Dear Parents & Friends,

What a busy and exciting start to Term 2. This week Year 10 students & parents were invited to hear about course options for Stage 6, we celebrated our Mother’s Day liturgy on Wednesday, Thursday was the feast day of Blessed Edmund Rice and today was our athletics carnival for Years 7-12. 

The term remains busy as over the next few weeks will sift through the mountain of enrolment applications for 2023-2024. We will soon be contacting families who have been successful in having an opportunity to interview and interviews start on Saturday 21st May and run over a two week period. 

Mother’s Day:

I would like thank the huge number of mums who were able to visit the college on Wednesday. It was great to be able to welcome back these important people after a period of COVID restrictions. We wish the Mothers, grandmothers and women who are significant in our lives a very happy Mother’s Day for Sunday. 

Mothers are very special people and regularly are the busiest in the household. They are special because they frequently place others before themselves and demonstrate love through many acts of service. Mums are always great for hugs and know how to lift you up when you feel the weight of the world. 

Kids are often self-centred and take mums for granted. On Wednesday we reminded them of the importance to stop and acknowledge their mums and show a bit of love. Happy Mother’s Day to all!

Edmund Rice Feast Day:

On Thursday we stopped to celebrate the life of one of the college’s two great patrons, Blessed Edmund Rice. Edmund was a great example of an ordinary person, inspired by God, doing extra-ordinary things in service of his community. 

Edmund was well educated, a tireless worker and a highly successful businessman. He was a man of great faith and rather than limiting his wealth and success to his immediate family, Edmund focused on addressing the needs of his community. He saw poverty and injustice around him and decided to commit himself to make positive changes. Edmund established a school for poor children to educate them and give them an opportunity to be employed so that they could be liberated from a life of poverty. Edmund soon realised that this was challenging and complicated work. Poor children also need to be fed and clothed. They needed a sense of dignity before they could be educated. 

Edmund’s work inspired others to join him and in a short time a movement of Christian Brothers and Presentation Brothers who spread across Ireland and eventually internationally. His work was deeply rooted in social justice and that is why students of St Francis spend the day learning about Edmund, his life and work and how they too can be help commit to living in a more just society. Edmund is truly a great role model. 

Athletics Carnival:

It was fantastic to see our senior students lead the carnival and encourage great house spirit and participation. All students are encouraged to ‘have a go’ and get points for their house team. In addition, we have a number of talented athletes and we are eager to see them perform at their best. 

May God continue to bless you all.

Kind regards,
Simon Abernethy