It has been a great joy to welcome our Years 7-11 students back onsite this week. As it happens, the timing has coincided with the completion of studies for our Year 12 students and the commencement of their final exams. In many ways, the comings and goings reflect the broader context of our students’ lives, with their unfolding chapters – in the words of band Semisonic, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”

We are immensely proud of the courage and compassion with which our Year 12 students have approached their final year. They have taken seriously the invitation of our theme to ‘Embrace the Heart’s Call’, never losing sight of their hopes and desires as they stepped through the uncertainty of studying through a pandemic. Although unable to gather with their families to celebrate their graduation, the students approached the filming of their graduation ceremony with great excitement and anticipation for all that is to come. The sense of occasion has not been lost and we look forward to sharing the final video with all Year 12 students and their families in coming weeks.

As they move through their exam period, we pray this blessing upon them:

May the stars always remind you that you have friends,

that, however apart, you are together.

May you remember that on the blackest nights

the stars are at their brightest.

May you treasure always the friends you have made at school

And remember that friendship is a gift to be treasured, not squandered.

May you be good to them and may you be there for them;

May they bring you all the blessings, challenges, truth and light that you need for your journey.

And may you learn to be a good friend to your self.

May you be able to journey to that place in your soul where there is great love, warmth, feeling and forgiveness.

May this continue to change you.

May you never forget that,

wherever you journey in life,

whether you advert it to or not,

you are most richly blessed with the friendship of God.

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rain fall gently in your fields,

And, until we meet again,

May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Amen.

(adapted from ‘A Canopy of Stars’, Christopher Gleeson SJ drawing on an Irish blessing)

Meanwhile, our Years 7-11 students move through Term 4 with its usual flow of assessment, leadership transition and preparation for end of year celebrations. In coming weeks, we will have more information to share about our Christmas hampers and plans to bring the year to a close in a fitting celebration for all our staff and students. The MSJ community has demonstrated extraordinary spirit in 2021 and we hope and pray we all move through the final stage of the year with peace, love and courage.

Andrea Grant (Director of Catholic Identity)

Darcy Robinson & Rob Herrera (Faith & Identity Team Leaders)