Saint Augustine and His Mother, Saint Monica
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ST MONICA’S COLLEGE, EPPING Saint Augustine and his mother, Saint Monica by Ary Scheffer VOLUME 30 NUMBER 4 August 2020 ST MONICA’S COLLEGE, EPPING Contents 3 Principal’s Report 4 Dalton Road Campus Director’s Report MISSION St Monica’s College is a regional Catholic 4 Davisson Street Campus Director’s Report coeducational faith community. The school values the sacredness and wellbeing of all students, staff and parents and is committed to serving the young people 5 Deputy Principal’s Report (Operations) of the northern suburbs of Melbourne. We promote the truths and values of Jesus Christ and 5 Deputy Principal’s Report (Identity, Mission & Community) fidelity to the message of the Gospels. Through prayer and perseverance, we nurture genuine and harmonious relationships based on restorative principles. 6 Assistant Principal Development, Training & Compliance Our teaching and learning approach is contemporary, global in perspective and aims to inspire life-long Liturgy learning. We seek to stimulate and develop academic 7 learning and students’ personal world view through critical thought, whilst always being respectful of 7 Youth Ministry students’ abilities and learning styles. We encourage and assist each Monican to reach full potential. Student-centred educational programs and extra- 8 Social Justice curricular offerings foster respect of self, others and the environment. The College provides extensive Careers well maintained facilities, resources and technologies 8-9 which reflect an ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation. 10 2020 House Chess Competition St Monica’s College celebrates its cultural diversity and draws strong identity from its past. We endeavour to empower Monicans to flourish and contribute 10 Performing Arts positively to Australia and the world, now and in the future. 11-14 Monican Women OUR STRATEGIC INTENT St Monica’s College is a School of Educational 15 Values Education Enterprise. The College is committed to adopting international perspectives focussing on global citizenship and social justice for all. There is an 15 Mask Competition ongoing commitment to the development of programs and facilities including a Trade Skills Centre. The College aims to be a leader in innovation, the 16-17 St Monica’s Day from the Past use of Information and Communication Technology, with state of the art resources and encouraging The Governor in Schools Program digital leadership. The College will continue to 18 expand the repertoire of effective teaching practices and use of data, in order to strengthen curriculum 19 Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning pathways and achievement. Contemporary learning opportunities will be provided for all community members, including students, staff and parents. 19 COVID-19 and Masks 20 Dedication to Studies – Revised and renewed! 21 Sport EDITORIAL TEAM Principal Mr Brian Hanley 22-23 Alumni Ms Pamela Griffin COVER 24 Enrolments for Year 7, 2022 ‘Saint Augustine and his mother, Saint Monica.’ School of Educational Enterprise Principal’s Report Gifts Mr Brian Hanley on the Let us celebrate the good things in life – our From our dear saint comes our revered motto be a Monican, the privilege, the honor and the life itself, our family and our friends, our faith, of ‘Pray and Persevere’. Who prayed more, delight. We shall never let this virus and this our school and work, our favorite pastimes with such fervour and with such perseverance, hardship destroy the Monican spirit. and hobbies like music, sports, art, crafts and than this woman of the fourth century? Monica Table This edition of The Monican includes a very watching favorite movies. pursued her son, Augustine, across seas special and once-in-a-lifetime feature. Monican and continents, she pleaded on his behalf to Let us also mourn in sincerity with those Women honors a collection of female Monicans Bishop Ambrose in Milan, she rejoiced when in the midst of their grief. We mourn for all who have distinguished themselves in service Augustine converted to the Christian faith and Monicans who have been affected directly to this College since 1964. Identify as many reconciled with God. or through family or friends as a result of the as you recognise. The honor roll features our Coronavirus. We pray for the repose of the soul We are enthralled and captivated by the portrait Saints, Principals, Good Samaritan Sisters of of grandparents who have died, for neighbours of Monica and Augustine by Ary Scheffer note, Board and Governance Monicans, long- or fellow workers we know, for those we do (1795 – 1858) entitled St Augustine and His serving and special teachers and non-teachers, not know but who have been taken by the virus. Mother St Monica. This work catches the alumni, and special current Monicans. It truly is We pray for those who live but have been tested devoted concentration in the beautiful faces of a treasure trove of loved and revered Monicans, positive, for those who have agonised whilst mother and son, its yellow hue suggests a new past and present. Each is a gift to St Monica’s awaiting results, for those who live in a constant dawn emerging, the holding of hands entwined College, Epping. state of anxiety. captures the love of a parent and child looking in I invite all people as you read to know that this awe at the revelation of the Kingdom of God. August is the month of Saint Monica so let us College recognises the cruelty of the virus, smile and hand over our torment and grief for Our College experiences will be so different in we shall persevere as best and as often as we a short time into her heavenly arms. She is 2020. No actual commissioning of new College must. We love our patron, Saint Monica, the our loving patron, our spiritual and human Captains: no party pies, sausage rolls or fairy remarkable woman of prayer and perseverance. role model, our College saint and our school’s floss for lunch: no sweet treat at the end of the We honor the memory, contributions, service and inspiration. Her feast day is 27 August annually. day. The Oration is gone in 2020 along with the commitment of very special Monican women. Sports Breakfast. No amusements lifting us up, When Saint Monica was selected in the 1960’s Our loyalty and affection for all things Monican spinning us around, rocking and rolling us in a to have this school named in her honor, some are the gifts we lay on the table of life in 2020. frenzy of speed. people were disappointed or at least a little Brian E. Hanley surprised, even miffed. Why Monica when Yet, we will deliver our College Pledges to each College Principal it could have been Scholastica or some other other one day in 2020, and we shall see our name more associated with the Benedictine 2021 College Captains commissioned into their Sisters of the Good Samaritan? But Monica it future roles. Somehow and on some occasion, was, and Monica it will remain. we shall find time to celebrate what it means to 3 Director’s Report Director’s Report Dalton Road Campus Davisson Street Campus Ms Amorina Chirico Miss Paula Di Maria The lead up to St Monica’s Week on the Dalton Road Campus August is the month of Monica and in this extraordinary year that is 2020, is an absolute time of joy and excitement for students it has never been more important than it is right now, to draw inspiration from and staff. The countdown commences in the early days of a woman who is as relevant and influential today, as she was as a woman of the August and we can hear a slow tick, tick, tick approaching fourth-century. the “big day”. Year 8 and Year 9 students know exactly what Our patroness St Monica, is an example of someone who worked assiduously to expect, and Year 7 students having only heard what the behind the scenes, demonstrating great effort and determination with faith as day brings, are literally jumping out of their skin to enjoy the her source of strength, to allow others to reach their full potential. We are all celebrations and excitement. familiar with her story which centres on her dogged resolve to lead her unruly Alas, COVID-19 has completely derailed the day of days at son Augustine, towards what was to be his conversion to Christianity. It is widely SMC! Students have asked if the day can be postponed, they understood that Monica’s ceaseless prayer and perseverance, saw no bounds or have enquired regarding an alternative celebration, they are limitations, such was the tremendous love she felt for God, and her own will to asking to complete virtual Homeroom decorations, they have her son experience that great love too. If the recounts of Monica’s life stand wonder what a year at SMC looks like without a St Monica’s true, her invisible ministries to the abused women of her time and her prayers for Day celebration and to be honest, so do I? her son and husband, remain true examples of the selflessness of a woman who sacrificed everything for those she championed. The ripple effects of her legacy My own Year 7 Religious Education classes have read can be felt to this present day, as we draw inspiration from a woman whose actions about Saint Monica and studied one of the many beautiful and unwavering devotion remind us that we move in much greater circles than prayers dedicated to her. They have written their own ourselves, in the work we do with and for others in service. prayer to a friend or family member and have completely immersed themselves into our motto, Pray and Persevere. The challenges that our global community continues to face in 2020, are not They understand what a courageous, fearless, tolerant, unique.