Vice Principal's Report

LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

This year at Padua we have focused on the theme of Light, and as part of our reflection on that theme we invited all members of the Padua community to participate in the ‘Light in the Darkness’ event, organised by the Victorian churches.

Last Monday 31 August marked the end of winter and the start of spring, a time of hope and of new beginnings. And so students, staff and families were asked to stand in their garden, light a candle and spend a moment in silent prayer for those who have lost their lives to COVID-19 or to violence.

We would like to thank all who were involved on the night, particularly those who took a photo to share with our Padua community. The result was a lovely presentation at the start of our prayer during the Whole Campus livestreamed assembly this week. Please enjoy some of the photos shared.

HOUSE CHARISMS

This is a big fortnight for our Houses at Padua. We will celebrate the feast days or anniversaries of the patrons of Teresa (Rosebud), Mannix (Mornington) and Doyle (TYabb) Houses across our three 7-9 campuses.

And while we haven’t had the opportunity to celebrate with a House mass and other festivities as we normally would at school, we hope that the students in each of these Houses will take a moment to reflect on what their patron might be able to teach them in this time.

Let’s finish with this timely poem from one of those patrons, St Teresa of Calcutta (most often known as Mother Teresa).

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

Michael Harrison
Vice Principal: Mission & Community