Have you ever experienced the feeling that you are exactly where you are supposed to be? That you were meant to witness an event or meet someone who was going to have an instantaneous positive impact on you and you just knew that this feeling of being in the right place at the right time just where you were supposed to be was like a gifted moment in your life?

I’d like to share two such moments that have happened to me in the last week.

On Tuesday, I had the great honour of attending a celebration of Eucharist to welcome two Year 12 students into the Catholic faith. Held at the parish of Mary Mackillop in Oran Park, these two young women had freely and thoughtfully, and no doubt prayerfully, discerned that this was a decision they wanted to make. Standing with their sponsors before their family and friends and members of their parish community, they were firstly baptised, then confirmed and then they received their first Eucharist.

I have no doubt that this was a very special moment for each of the girls.

I was sitting towards the back and noticed before mass that there were lots of young women coming into the church. I made the correct assumption that they were Year 12 students from St Pat’s, there to show their support and love for these two young women, and I was right.

Another moment was being welcomed by Fr David before mass began. His big smile and joy-filled hug were genuine expressions of his welcome. During the mass too, he included not only myself but the wider St Patrick’s College and the young women there to support their peers. His insightful homily about St Joseph – a man of no words but of gentle actions reflecting his integrity and faithfulness – was inspiring.

What I also learnt was that Fr David is living with cancer and is undergoing rounds of chemotherapy and, except for his bald head, his personal demeanour and infectious joyfulness would not signal this illness.

His genuine warmth and welcome are priceless. To be a witness to the strength of the faith of these young women is priceless. To feel the love and support of the whole community for these two young women, priceless.

I felt that I was where I was supposed to be – here in this community of St Pat’s.

Then on Wednesday at our celebration of our feast day Mass and my commissioning, I experienced another moment of “this is where I am supposed to be”, standing before the community pledging my service to them. The College sang a blessing over me, the words of which are both humbling and beautiful, and I did try hard to hold back tears of utter joy. I looked out and saw some girls beaming big smiles back at me and I knew again that I am supposed to be here at this school at this time in its history.

How many of us can say that I am where I am meant to be?

How many can say, this is the new life that Jesus spoke about … the joy and welling up of the human spirit to give us life … life to the full?

Life at St Pat’s is bustling with life and joyfulness and this last fortnight was no exception.

I have had these two unforgettable moments confirming for me that this place, this community, is exactly where I am supposed to be. How blessed I am.

As we come to the end of the church’s Lenten season and prepare to enter the holiest of weeks and celebrate the joyfulness of the life promised to us through the Resurrection, may each of you and your families feel Jesus’ presence with you.

I would also like to acknowledge the service milestone recently achieved. Congratulations and thank you to the following staff for their dedicated service to the College:

10 years
Melissa Goodsell (2014 – 2024)
Tim Stevens (2014 – 2024)
20 years
Pola Nicolaou (2004 – 2024)
Michelle Parker (2004 – 2024)
Shobna Sharma (2004 – 2024)
Tarna Tannous (2004 – 2024)

Wishing each of you a most Happy and Holy Easter.

Mary Leask - College Principal