Dear members of the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community,
As we come to the end of Term 1 in 2021; as we prepare for the up and coming Easter season; as we look forward to family time together over the up and coming four-day weekend followed by school holidays and as we give thanks for a successful Term 1; I would like to focus on the last word in that greeting to you: Community.
There are three pillars within our Mission statement and each of them is further divided into three:
- Learning — diversity, life long, excellence
- Spirituality — gospel teachings, dignity, service
- Community — inclusiveness, connection, celebration.
Community is a word that is often used to describe a range of things from American sitcoms on Netflix, to interest groups, action groups, places where people live or any grouping of people where there is common interest.
I like to think that MLMC is far more of a community than any of those. It is a College where parents entrust the life-giving gift of a holistic Catholic education, where students develop in a supportive environment aimed at developing a resilient, faith-filled whole person with a focus on the Mercy values of Compassion, Justice, Respect, Hospitality, Courage and Service.
This last fortnight has highlighted to me how much we crave and enjoy community and if the last 12 months have taught us anything, it is that we learn and live within community.
Last week I had the pleasure of visiting both Year 9 Summit camps at Trafalgar East. The way in which staff interacted and lived with the year 9 students as they challenged themselves, was exemplary and modelled collegial community living.
This week, the College held the 2021 Athletics Carnival. It was a great day and it too exemplified community. Student participation was a highlight as competition for the Athletics Cup and eventually the House Cup was high with a focus on participation, challenging yourself and just ‘having a go’. The day was amply supported by the Parents and Friends’ Association volunteers who provided sustenance by way of a barbecue, drinks stall and a lolly shop. The VCAL students also supported the event by running their business in selling coffee, toasties, cookies and the like; the profits of which will support Catherine’s Cafe in serving the homeless within our wider area. It was a great day and congratulations to Carr House who won the Athletics Cup.
A second important gathering this week was our first whole College Mass for the year, which also was our Easter Celebration together. Having been required to postpone our Start of School Year Mass, which was scheduled in the February Stage 4 lockdown, and with our Community Mass being cancelled due to numbers and possible ratios, it is important that we as a community celebrate the Eucharist together as it is central to our faith and our community. Father Dean Bradbury, our College Chaplain, as always led us in a beautiful Mass in which he explained and built a Paschal Candle for the College, which he had prepared.
The Paschal candle, which is sometimes referred to as Easter candle or the Christ candle, is the large candle displayed and lit next to the altar. It displays a range of symbols:
- The cross, which is the most prominent symbol and most clearly identifies it as the Paschal candle
- The Greek leeters alpha and omega, which symbolise that God is the beginning and the end
- The year 2021, which represents God among us this year
- Five beads of incense (most often red), which are embedded in the candle (sometimes encased in wax ‘nails’) during the Easter Vigil to represent the five wounds of Jesus — the three nails that pierced his hands and feet, the spear thrust into his side, and the thorns that crowned his head.
Last Friday night, the College Advisory Council hosted a dinner whereby service to the College was acknowledged and celebrated. This dinner was originally planned for December 2020, but COVID-19 restrictions caused a postponement. The rescheduled timing meant that some community members were unable to attend, however, the following were congratulated:
- Patricia Olson — 40 years service to MLMC
- Michael Hill — 30 years service to MLMC
- Daniel Katzen — 30 years service to MLMC
- Janet Barr: 20 years service to MLMC
- Nerrida Burnham — 20 years service
- Peter Del Guidice — 20 years service to MLMC
- Louise Jones — 20 years service to MLMC
- Steve Prosenak — 20 years service to MLMC.
As previously stated, some staff were not able to attend , but were acknowledged in absentia:
- Bhuwan Autar — 20 years of service to MLMC
- Peter Molinari — 20 years of service to MLMC
- Gayed Gayed — 20 years of service to MLMC.
Michael Dale was also acknowledged as the 2019 Mark Prest Award recipient.
We congratulate and thank all these staff for their dedication to our community.
Lastly, as we approach the Easter season and the Paschal mystery, let us enjoy time together in celebration as family, but in so doing let us celebrate Easter Sunday and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the basis and fulfilment of our Catholic faith and our Catholic community.
God bless and a Happy Easter to each and every one of you.
Philip A Morison
Principal
