From the Rector

In recent weeks, our students have actively participated in various faith and service opportunities. The 1478 Unite appeal across campuses supported St Vincent de Paul, Centacare, and the Adelaide Day Centre with donations. The Solidarity Sleep-Out saw sixty Year 12 students raise awareness about homelessness and asylum seekers, with funds raised supporting the Jesuit Refugee Service, Centacare, and our local St Vincent de Paul. Reconciliation Week featured chapel services, an indigenous round in sports, the sale of reconciliation lapels for Aboriginal Catholic Ministries, and a Sea of Hands artwork. During Laudato Si’ week, they engaged in a lunchtime environmental club, emu walks, and indigenous plant identification activities. Additionally, our students have appreciated their year level Days of Reflection.

In the coming weeks, we have the Caroline Chisholm Program, where 150 Year 11 students will participate in over forty community service placements. The Pedro Arrupe Outreach Program guides Junior School students in mission and service, with Year 4 supporting See Differently. Our Year 4s are also looking forward to their Confirmation and First Communion preparation. We are also preparing for international immersions to Timor-Leste midyear and to Cambodia and Vietnam at the end of the year, as well as domestic immersions to Ikara and Lake Mungo for Year 10, promoting understanding and connection.

Victor Hugo famously said, “Those who open a school door, close a prison,” highlighting the transformative power of education in alleviating struggle and fostering a more enlightened and just society. Hugo, the author of ‘Les Misérables’ and ‘The Hunchback of Notre-Dame’, addressed social justice, human rights, and the plight of the poor in 19th-century France. I recall visiting Muntinlupa prison in the Philippines, where I saw this quote on the wall of a prison school. The prisoners were eager to learn and hopeful for the opportunities education could provide upon their release. Similarly, our students are grateful for the value of their broader education.

In 335 BC, Aristotle, unable to own property as a non-Athenian, founded a school that prioritised people over buildings. This method, known as peripatetic learning, involved deep discussions and reflection while walking. The term ‘peripatetic’ means roaming around, suggesting that walking can enhance our understanding and perception. A Jesuit friend once described the process of developing ideas as ‘taking an idea for a walk’. He was a poet who referred to his craft as ‘worded silence’.

While tools like ChatGPT can aid our work, they are only part of the journey. True learning requires deep reflection, discernment, and good decision-making. This approach will develop both our hearts and our minds. We must take our time, fill our minds with what is good and noble, and open our hearts to compassion and love.

At our recent Mass of the Sacred Heart, we reflected on the phrase, ‘The heart of education is the education of the heart’. This reminds us of the need to connect with our hearts, clear away the clutter, and come to our senses. In the face of contemporary pressures, it may be necessary to detox from devices and enjoy the beauty of nature. We need to roam, think, and listen.

The education of the heart emphasises the importance of character development in learning. While we aim for our students to excel academically, we also want them to become good people. Jesuit education goes beyond academics to include value formation, empathy, and emotional intelligence. This holistic approach is central to Jesuit pedagogy, as developing compassionate, well-rounded individuals is crucial for creating a more just and caring society.

Fr Peter Hosking SJ
Rector

OREMUS (Let us pray)

We remember all in our College community. May our prayers comfort those suffering at this time. May God’s blessing be a source of support in their sorrow and loss, and bring courage, patience, and hope.

For those who have died:

• Pellegrino Callisto

“Ask and you shall receive … knock and the door will be opened unto you.” (Matt 7:7)

If you would like someone to be remembered by the College community in prayer (even anonymously), please provide details to the Rector, class or Mentor Teacher, or House Leader.