Art from the heart

Last year, CBC Fremantle commissioned a significant artwork that illustrates the College’s acknowledgement of the deep pain inflicted on the survivors and victims of abuse in Christian Brothers’ schools and its commitment to a safe, supportive and caring environment for students.

The stainless steel water feature is etched with the Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) formal written apology, which was issued in 2017 to the survivors and victims of sexual abuse by members of the religious community and lay staff.

The formal apology was produced in consultation with survivors of abuse and seeks to provide opportunities for open and honest conversations about a shameful and destructive reality in the history of Christian Brothers’ schools and help to re-establish trust.

CBC Principal, Mr Domenic Burgio, said the artwork is a message of hope for past, present and future students.

“We don’t shy away from the past. We cannot change what happened but we can make sure it never happens again,” Mr Burgio said.

“Faith is the theme of this edition of Touchstone, and it is our faith that leads us to membership of our Church, but the heinous crimes committed against children in its care and the cover-ups that have followed are a permanent stain on the Catholic Church.

“It is not enough to talk about all the good that the Church does in caring for the aged, the indigent, the oppressed and the marginalised. We must always remember the betrayal of Jesus’ words, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven’.

“Children are precious and they depend on us, the adults, to thrive, be nourished and be formed in the image of Christ.”

In a bid to ensure the College community is aware of the deeply sad history of institutionalised abuse and in order to do everything possible to ensure it is never repeated, this year the College has also initiated the delivery of child safety programmes for students and their parents.

The syllabus focusses on appropriate boundaries, how and who to reach out to and corrective experiences for anyone who has suffered in the past.

“As always, the safety and wellbeing of our students is our absolute priority and we continue to deliver the high standard of care and education we provide each day at CBC Fremantle, “Mr Burgio said.

“We believe that knowledge is power and we seek to provide our students with the tools to be able to stand up for anything that they believe is wrong. With our parents’ support, we make sure our boys learn from the past in order to build a better world for the future.”

EREA continues to support the provision of care for survivors of sexual abuse and anyone who may have any concerns in relation to historical or current child protection is urged to contact EREA, the Principal or the police.

“Please do not hesitate to call or email me should you need to talk,” Mr Burgio said.

“All matters will be taken very seriously and passed on to the relevant authorities.

“We love our community and will do all that we can to help.

“We also encourage all victims to seek assistance through the National Redress Scheme.”

The special water feature is planned to be landscaped as part of an extended Edmund Rice Walk and will be included in the enrolment and orientation process for new students and staff at the College, as well as providing a place of reflection and solace for the community.