Director of Mission

So it is Christmas…….

By Email this article

At times, one gets the impression that we have become rather blasé about the event. Another Christmas party to attend, limited budgets yet eagerly anticipated gifts, a Christmas Day lunch ravished by family and friends, carols softly playing in the background. Is there something missing here? A closer attention to the words of Christmas Carols can realign us to the ‘reason for the season, Jesus’. 

The relatively recent carol Mary Did You Know? takes us back to over two thousand years ago when a baby was born who was claimed to be the Incarnate God, a God who loves us so intensely that, through Mary, took on human form.

The lyrics from the song, ‘when you kissed your little baby, you kissed the face of God’ bring a refreshing realisation of what the Incarnation really implies. Jesus is Emanuel, God with Us. Let us reflect on this for a moment and, if we truly believe, may we allow Jesus to be reborn in our hearts as we celebrate this Christmas season.

As another academic year ends, it is with gratitude that we look back at the many expressions of outreach shown by the College community. The Mercy Week activities of last term allowed for significant donations to be made to Mercy Works Australasia, Catherine House, Adelaide Day Centre for Homeless Men, Saint Vincent de Paul, Catholic Charities, CARITAS and Catholic Missions to the tune of around $12,000. Added to this, the recent call of support for the Brother Michael Christmas Hamper Appeal has seen an overwhelming response of food items that will bring cheer to many needy families on Christmas Day.

On Monday, a group of 12 Year 11 students will make their way to Cambodia having raised over $13,000 to cover the cost of building materials on what has become an annual working pilgrimage to a country still recovering from the devastation left by the Pol Pot regime. The group will be hosted by Mercy Sister, Denise Coghlan, at the Jesuit Refugee Centre.

The trip is not a ‘poverty tour’ but a ‘roll up your sleeves’ and help venture; genuine mercy in action. We pray for God’s blessings upon Isabella Sandery, Bonnie Doyle, Elsa Conlon, Kate Henderson, Jasmine Poole, Annie Paterson, Niamh Leahy, Amber Lloyde, Issac Penglis, Sam Evangelou, Kade Lange and John Dunstan along with staff Ms Jessica Fanto, Mr Michael Francis, Ms Ilinca Bocse and Mr Bill Deegan. 

In the words of St Francis of Assisi ‘It is in giving that we receive’ and we believe that the pilgrims will return to Adelaide having received many blessings and much joy, the true joy experienced at Christmas.

Wishing you all a happy and holy Christmas Season and safe holidaying.

God Bless.

Pat Terminello KHS
Director of Mission