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Dear Parents/Carers,
There are normally two big events that we come together for as a whole College community. These events are the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi (last day of Term 3) and the Feast of Blessed Edmund Rice (May 5th).
These patrons of our school are celebrated as they are excellent role models and examples of how ordinary people can be led by God to do extraordinary things.
Blesssed Edmund Rice
Tuesday’s celebration for Edmund Rice Feast Day was certainly very different with everyone working and learning remotely. I am grateful to our Assistant Principal, Mr Sligar and our Leader of Religious Education, Identity & Mission (K-4), Miss Christensen for developing resources that were shared with our students and staff on the day so that the occasion didn’t go unannounced.
It is worth noting that Edmund also lived in a time when schools were closed for a different reason. In Edmund's day, Irish schools were only for the elite. The poor were not educated. Ireland was ruled by a suppressive English regime which actively banned Catholicism as it only allowed the official church 'the Church of England' to be open as places of worship. Catholic priests were banned from celebrating Mass and persecuted if they tried. Many were killed as a result.
Edmund grew up with strong Catholic parents who were well off. They encouraged Edmund to invite friends to their home and they prayed the rosary as a family, with those friends, despite the laws restricting this practice.
When Edmund moved to Waterford, a busy trading port, to work for his uncle as a businessman, Edmund developed excellent skills and had a great business acumen. He was not a stranger to hard work and became very successful. He was struck by the poverty of many young people and their inability to get an education and rise out of their situation. Edmund began to lobby powerful business colleagues and provide assistance where he could.
He met his wife and they quickly had a baby girl. Sadly, his wife passed away suddenly a short time after giving birth, and Edmund was deeply troubled. He struggled with the loss of his wife and entered a period of deep depression.
During this difficult time Edmund turned to God, seeking answers and clarity about what he was to do with his life. He also sought counsel from friends when considering leaving the area to become a priest. Friends pointed out the poverty all around him, and encouraged him to do God's work where he was. He began to take more delight in raising his daughter and put his nose to the grindstone, establishing a school for poor boys.
Quickly Edmund discovered that such work was very challenging. The boys were unruly and difficult to manage. Volunteer teachers did not last long and the school was struggling. Edmund reflected that the boys needed more than just education. Before they could settle they needed to feel cared for and loved. Edmund established a bakery onsite at the school and fed the boys each day. He organised for shoes and uniforms to be made and provided them to the boys. The boys in turn showed great appreciation for Edmund's care and his schools took off.
Edmund's work inspired others and soon he had many young men joining him from across Ireland, volunteering to teach and work in his schools. Edmund established the Christian Brothers movement and it spread across Ireland and eventually across the globe.
COVID-19 has presented a number of challenges for us but we can learn many valuable lessons as a result. Pope Francis in his recent message ‘Urbi et Orbi’, compared the viral outbreak plaguing Italy and much of the world, to an unexpected, turbulent storm.
“We have realised that we are all on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us now called to row the boat together, each of us in need of comforting each other.”
Edmund challenged the ailing system of his time. He could not disregard those in need even if his own life was disturbed.
How and to what extent are we prepared to be disturbed today? This will be a year we will always remember – it has disturbed, but as Bill Gates reminds us it can be considered “a correction”.
Bill’s spin on the virus is not so much about what the virus is doing to us but what it is doing for us.
He suggests:
- It has taught us we are all equal and all just as vulnerable
- It reminds us that we are all connected and that what affects one affects others
- It reminds us how precious our health is
- It reminds us how short life is and what is truly important
- It challenges our materialistic tendencies and how little is really "essential"
- It reminds us that family comes first and our true work is to look after and protect one another
- It reminds us that the power of free will is in our hands - the power to choose, to share, to support and to help to co-operate.
These are valuable lessons I encourage you to share with your children.
If they are acutely aware of these values they will live inspirational and fulfilled lives just like Edmund.
Mother’s Day
I would like to take this opportunity to wish the Mothers, Grandmothers and women who are significant in our lives a very happy Mother’s Day for Sunday. Hopefully some restrictions are lifted today and allow you to celebrate with families and enjoy the day.
Mothers are very special people and are regularly 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.
The busyness of the lives of mothers is presented best in one of my videos. I have provided a link for your enjoyment.
Happy Mother’s Day!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nem0bkErGVY
May God continue to bless you all,
Simon Abernethy
College Principal
Blessed Edmund Rice Feast Day 2020
On Tuesday, 5th May, as a College community, in the tradition of Edmund Rice, we celebrated (remotely) his Feast Day.
Because of the current remote learning environment we are living in at present, members of the College community were invited to watch a video compiled by the students and staff of St Francis to commemorate this day in our own way.
This video provides opportunities for reading & listening to scripture readings, hearing stories from Edmund’s life and a reflection on how to live out these learnings so that “Jesus lives in our hearts forever”.
I encourage you to watch this video with your child/ren as it is vital to maintain our College Catholic, Edmund Rice identity in this challenging world we are living in.
Click on either of the links below to watch the K-4 or Years 5-10 YouTube video:-
SFCC Edmund Rice Feast Day 2020 Years K-4 Video
SFCC Edmund Rice Feast Day 2020 Years 5-10 Video
Mr Damian Sligar
Assistant Principal - Religious Education & Youth Ministry
Thank you to all the Mothers, Grandmothers and all women who are an integral part in the lives of children.
We wish you a Happy Mother’s Day!
From all the staff and students at St Francis Catholic College.
Many students from K-10* and teachers have compiled Mother’s Day well wishes videos for the St Francis Community.
Please click on the links below to view them.
Part 1 Years K-4 SFCC Mothers Day Video 2020
Part 2 Years K-4 SFCC Mother's Day 2020
Years 5-10 SFCC Mother's Day Video 2020
* Please be aware that some videos submitted may not appear
because of technical difficulties with the videos. We apologise for this.
Mr Sligar