From The Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
Earlier this week, students and staff participated in Ash Wednesday liturgies. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of our Lenten journey towards the high point of the Catholic Church’s year – the celebration of the feast of Easter and the joy and hope of the risen Christ. I encourage each student to reflect on the three Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. I also thank our students in each Pastoral class who lead our Project Compassion fundraising efforts. Money raised throughout this Term will once again be donated to Caritas. Along with other agencies, they continue to work towards combating poverty and upholding the human dignity of every person. There can be no better way of living out our Touchstone of Justice and Solidarity.
As we enter this period of reflection and personal contemplation, and at a time of such devastating world conflict, I offer you the peace prayer of St Francis:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
***
I am pleased to report on the tremendous success of our recently held Try Year 7 for a Day event. The strong interest in ERC saw over 465 students from Year 5 and Year 6 visit the College from right across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions. While the high value placed on the quality of Catholic education on offer at Edmund Rice College is apparent in such a strong turn-out, in speaking to the many prospective parents, it is our caring environment and senior students who are our best advertisement. We are so proud of the many ERC students who participated in the various learning activities and those who proudly volunteered to lead the various tour groups. Each of these boys is a credit to both the College and their families. I would like to sincerely thank our students, along with our hard-working staff, for their collective efforts in ensuring this was such a successful community day.
While the College facilities, learning opportunities, and pastoral care programs are impressive examples of best educational practice, I truly believe that ERC’s welcoming community of staff, students, and parents are what sets us apart. I wish to thank parents and carers for sharing your positive experiences and kind words to other community members because word-of-mouth is an actual test of an authentic learning community.
A reminder to parents of Year 5 and Year 6 students that Year 7 2023 and 2024 applications are now being taken.
Best wishes,
Stephen Gough
