella Humphries
Mother Teresa’s Sisters run a network of homes, hospices, dispensaries and soup kitchens. They care for the poorest of the poor on the streets of Kolkata. Mother Teresa’s mission to the dying began with a failure. A man lay on the platform of Kolkata Station, he called out to her, “I thirst”. She finished what she needed to do and then went back to help the man, but it was too late. He had died and his body was taken away.
Now, her sisters and all volunteers begin each day with Mass where they remember that on the cross Jesus called out “I thirst”, and they then go directly to serve the poor. Mother Teresa teaches us to respect the poor NOW. Don’t waste a moment. Do not put off serving them, for tomorrow they may not be there. Mother Teresa teaches us that Respect is needed every day, every hour, every moment. Listen with humility. Serve with energy. Love wastefully. There is no-one more important, more worthy than the dying person who lies at your feet.
Ms Rachel McLean
Director of Faith and Mission
