I’m always amazed at how quickly we reach another end of year and what a year it has been. Busy, full, and deeply rewarding under the umbrella of our College Theme, which invited us to reflect on light and hope.
Throughout November we marked the Month of Remembrance with prayer and reflection, honouring the saints and remembering our own loved ones who have passed. We also acknowledged all who have served our country in war and peacekeeping operations. Our Remembrance Day service reverently led over the PA by our newly announced 2026 College Captains was a meaningful moment for our community. We also joined the local Altona service to lay a wreath and proudly contributed $375 to the Altona RSL Poppy Appeal.
A heartfelt thank you to our Year 10–11 students for their generous support of Big Group Hug, helping children and mothers in need this Christmas. We were pleased to welcome Sonal Dang, Relationship Development Coordinator, who personally collected our donations and expressed immense gratitude for the kindness of our MSJ community. A special mention goes to our Year 9s, their teachers, our VM students, and the Year 11 Supportive Friends who have also supported Big Group Hug this year.
To our Junior students and families, thank you for your ongoing support of our local St Vincent de Paul Society. Each year, the sight of hamper baskets overflowing with donations is a powerful visual reminder of hope in action. This year, some families also generously contributed supermarket vouchers, ensuring even greater dignity and choice for those in need.
A special acknowledgement goes to our Junior students who hosted fundraisers proudly handing over a cheque for $1000 to Vinnies. The Sisters of St Joseph would be proud. Your generosity embodies the Josephite charism: offering a hand up and placing the vulnerable at the heart of community.
We concluded the year with our Advent Mass, a joyful celebration where we were able to present our hampers to Vinnies. Celebrated by Fr Trac, the Mass was filled with Christmas cheer thanks to our choir and band. It was a beautiful and festive way to close the year.
Our three-day retreat with the Class of 2026 was also a highlight, an opportunity to reset, reconnect, and simply be outdoors. With limited phone coverage, we were reminded to be present and enjoy the moment. Students took part in outdoor activities like canoeing, enjoyed fun evenings of trivia and House presentations, and engaged in small-group sessions and creative experiences reflecting on our 2026 College Theme: Peace Begins With Us. It is a theme I truly love, and one I look forward to unpacking further with you next year.
Peace is calling us, in our hearts, in our relationships, and in a world that often feels hurried and divided. Our communities long for peace, and our global family cries out for peace among nations. And it all begins with us. If each of us took a little more time to make peace, to choose peace, and to offer peace, it would flow gently and powerfully, like a stream.
As we look ahead to 2026, may peace guide us, steady us, and inspire us. Thank you for your generosity, your spirit, and the hope you bring to our community. Wishing you and your families a joyful Christmas and a safe, restorative break. May this beautiful time of year bless you with moments of calm, connection, and renewal.
Mrs Anne Severi - Director of Catholic Identity
