From the Principal – Term 2 Week 2
Dear Newman College Families
Welcome back to the start of Term 2. I hope all families enjoyed some time together over the term break holidays. We are underway and fully back into the swing of College life and learning.
Prior to the students returning, our staff enjoyed a great day with the Marist Life and Formation Team, unpacking our Marist Theme for 2025, Pilgrims of Hope. As we enjoyed this deep dive into understanding Pilgrims of Hope, we were also grappling with the death of Pope Francis, and our community recognised his passing and leadership in our PCG and Class prayers throughout the first week of school. The impact of Francis’ leadership will be long experienced in the Church and the world. There are many lessons we take from his papacy but one in particular has sat with me for many years. Chris Lowney, a former Jesuit seminarian, wrote the book Pope Francis: Why He Leads the Way He Leads. Lowney wrote what we all came to understand about this leader in faith. Pope Francis was a pastoral leader, a leader deeply connected with the people and of the people. A particular image put forward by Lowney was of Francis dirty laundry, dusty shoes and monastery bells. As a supervisor of a Jesuit Seminary earlier in his priesthood, Fr Jorge Bergolio (Pope Francis) took it upon himself to do the laundry of the seminary. He was easily identifiable as a priest with his people as his shoes were always dirty with the dust of the roads and alleyways where he met and pastored to his parish and people. This earthiness, presence and focus on the human interaction with others was also coupled with Francis’ focus on looking up (monastery bells), leading his flock to a personal relationship with God. In these times where leadership seems to have lurched towards selfishness and division, we have lost a true leader who embodied the hope to look beyond and to the margins, but we will continue to be better for the example of true servant leadership he has left us. We now celebrate and pray for Pope Leo XIV.
In this moment of history and hope, we pause in prayer together as a Marist community. With hearts full of faith, we welcome the words spoken by our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV:
‘Peace be with you’
Guild Spirit
Students on Marcellin campus enjoyed a great day of Guild spirit in last week’s Cross Country event. Along with the overall competition to take the shield, we had Guilds competing for the first time in the Guild Spirit shield. What we saw on the day was the dial shift even further to the right with a renewed energy around celebrating and competing as a Guild. Well done to all the students, Guild Co-ordinators and the Physical Education team for an uplifting and joyful carnival. Congratulations to the podium finishers in each race, Marcellin Guild for taking the Shield and to MacKillop and Thomas More who drew to become the first Guilds on the new Spirit Shield. Most importantly, well done to all our students for their great involvement on the day.
Mother’s Day
As the week drew to a close, we were delighted to welcome mothers, grandmothers and mother figures to the College for either the Mother’s Day Liturgy or Mass. The celebration of Mother’s Day is one of the most beautiful moments in any year; that outpouring expression of gratitude and thanks to our ever patient, strong, wise and amazing mothers.
We also take a moment to remember and honour the mothers who are no longer with us. Their love and legacy continue to live on in the hearts of those they nurtured.
On behalf of all in our community, I wish everyone a joyous Mother’s Day this Sunday.
Mr Andrew Watson
PRINCIPAL