Dear Parents/Carers,

On Friday, the school community will come together for Mass at 9am to celebrate the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron of our College.

We invite everyone to attend. It will also be an opportunity to officially induct our new student leaders for 2019-2020.

The actual feast day of St Francis falls in the school holidays on the 4th October, so why do we stop to celebrate the life of St Francis? The answer is that St Francis of Assisi is a great role model for our community. He is truly one of the world’s great saints - an ordinary man who lived a privileged life as the son of a wealthy textiles merchant, someone who by all accounts was a very charismatic man, who was popular with the ladies.  He enjoyed living an extravagant lifestyle during his time as a flamboyant soldier, until he was captured by the neighbouring army of Perugia and held as a prisoner for a year, until his wealthy father paid a ransom for his release. 

During his time in captivity, Francis spent a great deal of time praying to God. He developed a relationship with God through prayer and over the next few years began to see visions of God that changed his life. He denounced his position of privilege, gave away his possessions and began a life of dedicated service to others, especially the poor and marginalised. He left the safety of Assisi’s walls (designed to keep residents safe from attack from opposing armies and wild animals) and went to live in the bush in the valley with the farmers and lepers who were very exposed in what was a fairly lawless country. Francis built a hospital and a church and was loved and admired by those who lived outside the city walls.

What he was doing was inspirational.  Others in the ancient city of Assisi joined Francis and the Franciscan movement began. The great work of Francis and his followers gathered momentum, and the many miracles that Francis performed in the name of God greatly enhanced his notoriety, and in turn led to further followers. 

We spend time acknowledging St Francis because he provides a blue print on how to live a dedicated life of service to Christ. Inspired by the life of Jesus, Francis made an effort to live simply. He de-cluttered his life and spent time in prayer. He slowed down, reflected on the beauty of nature and was grateful for the gifts he had been given by God, and he found true happiness in the service of others.

In this fast-paced, noisy world where we are constantly bombarded by the media telling us that we are only worth what we consume. I think it is worthwhile stopping and taking some time to hear the message of St Francis of Assisi. He was an ordinary person, like the rest of us.  He just followed Jesus’ example in an extraordinarily dedicated way. 

May God continue to bless you and may you enjoy time with your family over the student vacation period.

Mr Simon Abernethy
College Principal