Friday, 1 November We must make the choices that enable us to fulfil the deepest capacities of our real selves. – Thomas Merton Issue 2013/31 THE RECTOR A few weeks ago, I went to a screening of a documentary called Girl co-curricular and pastoral provision through which we encourage a Rising. It described the struggles of nine girls from a variety of bountiful development of gifts for others. Co-operating in the mission of developing countries. Several well-known actors helped with the the Church: we want to witness to Christ’s presence in the world, to narration. The following statistics from the film give pause for find and form Christian community and to participate in Church life. reflection. In the world today, there are 33 million fewer girls than We seek to serve the needs of the world and the Church especially in boys in primary school. 66 million girls are out of school globally. If the light of the apostolic aims of the Jesuits. India enrolled 1% more girls in secondary school, its GDP would rise How do we want our students to by $5.5 billion. A girl with an extra year of education can earn 20% turn out as a result of this special more as an adult. Girls with eight years of education are four times kind of formation? We hope they less likely to be married as children. 14 million girls under 18 will be will be (a) intellectually competent, married this year – that’s 13 girls in the last 30 seconds. In a single (b) open to growth, (c) religious, year, an estimated 150 million girls are victims of sexual violence. (d) committed to justice and 50% of sexual assaults in the world victimise girls under the age of (e) loving in their relationships. Being 15. The main cause of death for girls 15-19 years of age is childbirth. intellectually competent: In education A child born to a literate mother is 50% more likely to survive past today there is an abundance of the age of five years. Educated mothers are more than twice as likely information so we need to nurture to send their children to school. As well as describing distressing the imagination to discern what is patterns of discrimination and abuse, the documentary highlighted really important. There is a the positive affect that education has on the well-being of girls, pluralism of choices so we need to families and communities. foster discerning hearts and minds Jesuit Mission knows well the importance of educating girls in to make good decisions. This means transforming lives. This is a key priority of their aid and development asking the deeper questions. Value work. One of their education projects is a school in East Timor. The formation is terribly important here. Academic proficiency covers a Australian Jesuit Province is a major supporter of the Institute of curriculum and gets good exam marks but a particular score never Jesuit Education in Kasait, East Timor which will eventually consist defines a life. We are defined by how we use our wisdom for others. of the St Ignatius of Loyola High School and a teacher training Being open to growth involves a willingness to appreciate our gifts and to college, St John de Brito College. Australian Jesuit schools and test our talents. Our achievements are not so much about personal parishes have been asked to make the Jesuit Education project in success but how we contribute to the community. Growth involves the East Timor a priority in their fundraising efforts, with $5 million formation of the whole person - cognitive, emotional, physical, social required over the next five years to complete the project. You can and spiritual. Positive psychology links well with Ignatian spirituality in donate to this online via Jesuit Mission. In the payment details please this aspect of our endeavour. direct the campaign to St Aloysius’ College – Kasait East Timor appeal. Being religious: We live in a culture where religion is often marginalised. This week, we welcomed the students who will commence at At St Aloysius’ College we would like to place the religious instinct at St Aloysius’ College next year. Their parents joined us for part of the the centre of what it means to be fully human. If we can form the day. In so many ways we begin a journey together. We encourage the inner person to be sensitive to God and foster the capacity to reflect, active participation of parents in the life of the College. Parents are to ponder deeply, to be humble and to take personal responsibility the primary educators of their children and their personal knowledge then we can change situations in extraordinary ways. We believe the of, and affection for, their children is an essential contribution to a person of Jesus frees us to be our truest selves. We want to genuine partnership that exists in our community. encourage this search for meaning, and the relationship with God and the Church that it involves. Being committed to justice: We hope our We are part of a Jesuit tradition that has been going since 1547, students may be equipped and motivated to be agents of social which today educates over a million boys and girls around the world. change. Today we seek to be aware of the global nature of social Jesuit schools are committed to a “way of proceeding”. This includes issues such as human rights, the dignity of the person, sustainability, some key themes. Finding God in all things: every aspect of our life and the forced movement of people et alia. An emphasis on service and labour can affirm the goodness and presence of God. Cura personalis: social justice is central to Jesuit education. Being loving is perhaps the we seek to foster a culture of concern and pastoral care where essential educational outcome. If people at St Aloysius’ feel valued students, staff and families feel accepted for who they are and what and loved, then this will help their relationships have integrity and they might become. Formation of the whole person: we focus on the authenticity. We hope they will show self-sacrifice in their intellectual, affective and moral to develop a sense of self-worth and interactions with others. We recognise the wisdom of the saying the of one’s place in the world. Being men and women for others: We want to heart of education is education of the heart. show love in deeds and to serve others generously. Engaging with the wider world: we aim to be aware of the challenges of our time. Peter Hosking SJ Encouraging excellence: we want to be distinguished for our academic, THE PRINCIPAL Last Saturday night, Mr Marinan’s Year 5.4 class held the Air Guitars of developing our gifts and using them generously. Thus, there for Africa night. This creative initiative by Mr Marinan, as the Arrupe should be a focus in our charity work, as evidenced by the Air Outreach project for his class, has been a fixture for a number of Guitars for Africa night, on the educational and the relational, rather years. The night blends the boys (and in some cases parents) dressed than simply raising money. This is where connections with the work up as young Rock and Roll legends and playing their air guitars, along of young Old Boys such as James Woodward, James Harrison, James with a music quiz, auction and meal, to raise money for the Familia Paterson and Oliver Doraisamy are so important, in terms of Moja children’s home in Kenya. A representative of the charity spoke modelling service through graduates who are known to the boys. Our about the work, while young Old Boy James Woodward (SAC 2003) immersions to the Philippines have established long-term sent a video message from London. Fr Aloysius Mowe SJ, the relationships with local people, and Old Boys have not only Director of Jesuit Refugee Services in Australia, was also present and continued to support works there, but have also returned later and spoke about JRS’s work in Africa. Both the Air Guitars night and the given of their time and skills. Over a period of years, this human Familia Moja initiative reflect the generosity and creativity of the resource may well amount to a significant commitment in terms of Aloysius’ community. development, as well as being of value to those who help. We hope The story of Familia Moja is well known to many in the Aloys’ that something will develop with the work of our young graduates community: two young Old Boys, James Woodward and James with the Karen people in Thailand. It is not impossible to imagine Harrison (both SAC 2003), who went to work in a small Kenyan young doctors, teachers, engineers, businessmen etc returning in the orphanage, and then helped to take over the care of the children after future to such places and giving of their time and skills. it was closed by a corrupt manager. Today, Familia Moja Children’s Here in Sydney, our contacts with St Canice’s in Kings Cross, and Home, supported by its Australian charity, Kickstart Kids with the Vinnies van and Life for Kids, and more recently with International Inc., is home to 37orphans in a home with clean water, Jarjum in Redfern, again provide not only opportunities to raise three meals a day, electricity, one bed per child, clothing and funds for good causes, but to have practical and ongoing engagement schooling. An agricultural business has also been established to in areas of need in our community.