Faith Matters - Radiance

On Tuesday we as a College celebrated our inaugural beginning of the year mass together as a whole school community. This was a significant occasion for the College and was enabled by the completion of our multipurpose centre. In the past our beginning of year masses were celebrated individually due to the growth of the school population as we had ‘outgrown’ St Thomas’ church!

The mass we shared was an exceptional celebration of our faith community. We were blessed to have a number of key individuals who ensured that the mass was planned and executed with collaboration and precision. Thanks is given to the diligence and support of Mr Paul Lewis, Mr Jarryd Atkinson and the priests who concelebrate the Eucharist for us (Fr James Puppady PP Drysdale, Fr Sang Ho PP Belmont, Fr Darien Sticklen PP Ocean Grove/Queenscliff, Fr Michael Ryan SJ).

The importance of the Eucharist in our community is founded on the belief the Eucharist being the “source and summit of Christian life”. In being able to celebrate and receive the Eucharist together we are joined through Jesus himself and become what we as a community claim to be. This understanding further supports the significance of the opportunity for the whole school to come together in prayer and in receiving Communion.

The readings of the mass and the homily offered both taught and guided those present to a vision of a community and a year of hope. In presenting a mass to our youth the music offered in support is vitally important for engagement of the students. Great credit must be given to Ms Marina Brown, Arts Captain Noah Gullan who selected and presented a number of ‘new’ contemporary songs that both developed the mass and grabbed the attention of the students.

The central theme of the mass was based around the 2020 College motto: ‘Ignite your light’ and the reading of Jesus and the Samaritan woman (John 4:1-15, 19-26) from John’s gospel. These readings were supported further by the homily which illustrated the importance of community and the need for a communal and individual relationship with Jesus. The recessional hymn for the mass was a song called ‘Set a Fire’ the lyrics below were both a fitting sending out and conclusion to the theme of our inaugural whole school mass and the goal we as a community strive for.

So set a fire down in my soul

That I can't contain and I can't control

I want more of You, God

I want more of You, God

No place I would rather be

Than here in Your Love!

Here in Your Love!

I want more, I want more

I want more, I want more

I want more, I want more

I want more, won't You pour it out?

So set a fire down in my soul

That I can't contain and I can't control

I want more of You, God

I want more of You, God

(Will Reagan 2010 ©)

I hope that this reflection of our shared encounter inspires you and that you may in-turn reflect your personal relationship with Jesus. This radiance will bring light and joy to the people you meet each day and will personify St Ignatius’ teaching of ‘God in All Things’.

Yours in Christ,


Brendan Nicholls Religious Education and Liturgy Coordinator