From the Principal – 2 June 2022

Welcome to a cold wintry blast for Reconciliation week, Pride Month and the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ. Some real challenges with the weather have tested the resilience and perseverance of Group 2 of the Year 9 camp down in Portland.

Over the past fortnight, it has been pleasing to continue the successful return to regular school activities to give our students and wider school community the opportunity to gather and celebrate together. Recently the Advisory Council supported the College’s recommendation to continue with all our camps and retreats in 2023. Unfortunately, the attendance at all camps is well below the pre-COVID figures, but we believe that will change as things settle back into routine. The camps are an essential part of the College program. The Year 12 Retreat is scheduled in the coming weeks and is a highlight of their year.

Last week, the whole school took part in Student-led Conferences. Held online for the convenience of families, the conferences were nonetheless a terrific opportunity for students, staff and families to work together to ensure the best outcomes for our students. We are pleased to report that we had close to our record number of attendees at the interviews.

On Tuesday, campus Masses were held at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. Although a challenging day in terms of logistics and weather, the effort was well worth it for the benefit of coming together as a community of faith. The students were commended on their reverence and participation. Thank you to Fr Brian and Fr DJ for celebrating the Masses with us and for their inspirational homilies. Congratulations to the students and staff who also made the Masses so memorable. For many Coolock students it was their first experience in the Cathedral as a CMC student, and for some their first experience ever.

Next week we return to the CMC Production at Ulumbarra. This year we are presenting the Monty Python Production ‘Spamalot’. Students and staff from across the College have dedicated hours of preparation and hard work for the premiere. On Thursday 9 June, another tradition returns, with well over 600 Bendigo Catholic Primary School students planning to watch the first matinee performance and enjoy the experience of the Ulumbarra Theatre. Please support the students and staff and come along to enjoy the fun. Congratulations to all who have committed to the rehearsals and backstage.

As we move towards the end of Semester 1, we also have the opportunity to experience our senior students’ artwork and musical performances. VCE music and drama students have performed recently and the showcase event, the Winter Concert, is coming up on Tuesday 14 June. This is an excellent chance to see how hard our students have been working while giving them valuable performance experience.

With many sporting competitions, performances, camps and excursions currently taking place, we give thanks for the dedication of our staff and the commitment of our families who are working together to ensure our students have the full spread of school activities they deserve. These are the things that enrich our community and help our students grow into the best young adults they can be.

In recent weeks the Bendigo Police have been working closely with the College to better support our students and the youth of our wider local community. The police have an open invitation to enter both sites and engage with our College community. The purpose of the visits is to create student connections with members of our local police, and a realization of the important work and role our officers perform. This presence is a local initiative and has already shown positive outcomes. We thank Bendigo Police for their support and look forward to their ongoing presence in the yard, and in the classroom.

Finally, on behalf of the College, we would like to acknowledge and reflect on the importance of Reconciliation Week. In the near future, you will note the acknowledgement of the Dja Dja Wurrung People and Country in all our College communications. The following acknowledgement and prayer are from Tuesday’s Mass and a fitting acknowledgement of our community intention.

Kind regards,
Brian Turner, Principal

Acknowledgement of the Land

As we gather to pray for Reconciliation may we remember that May 27 and June 3 are important dates in Australia’s history. May 27 marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum when Australians voted to remove clauses in the Australian Constitution that discriminated against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. June 3 marks the historic 1992 Mabo decision in which the High Court of Australia recognised native title—the recognition that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights over their lands did survive British colonisation; and so we acknowledge that we gather today on the land of Dja Dja Wurrung and the Taungurung Peoples of the Kulin Nation and pay our respects to their elders both past and present, for they hold the memories, the culture and the wisdom upon which our nation’s future will be built.

Penitential Rite

Holy Father, God of Love
You are the Creator of this land and all good things.
We acknowledge the pain and shame of our history
And the suffering of our peoples.
Lord Have Mercy

ALL: LORD, HAVE MERCY

Holy Father, God of Love
We thank you for
the survival of Indigenous cultures
Our hope is in you because
your son Jesus Christ came
to reconcile the world to you.
Christ Have Mercy

ALL: CHRIST HAVE MERCY

Holy Father, God of Love
Teach us to respect all cultures.
Help us to bring about spiritual and social change
Lord Have Mercy

ALL: LORD HAVE MERCY

Opening Prayer

Lord, open up our hearts so that we may hear the message you teach of a world in which the wrongs of the past are recognised – a world in which a reconciled people walk and talk together sharing stories; a world in which all burn with the desire to have your peace and justice reign. We ask this in Jesus’ name. AMEN