4th October, 2016 Reflection Respecting one another God our Father, you call each of us by name, and you treasure each of us individually as though no-one else exists. Inspire us to respect and value each person who comes into our lives this day. Amen.
Dear Parents and Students, ‘In the Footsteps of St Paul’s Pilgrimage’ In September, I travelled to Greece as part of ‘In the Footsteps of St Paul’s Pilgrimage’ with 20 Principals from Catholic schools in Victoria. This pilgrimage involved both spiritual formation and learning and our experience was enriched through prayer and worship. The desire to be a pilgrim is deeply rooted in human nature. Since the earliest of times, pilgrimages to holy places have been made as acts of devotion, penance or thanksgiving, or to seek blessings or miracles. The physical journey coincides with a spiritual journey. Taking part in a pilgrimage offers more than just spiritual benefits as it enriches the mind as well as the soul. Our group experienced the opportunity to be enriched in our faith by tracing St Paul’s footsteps through Greece, Cyprus and Malta. One of the early highlights of the pilgrimage has been at Philippi. In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke tells us about Paul’s journey to and ministry in Philippi: We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptised, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.” And she prevailed upon us. Acts 16: 11 -15 Lydia was the first convert to Christianity in Europe. It was the beginning of the message of Jesus spreading throughout Europe and down the ages. We celebrated Mass at the Baptistery of Lydia on the banks of the River Zygaktis. The celebrant was Father Michael Twigg OMI (former principal of Mazenod College, Mulgrave) who led the group as Chaplain. Mark Sheehan Principal
Father Michael celebrating Mass