LOYSIA AThe Magazine of St Aloysius’ College • ‘Men for Others’ • Issue XLII • Autumn 2006D 60th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood of Father Geoffrey Schneider SJ (SAC Staff 1966 - Present) from the council College Council Report Mrs Josephine Lonergan AM ollowing the retirement of Mrs Josephine Lonergan n December 2005, Mrs Josephine Lonergan AM AM, Mr Eric Goodwin has been appointed as Chair stepped down as Chair of the College Council and Fof the Council. Mr Goodwin is a Past Parent of the Iafter thirteen years of tireless service to the College, College (Daniel SAC 1992 and Joshua SAC 1994) and retired from the Council. One of the original members is a Member of the Council Finance Committee and Chair of the College Council when it was formed in 1992, of the Council Building Committee. Mr Goodwin is an Jo served as the Chair of the Council from 2001 until engineer by profession with experience in project and 2005. A former Chief Executive Officer of the Australian construction management and in his role as Chair of the Parents Council, Jo has dedicated her professional life to Building Committee he will oversee the development of the advancement of private education in Australia. The the new College Masterplan that will be released later this mother of four Old Boys of the College (Sean SAC 1976, year. Mrs Rosalie Nott has been appointed Deputy Chair Peter SAC 1977, Patrick SAC 1980 and Thomas SAC of the Council. Mrs Nott is a Past Parent (Patrick SAC 1984) Jo has worked tirelessly for the College for over 2004) and works as the Assistant Director (Policy) for the thirty years in a voluntary capacity. The entire Aloysian Catholic Education Commission, NSW. Family wishes Jo every best wish for her ‘retirement’ and trusts that she will enjoy spending more time with her Following the retirement of Mrs Lonergan AM, Mrs family and friends. Natalie McNamara AM and Brother Ian Cribb SJ, four people have been appointed to fill these vacancies: Recognition of her work for the Church and society was made in December 2005 when the Holy Father, Pope Mr John Bowie AM (SAC 1957 and SAC Staff 1961 Benedict XVI, honoured Jo with a Papal Knighthood, a – 1975) is a former staff member of the College and Dame Commander of the Order of St Gregory the Great. Deputy Headmaster of St Ignatius’ College Riverview The Aloysian Family celebrates this great honour, due and until 2005 was the Principal of Brigidine College, recognition from a church she has served so marvellously St Ives. Mr Bowie served as the President of the well for many years. World Union of Jesuit Alumni/ae between 1992 and 1997 and is a former Chair of the Loyola Institute. Following his retirement from Brigidine College, Mr Bowie has taken up a new role as Executive Director of the Shepherd Centre. Fr Rob Davoren SJ is the Head of Middle School at St Ignatius’ College, Riverview. Prior to his appointment at Riverview, Fr Davoren was the Deputy Headmaster at his alma mater, Saint Ignatius’ College, Adelaide. The Honourable Mr Justice Tim Studdert (SAC 1952) is a Judge of the Common Law Division of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Mr Justice Studdert administers the Professional Negligence List of the THE ALOYSIAD Court and was an eminent Queen's Counsel prior to his elevation to the bench in 1988. Executive Editor: Fr Ross Jones SJ Mrs Robyn Wunder is the Planning Director of the Editor: Murray Happ (SAC 1985) Australian Province of the Jesuits. A former strategic Assistant Editor: Trish Flynn planner and project manager, she is married to Tim Wunder (SAC 1981) an Old Boy of the College. Her Printing: The Precision Printers Pty Ltd nephew, John Wunder, is in Year 10 at the College. Circulation: 9,500 The Council warmly welcomes all the new members E-Mail: [email protected] and thanks them for agreeing to take an active role in the ongoing development and betterment of the College. St Aloysius’ College Other current Members and Officers of the Council are: Senior: 47 Upper Pitt Street, Milsons Point NSW 2061 Fr Ross Jones SJ, Fr Chris Middleton SJ, Mr David Green, Mr Telephone: 02 9922 1177, Fax: 02 9929 6414 Brian Skinner, Fr Gerry Healy SJ, Mrs Ailsa Gillett OAM (all ex- Junior: 9 Burton Street, Milsons Point NSW 2061 officio), Mr Rahoul Chowdry, Mr John Churchill (SAC 1971), Telephone: 02 9955 9200, Fax: 02 9955 0736 Mr Jock Murray (SAC 1966), Mr Brendan O’Loughlin (SAC Website: www.staloysius.nsw.edu.au 1987), Sister Marilyn Kelleher SGS, Fr Brendan Kelly SJ and Br Paul Oakley CFC. St Aloysius’ College A Jesuit School for Boys _ Founded 1879 a l o y s i a d / p a g e 2 from the rector The Three Amigos is a way to help him get in touch with what really attracts and motivates him, what is ultimately and genuinely life-giving hose who have lived or worked in University Colleges (and therefore from God). The third insight is Serving Others. know them to be sometimes very boisterous, sometimes That orientation is clear in this community which takes forming TGodless, places. At the end of his first year as Rector of “men for others” (the mantra of Pedro Arrupe, himself called the Jesuit University at Ingolstadt in 1550, St Peter Canisius “the second Ignatius”) seriously. It is a generous disposition wrote to Father General: impelled both by a realisation that our gifts and blessings Governing this place is bringing me a good deal of are not to be selfishly hoarded, and a conviction that we trouble, and precious little so far in the way of obvious are blessed by those we serve and from whom we learn. results. The Rector’s principal duties are to find new students, Finally, Ignatius saw graced moments in Conversations. to see that the bills are paid, to listen to the complaints of Such conversations are at three levels. They are with oneself men and women from the town against the young men, to – engendering a certain reflectivity which draws meaning reprimand the students who get drunk and roam the streets from one’s experiences. They are conversations with others at night, and finally to preside at official festivities, and at – in this school at the heart of the teaching/learning academic functions. They say, and it’s true, that the lawyers process, in communication and respectful dialogue, and of run the place. course in pastoral care. And they are with God – in prayer, However, some fifteen years earlier, a group of three especially that quintessentially Ignatian prayer, the Examen. students living together in a college of the University of Ignatius called them Holy Conversations. Not to sound Paris were preparing to put a different stamp on the excessively pious, but from a realisation that they all draw world. Jesuits world-wide this year are celebrating them us Godward. in a combined anniversary – five hundred years since the Indirectly we can births of St Francis Xavier and Blessed Peter Faber, and four thank Francis Xavier for hundred and fifty years since the death of their mentor, St opening the schools’ Ignatius Loyola. They were the first among the self-styled ministry to us. When he amigos en el Señor, friends in the Lord. Seven graduates, arrived in Goa (India), laymen all, bound by vows to serve God in ways that were Francis saw possibilities as yet unknown to them. for the Society working Three very different men. Ignatius: soldier-courtier, in a school there, the gambler-womaniser, now turned mystic, administrator, recently established dreamer and visionary. Francis: influential nobleman, College of the Holy youthful athlete, to become a restless missionary, an engager Faith. He saw the need with cultures. Peter: shepherd’s son, scholar, compassionate for education in the faith man of conversation and acclaimed retreat-giver. and was first to seize on “the multiplier effect”, In recent times, that is, the influence that historians of the Society educated youth might have on their present and future of Jesus have suggested families. In no uncertain terms, he wrote to his companions Ignatius has given the in Rome, about the ecclesiastics in the universities there Church (and especially seeking comfy benefits and honours when there was so those associated with much to be done for Christ abroad. About five years after Jesuit ministries) four Xavier’s Goa experience, Ignatius acceded to opening insights: the first Jesuit-owned school for lay students in Messina Finding God in all (Italy). things – that is, a spirituality Always one to engage with local cultures, Francis, which readily discovers when in Japan, broke new ground in casting off his shabby God in creation, in human priestly attire to don the dress of an educated and influential history and in others. This person to gain access to the local lords. It was a style has special application for of adaptation and accommodation to times, places and those who work with the circumstances which Ignatius had always encouraged. young. Ignatius was very fond of the adage of his day “go Such was to become the hallmark of Jesuit missionary in by the other person’s door and lead them out your own”. endeavour down to the present day. For those of us in schools, we go in by the door of the boys’ experience, help them discern the traces of God in their lives, St Francis Xavier is Patron Saint of Missions and one of seeing God’s fingerprints if you like, then take them out the the Patron Saints of Australia – Australia being regarded by door of a named encounter with God.