On Sunday 30 September, our Catholic Church will celebrate Social Justice Sunday. This coincides with the 2018-2019 Social Justice Statement. The title for this year is A Place to Call Home: Making a home for everyone in our land. For a land made up of people who originated from all corners of the globe, it would not be hard to relate this theme to our immigrants, and especially refugees who seek shelter from persecution and death in their country of birth. However, this year’s statement has a distinct theme for the awareness and growing problem of homelessness in Australia.

We live is such a fortunate country with so many opportunities and freedoms yet it seems hard to believe that the number of homeless has grown to more than 116,000. I recall watching a television show recently on SBS where a well-educated mother spoke about the fine line between things going well in family life and the ramifications of some unfortunate decisions or incidents resulting in her having to live out of her own motor vehicle with very few other options – ‘there but for the grace of God go I’.

This year’s statement examines the extent of Australia’s homelessness and housing crisis and jolts us all to consider what we can do to help fellow brothers and sisters? There are no easy solutions to this crisis. However, our Catholic faith and the message of the Gospels is clear and must orientate our response. As in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 30-35), we are compelled to stop and help the person in desperate need (the outsider), take them to safety and pay for their care. I know so many of our families promote and act upon this message in their homes. As a Catholic school, we must complement this and educate, support and nurture a culture of care for the ‘outsider’. We attempt to do this in so many ways. Our Year 11 boys and staff visit Matthew Talbot Hostel weekly, the Lenten Appeal sees Tutor Groups helping charity groups around the Northern Beaches and our House charities also give to those in need by donations and time.

At St Augustine’s we also ask boys to independently serve others and then log or record these hours. This is referred to as the College Service Program. We begin each year with a brief seminar run by the Leader of SEA (Service Education Awareness). This seminar clearly articulates the reason for service in our lives, the intrinsic benefits of serving others and the structure of the program. Service hours are monitored and boys are continually encouraged to get involved. By logging these hours, the College has a tangible evidence to recognise and celebrate this collective good. It is also an excellent opportunity for boys, particularly our older boys, to show example and leadership. The College Service Program (Year 5 -11) has been running for about five years and we would like to step to one side and review it. I very much welcome comments and thoughts from parents regarding this matter. If you are interested and have thoughts to share, please email me directly on pnolan@saintaug.nsw.edu.au

OEG Outdoor Education Camps

We wish all our Year 8 and 9 boys plus accompanying staff all the very best as they venture out into the bush this week.

School Community Working Bee  

Earlier this week families would have received notice of the upcoming ‘working bee’ to be held over the upcoming break and requesting generosity of time and resources. To date the response has not been overwhelming so I encourage families to consider and give back in a practical manner. My son and I have already locked in a day! Interested families should click on the following ‘working bee’ link.

Rest in Peace  

Your prayers are requested for the Labone family following the recent passing of Cyril Labone, father of Michael (Class of 1978) and John (Class of 1980).  

May the Lord welcome Cyril into his kingdom of peace.

Peter Nolan
Deputy Principal Mission and Wellbeing