On Thursday 17 March the St Patrick’s community gathered for a day of celebration. We were honoured to welcome Bishop Brian Mascord as the presider of our Eucharist. Bishop Brian also blessed and commissioned the newly installed “Spirit Girl” statue which symbolically captures the essence of what it means to be a St Pat’s Girl. 

The opening commentary to the Mass explained that our Benedictine value focus for this year is Lectio Divina, through the lens of Discipline and Obedience. Lectio Divina is a Benedictine way of prayer applied to the Bible. Lectio Divina is “Divine Reading”—that is, a holy way to pray using stories from the Bible. Therefore, this year is for our College community a Year of Prayer. Also, since there was an extended period of lockdown in 2021, we are continuing from last year our exploration of the Benedictine value of  Stewardship. St Patrick was a great preacher of God’s Word, and with our focus this year on Lectio Divina, we are carrying on St Patrick’s love of the Word of God in the Scriptures. The complementary Benedictine values of Discipline and Obedience tie in well with the practice of Lectio Divina and our Year of Prayer. Prayer is essentially a connection with God through conversation and listening. Obedience begins with listening. Once we have listened, we act appropriately. Appropriate action involves discipline—which is the ability to carry through with one’s convictions.

In his homily, Bishop Brian spoke about prayers as being the way to grow into relationship with our compassionate and loving God. The Bishop also acknowledged that not all members of the St Patrick’s community are believers, however, St Pat’s is a place that allows for encounter with God—an invitation open to all who wish to respond.

At the conclusion of the Mass, Bishop Brian led the College community in this prayer of blessing of the “Spirit Girl” statue:

Almighty everlasting God,

in his earthly life, your Incarnate Son, Jesus,

modelled for us what it means to be fully human.

We engage all our human senses

in responding to the presence and indwelling of the Holy Spirit

alive and active in this St Patrick’s community.

We ask your blessing upon the creative hands that

formed and sculpted “Spirit Girl” into being.

May it please you now to bless and to hallow this statue,

which has been created and now “danced into life”

as a symbol of the abiding presence of you,

our loving triune God, ever-present

in the history, life, and future of this St Patrick’s College community.

In the community’s pondering on this statue,

may it be a testament to the first nations peoples

of the Dharawal land on which we stand and now erect this statue.

May it also be a testament to the contributions made by:

- the Irish community who founded St Patrick’s College

- the charism of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict

- past, present, and future College Members, Board Directors, Principals, leaders, and staff

- past, present, and future students, parents, and partners.

We ask this blessing in Jesus’ name and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Angelo Gattone - Mission Coordinator