College Chronicle March 19th, 2009

Dear Parents and Friends,

Last time we looked at Pius XI’s indication that education ought not to be coeducational according to circumstances and prudence. Today we will look at various writings from Pope Pius XI and Pius XII around that subject: training the character and the heart particularly with all that approaches purity and its great guardian, modesty.

Train the character of your children. Correct their faults. Encourage and cultivate their good qualities, coordinating them with that stability which will make for resolution in later life. Your children, as they begin to grow up, think and exert their will, realizing that they are guided by a good paternal will, steady and strong, free from violence and anger, not subject to weakness or inconsistency, will learn in time to see therein the interpreter of another and higher will, the Will of God. Thus, they will plant in their souls the seeds of those moral habits which fashion and sustain character and imbue it with a deep sense of Christian duty.
Train their hearts. Frequently a man’s destiny, the ruin of his character, or the threat of grave danger, may be traced to his childhood years when his heart was spoilt by the fond flattery, imprudent fussing and foolish indulgence of misguided parents. They accustomed that impressionable little heart to see all things revolve and gravitate around it, to find all things yielding to its will or caprice, and thus they sowed in it the roots of a boundless egoism of which the parents themselves were later to become the first victim!

The crisis of adolescence.

But the day will come when the child’s heart will begin to feel new impulses stirring within it; new desires will disturb the serenity of those early years. In that time of trial, Christian mothers, remember to train the will to resist the attacks of evil and the insidious temptations of passion. During that period of transition from the unconscious purity of infancy to the triumphant purity of adolescence you have a task of the highest importance to fulfil. You have to prepare your sons and daughters so that they may pass with unwavering step, like those who pick their way among serpents, through that time of crisis and physical change, and that they may pass through it without losing anything of the joy of innocence, preserving intact that natural instinct of modesty, with which Providence has girded them as a check to wayward passion.

That sense of modesty, which in its spontaneous abhorrence of the impure is akin to the sense of religion, is held in little account these days. But you, mothers, will take care that they do not lose it through indecency in dress or self-adornment, through unbecoming familiarities or immoral entertainments. On the contrary, you will seek to make it more delicate and alert, more upright and sincere. You will keep a watchful eye on their steps. You will not suffer the purity of their souls to be stained and contaminated by corrupt and corrupting company. You will inspire them with a high esteem and jealous love of purity, advising them to commend themselves to the sure and motherly protection of the Immaculate Virgin.

Pope Pius XI says that, particularly in young people, evil practices are the effect not so much of ignorance of intellect as of weakness of will exposed to dangerous occasions and deprived of the means of grace. We must protect them from bad companions and unnecessary proximate occasions of sin. Then we are forming the supernatural man who thinks, judges and acts constantly and consistently in accordance with right reason illumined by the supernatural light of the example and teaching of Christ: this is the true and finished man of character.

Pope Pius XII continues: On the part of the Church it is wisdom and not austere severity if she puts the young on their guard against dangerous recreations which constitute a peril for the senses; against the high-sounding but erroneous teachings which in the scientific, historical, philosophical and social domains compromises right reason and health of mind; against frivolous distractions and premature and casual love affairs in which young hearts squander away what ought to be given only once and for life.

Let us ponder these words as we continue courageously our Lent.

Fr Michael Delsorte

What's On

P&F TUPPERWARE PARTY

FRIDAY 20TH MARCH
Tomorrow night!
7.30pm

at the home of Marion Pepping, 171 A’Beckett Rd, Bunyip.
All ladies most welcome to attend our first fundraising event for 2009.
Please bring a friend, family member or neighbour and help boost the numbers, hence increasing the possibility of a really successful party.
All items awarded to the party are later auctioned at the Dinner Auction so the Auction Committee is very keen to see this party be a real success. If you can’t attend, catalogues and order forms are available at the office. Come in and get yours today. Orders can be left at the office or phoned through to Marion on 5629 5934.
Don’t need any Tupperware yourself! How is that possible???? Maybe there are some birthday presents you need. Perhaps an early Mothers Day gift!
Hubby doesn't want you to spend money? Just tell him you are doing your patriotic duty - spending the latest Economic Stimulus Payment from the Federal Government as well as helping the school!!!
The more purchases we make the better the gifts for the School Dinner Auction, so please lend your support and come along!

ABSENTEE CALLS:
The College now has an answering service to take absentee calls. Please phone prior to 8am if your child is going to be absent from school and please state the reason. Thank you.

MAJELLAN MEETING:
Our next meeting is on Friday 27th March at 7.30pm. This will be at the home of Catherine Smit, 17 Grand Central Boulevard, Pakenham. Fr Pepping will give the last talk of the theme he has been covering with us.

UNIFORM SHOP NEWS:
All school bags have arrived. i.e. Senior, junior and wheelie bags.

NEW BABY:
Congratulations to former students Shane and Jodie C. on the birth of their first child on 2nd March. Welcome to Arthur Francis who weighed 7lb 9oz. Jodie was Head Girl in 1999 and 2000.

GOULBURN:
If anyone is going to the seminary in the near future could you please let Mrs Patricia Stephens know. She has some goods that need to be delivered there.

NETBALL REGISTRATIONS:
Parents of players are required to attend a Registration Session after school on Monday 23rd March, at the Secondary Girls Building.
Registration forms must be filled out and fees must be paid at this session.
The fees are made up of 2 parts-VNA and Club Fees

Victorian Netball Association Registration
Modified (born on or after 01/01/98) ...................$28
Junior (born between 01/01/92- 31/12/97)..........$38

Club Fees
Club fees are $65 per player and this fee covers team fees paid to the DDNA, umpires, equipment such as balls and first-aid and the end of season presentation.
Information regarding training, coaches, code of conduct ,etc will be provided at this session.

The first game day of the season is Saturday May 2nd.
Teams are full at this stage.
For any enquiries please call Chris Green on 56299088

MISSION MONEY
Each week the money handed in is counted and results are published below. Which class in 2009 will raise the most for this very worthy cause?
(SSPX mission in India)

Annual Dinner Auction

Saturday 8th August, 2009
Danny’s The Venue, Warragul

TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE
$55 PER HEAD

Contact Jo Anne Morris - 5941 4860 to purchase your tickets.

CASH FOR CARTRIDGES
Thank you to those who have kindly handed in their empty cartridges to the College Office! Every cartridge makes a difference. Empty printer cartridges are worth up to $12 each and our school needs you to collect them to raise money! Collect cartridges from home and work, basically anywhere you can find them, and our school will receive money for them.
Please don’t throw them in the bin, bring them into school.

Inkjet, laser, fax and photocopier cartridges are all worth money. Please leave at the College office.

STAC SNIPPETS

The first President of the P&F was: Mr John McAuliffe in 1997.
STAC snippets are kindly supplied by Mr Arthur Paar.

Year 12 Fundraiser
“Guess the Easter Eggs” 50cents a guess. Yr 12’s will be in the library at lunch times for you to take a guess. The winner will be announced on the last day of term.

P.E. NEWS

Wet weather arrangements for sport (primary)
Due to the welcomed wet weather, parents are encouraged to send their children to school wearing their sport uniforms - but with their full school uniforms packed in their bags to put on after the children have been outside.

Due to the fact that P.E. classes are conducted outside, it is sensible to have the full College uniform for students to get changed into after their lesson so that children stay warm and dry. Sports uniforms will more often than not, be getting wet.
Students are advised to bring beanies, rain jackets and black leggings for underneath culottes, as students will be outside in all weather conditions except for torrential rain.

Gymnastics report
Miss. Schaefer and Mr. James are pleased to announce that all students from grade five through to year twelve have now completed a preliminary course in basic gymnastics. The program was run in the Tynong Hall using qualified instructors from ‘The School Gymnastics Company’.

Both of the instructors work with football players and other athletes for strength and flexibility training, with the head instructor being a former a Victorian Institute of Sport champion. Both instructors run their own gymnastics company in Melbourne and in Gisborne.
It is wonderful to see the progress made by our students over the five week course and their enthusiasm for the type of rigorous training that gymnastics involves. Well done to all.

Secondary cricket report.
Congratulations to all the Year 9/10 boys and girls cricket A and B teams for their wonderful effort two weeks ago at the regional Milo Super 8’s interschool cricket tournament at Bellbird Park in Drouin.

All St. Thomas Aquinas students represented the College exceptionally well and upheld our reputation for our dedication to cricket and excellent attitude towards fair sportsmanship. Miss. Schaefer, Mrs. Smythe, Mr. Fox and Mr. Hardiman would like to congratulate all students on their efforts and their behaviour.

Congratulations to both the girls A team and the boys A team for winning the tournament and securing a place in the state finals later on in the year. We wish these teams the best of luck.

Term 2 sporting events
Term 1 is fast disappearing. Mr. James and Miss Schaefer are getting ready for term two’s main sporting events for both the primary and secondary schools.
Early in the term will be the athletics carnivals, the weather should be nice and mild, with the recent rain making the ovals softer to run on.

The primary and secondary cross countries will be run later in the term.
All students will undergo training for both of these events well in advance. Parents who wish to volunteer their services will of course be welcomed!
Further details on dates will be given in a future Chronicle.

Thanks,
Heidi Schaefer
Physical Education/ Sport/ Health teacher.

HELP
DINNER AUCTION

I am looking for VOLUNTEERS
to collect donations from businesses between Pakenham and Warragul.
In the past, students and parents have had a little trouble in acquiring donations.
A letter, by the way of introduction, will be given to you, to show the proprietor.
Please ring Mrs Jacinta Hurst on 5629 9436 if you are willing to help.

TUPPERWARE PARTY

COME ON LADIES, WE NEED YOU AT THIS PARTY TOMORROW NIGHT.

THIS IS THE FIRST FUND RAISER FOR 2009.

LETS MAKE IT A HUGE SUCCESS!

Saint of the Day

19th March:St Joseph
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin and Patron of the Universal Church.

ST. JOSEPH was by birth of the royal family of David, but was living in humble obscurity as a carpenter when God raised him to the highest sanctity, and fitted him to be the spouse of His Virgin Mother, and foster-father and guardian of the Incarnate Word. Joseph, says the Holy Scripture, was a just man; he was innocent and pure, as became the husband of Mary; he was gentle and tender, as one worthy to be named the father of Jesus; he was prudent and a lover of silence, as became the master of the holy house; above all, he was faithful and obedient to divine calls. His conversation was with angels rather than with men. When he learned that Mary bore within her womb the Lord of heaven, he feared to take her as his wife; but an angel bade him fear not, and all doubts vanished. When Herod sought the life of the divine Infant, an angel told Joseph in a dream to fly with the Child and His Mother into Egypt. Joseph at once arose and obeyed. This sudden and unexpected flight must have exposed Joseph to many inconveniences and sufferings in so long a journey with a little babe and a tender virgin, the greater part of the way being through deserts and among strangers; yet he alleges no excuses, nor inquires at what time they were to return. St. Chrysostom observes that God treats thus all His servants, sending them frequent trials to clear their hearts from the rust of self-love, but intermixing seasons of consolation. "Joseph," says he, "is anxious on seeing the Virgin with child; an angel removes that fear. He rejoices at the Child's birth, but a great fear succeeds: the furious king seeks to destroy the Child, and the whole city is in an uproar to take away His life. This is followed by another joy, the adoration of the Magi; a new sorrow then arises: he is ordered to fly into a foreign unknown country, without help or acquaintance." It is the opinion of the Fathers that upon their entering Egypt, at the presence of the child Jesus, all the oracles of that superstitious country were struck dumb, and the statues of their gods trembled and in many places fell to the ground. The Fathers also attribute to this holy visit the spiritual benediction poured on that country, which made it for many ages most fruitful in Saints. After the death of King Herod, of which St. Joseph was informed in another vision, God ordered him to return with the Child and His Mother into the land of Israel, which our Saint readily obeyed. But when he arrived in Judea, hearing that Archelaus had succeeded Herod in that part of the country, and apprehensive that he might be infected with his father's vices, he feared on that account to settle there, as he would otherwise probably have done for the education of the Child; and therefore, being directed by God in another vision, he retired into the dominions of Herod Antipas, in Galilee, to his former habitation in Nazareth. St. Joseph, being a strict observer of the Mosaic law, in conformity to its direction annually repaired to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Our Saviour, now in the twelfth year of His age, accompanied His parents thither. Having performed the usual ceremonies of the feast, they were returning with many of their neighbors and acquaintances towards Galilee; and never doubting but that Jesus was with some of the company, they travelled on for a whole day's journey before they discovered that He was not with them. But when night came on and they could hear no tidings of Him among their kindred and acquaintance, they, in the deepest affliction, returned with the utmost speed to Jerusalem. After an anxious search of three days they found Him in the Temple, discoursing with the learned doctors of the law, and asking them such questions as raised the admiration of all that heard Him, and made them astonished at the ripeness of His understanding; nor were His parents less surprises on this occasion. When His Mother told Him with what grief and earnestness they had sought Him, and asked, "Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? behold Thy Father and I sought Thee in great affliction of mind," she received for answer, "How is it that you sought Me? did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" But though thus staying in the Temple unknown to His parents, in all other things He was obedient to them, returning with them to Nazareth, and there living in all dutiful subjection to them. As no further mention is made of St. Joseph, he must have died before the marriage of Cana and the beginning of our divine Saviour's ministry. We cannot doubt that he had the happiness of Jesus and Mary attending at his death, praying by him, assisting and comforting him in his last moments; whence he is particularly invoked for the great grace of a happy death and the spiritual presence of Jesus in that hour.

Reflection. St. Joseph, the shadow of the Eternal Father upon earth, the protector of Jesus in His home at Nazareth, and a lover of all children for the sake of the Holy Child, should be the chosen guardian and pattern of every true Christian family.

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