PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
IT’S BEEN A TOUGH WEEK AT JOHN THERRY
The incredibly sad news that we received on Monday morning of the passing of a student on Sunday afternoon sent waves of sadness across the school community. This popular young man from Yr 8 has an equally popular sister in Yr 11 and both year groups were hugely affected, as were so many Staff.
As I explained to the students at Assembly, I do not know why things like this happen. I am perplexed and dismayed. I, like all, have no idea the destiny that God has for us. But as a Catholic I stand firm in the belief that Travis will be held safe and will one day be reunited with his family.
We also had the passing of the mother of a student in Yr 12 and her brother in Yr 9. We keep both of these families and particularly our students in our prayers.
CHAMPAGNAT DAY
On the 2nd January 2017, we celebrated 200 years, the bicentenary of the founding of the Marist Brothers’ by St Marcellin Champagnat and the commencement of Marist schools across the world. He was a man for his times, he got in and did the hard work, rolled up his sleeves. He was criticized for doing work that was not seen as fit for a Priest, but it made a difference to others.
His spirituality was based on Mary, the mother of Jesus. We celebrated Champagnat Day on Wednesday this week (although the day is actually Thursday 6th June). This day reminds us of the work of this vital French Priest and his life in changing the lives of the poor French and educating children to release them from poverty and improve their lives. The French Revolution promoted living by reason and not faith and this drove his passion to spread the message of Jesus and to make Jesus known and loved.
My congratulations go to all Champagnat Day award winners and especially to the winners of the new award – The Three Violets Award. The Marist’s use the three violets to represent humility, honesty and simplicity.
PENTECOST SUNDAY
This Sunday Christians worldwide will celebrate the feast of Pentecost. This commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit on the early followers of Jesus. At this stage there was no movement that could be called a ‘church’ but that changed with the Spirit in them.
We cannot live as God would have us by our own efforts, gifts and determination. We need the life and power of the Spirit. The English word ‘Pentecost’ is a trasnslation of the Greek work pentekostos, which means fifty. It comes from the ancient Christian expression pentecoste hemera, which means fiftieth day. So as we approach this special Catholic event I reflect upon the early followers of Jesus who had just seen their leader murdered, and then witnessed him risen. They went out and took up the challenge of proclaiming the Good News. I hope and pray that at some time in our lives we also experience the power of the spirit.
