We cannot be Benedictine in name only.
As our Mission Statement proclaims, we are a “Christ-centred community, formed in the Good Samaritan tradition” and we exist to “empower young women through holistic education to be independent and resilient lifelong learners who are actively engaged in working for a just society.” Being in lockdown does not mean that social justice issues disappear. In fact, issues of justice which affect our society actually increase during times of crisis and stress.
An important phrase in our College Prayer is that “through hospitality, justice, and peace” we make Christ present in our world. As a Benedictine community which values hospitality, justice, and peace, it is incumbent on us to not only say these words—we must act upon these words and live them. With this in mind, the St Patrick’s community has made a commitment to the Campbelltown branch of the St Vincent de Paul to provide 45 Christmas hampers for distribution in early December to families in the local area. This is a way we can act upon the values we espouse.
As usual, our ability to supply 45 hampers is only possible through a collective effort. When every member of the St Pat’s community makes a contribution, the result is amazing and we are more than able to achieve our set goal. This collective effort is our manifestation of the same miracle of Jesus, who, with five loaves of bread and two fish, was able to bring about the feeding of a crowd of more than 5,000 people. The miracle in that story is that Jesus convinces everyone to share what they have so that everyone gets what they need—and there are even leftovers! Let’s follow this example of Jesus and share what we have.
During this lockdown term, the St Patrick’s College Social Justice Group has been able to reconvene its regular meetings via Zoom. With the leadership of the incoming Benedict Captain, Grace K., the group has been preparing for the Christmas hampers drive next term. Also, the group has been discussing how they can raise awareness of current social justice issues.
Angelo Gattone - Mission Coordinator