I hope this finds you well.
- Virtue of the Week
- A thought from Archbishop Lefebvre
- All Saints Parade
- 2024 Immersion Program – Fiji
- Light of the World Award
- Volunteers Program
- College Closure Dates
This week our staff and students will explore the first of the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost, the gift of Counsel. The gift of Counsel, enables one to respond fully to the direction and guidance from the Lord
A thought from Archbishop Lefebvre
You have to tell yourself: “I will have difficulties, trials, difficult moments, but I will hold strong.” Once we have attached ourselves to our Lord, trials and temptations may come, we may sin, we may fall, and so on. But then we cling to the solid rock which is our Lord Jesus Christ, we cling to the most Blessed Virgin Mary, and then we just forge ahead, telling ourselves: “It is going to work out, it has to work out.”
This week the College will celebrate All Saints Day with a Primary School Parade on Thursday 2nd November. Families are encouraged to attend.
The College is excited to announce that in 2024, we will launch an Immersion Program for our Year 10 and 11 students. This initiative will be designed to enhance the development of Justice, Prudence, Fortitude and Temperance. Horizons will be broadened, new challenges embraced, and humility and magnificence reinforced. The holistic development from this shared endeavour will further add to the formation of each student.
The Immersion will be to the Society of Saint Pius X mission in Fiji and be led by Mr Vincent Van Strijp. It will take place during the first two weeks of the mid-year holidays in July. An expression of interest can be forwarded via email to Mrs Liz Alexander – [email protected]. Expressions of interest will close on and information packages made available to those families expressing interest on Wednesday 8th November.
The ‘St Thomas Aquinas Light to the World’ award will be presented again this year in recognition of successful alumni. A minimum of one award is presented each year.
The selection criteria will be:
- A graduate who completed his/her schooling at St Thomas Aquinas College in its 25 years of operation.
- A graduate who continues to live in alignment with the Vision and Mission of the College.
- Have distinguished themselves by high achievement, defined as being of conspicuous merit either by level, duration or achievement in one or more of the following:
- Religious Service
- Academic achievement
- Humanitarian work
- Community involvement and/or leadership
- Career or professional achievement or leadership
- Business achievement and/or leadership
- Sporting endeavour/success at an elite level
The ‘Light to the World’ must be a person who is fit and able to be put before the student body as an exemplar they can aspire to follow.
Any member of the College community may nominate a prospective ‘St Thomas Aquinas Light of the World’. The successful recipient will have a photo and biography put together and placed in a prominent position with the College.
Nomination forms can be obtained from and returned to Liz Alexander by Friday 24th November.
The College recognises the integral role that volunteers play and actively seeks to develop structures and procedures that encourage stakeholders of our College (parents, carers, families, alumni, friends of the College) to become actively involved in the life of the College. I encourage all stakeholders to consider becoming involved in our volunteer program. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Liz Alexander or myself.
A reminder that the College is closed this Wednesday 1st November for All Saints Day and again on Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th November.
God Bless,
Mr Kieran O’Dwyer
Principal.