The Voice 5 by Rachel Powell

THE VOICE

Issue 5

October 2012 IN THIS ISSUE

A NEW SCHOLASTIC YEAR! By Marthese Grech, a Second Year Student

It’s that time of the year again, where certain students grumble, others are happy and most parents rejoice at the fact that their children are not at home lying around all day! Yes, it’s the beginning of a new scholastic year and I would like to welcome all the second years back to school as well as wish the first years a pleasant stay at SAC! The first few days may have been rough to some of you first years, but I hope that everything’s falling into place now. The orientation days as well as the assistant heads and guidance teachers will surely help out if you’re in need! And, here’s another idea, you can always come and speak to one of us second years! We don’t bite! But, jokes aside, we’ve all been through what you’re going through, so we can surely help you out.

Apart from that, the Welcome Party organized on the 28th of September must have surely helped you make new friends. It was quite a successful party organized by the school council, where guests were asked to follow a black and white dress code. It was an event for socializing and an icebreaking activity for the first years. Two bands were present, Karma Skies and Sugar Rush. Both performed brilliantly and kept the mood of the party alive. A big thanks goes to the council for organizing the activity and to all those who attended! To all those who couldn’t make it, don’t miss out on the next council activity as they have loads of ideas in mind this year! >> cont. on Page 5 Here, I would like to give all the first

ALOYSIANS CONQUER PARLIAMENT >> Pg 4

WELCOME PARTY >> Pg 6

WHY ASK.FM IS THE STUPIDEST THING IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD >> Pg 13

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A few words from the

CHIEF EDITOR

Welcome back to Saint Aloysius’ College! Almost a year has passed since we published the first issue of the Saint Aloysius’ Newspaper Body entitled ‘The Voice’. Since then the newspaper has developed and evolved into what we may see today.

The newspaper will keep on developing as long as there is someone willing to continue the work done so far, and thus making it sustainable. Therefore, I urge anyone interested in joining the newspaper to contact the students‘ body or the administration.

Nowadays the students’ body has about 30 members; both first years and second years from all courses: Arts, Maths, Commerce and Sciences. The newspaper has been a huge success, reaching an online audience of 1968 readers, with the number increasing with every publication released.

I wish you all the best of luck for the coming years especially to all the second year who will be sitting for their A-levels in less than seven months. Dear first years, make the best out of these two years cause they will be the best two years of your lives! The people you’ll meet here will change your lives forever.

So far we have received reports that the newspaper is truly considered as a medium were students voice their opinion on several events occurring on the campus, public concerns and fitness tips. This new issue is richer than ever, and is asking you all to participate actively, sending your views or complaints and writing to the editor.

See you around!

Rachel In Advanced Pure Mathematics, 23 students from St. Aloysius College obtained a grade A. This is a very promising result when considering that 44 students By Mr Daniel Buhagiar from all over Malta obtained a grade A. One also has to keep in mind that our student population was 79 St. Aloysius’ College strives to students out of 686 students from all over Malta who encourage students sat for the Pure Mathematics exam. towards academic and personal excellence. This initiates from their In Economics 8 out of the 10 A grade students who sat early years at Primary school and for the exam, were also from St. Aloysius' College. Our continues to Sixth Form level, until students have also excelled in the Systems of they are ready to venture new Knowledge exam, for which a total of 2402 student adventures in their lives. were present. Half of the 55 students who obtained an

ACING THE As

Our College provides various opportunities for students to interact in the learning context. In May 2011, 221 students from our Sixth Form sat for the Matsec examinations. We are delighted and proud with our students’ results which indicate that they have an outstanding potential.

A in this exam were also from our College. The table on your right provides further details with basic comparisons. The Management team together with the staff would like to congratulate all our students and wish you luck, determination and success in your life paths.

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COLUMNIST AMBER DUIVENVOORDEN

A NEW START

or some, this will be the beginning of the end and for others it will be a start to something completely new. Joining St Aloysius College is clearly an experience that changes people in many ways. The bonds made at this crucial stage in our lives will remain forever. We may speak in different tongues and come from different backgrounds but ultimately our hearts beat as one. When issues arise as they ONCE AN have done it is as a team ALOYSIAN that we resolve them. ALWAYS AN Inside each and every one of us there are untold ALOYSIAN strengths, resources and the most difficult chains to break. Aloysius College I have come to acknowledge

This is a fact that through my time at St. Aloysius College I have come to acknowledge and accept. Perhaps the answer is to find your true self as the person who you’re with most in life is yourself and if you don’t like yourself you’re always with somebody you don’t like. Although the person you are now and the circumstances you are in might change, the memories made here never will so let’s make this year one to remember!

>> Amber Duivenvoorden is a Second Year Student

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COUNCIL NEWS Dear Aloysians, I would like to start my article by giving a warm welcome to all the first years especially those who stepped into the College for the first time. In the name of the council I would like to take the opportunity to thank Mrs. Vanessa Portanier Mifsud for her tremendous service to our Sixth Form and to the rest of the student body. On the contrary of what many might believe, the Council and Mrs. Portanier were never two opposing forces but complementary forces that strive for the best interests of the student. “Welcome Party” Last scholastic year was closed with an activity that those present especially Italian Football fans remember. Although the “End of Year BBQ” was planned and organised during the stressful time of the annual examinations, its outcome was rewarding. We received a lot of positive feedback and this instilled in us motivation to start the new scholastic year with another improved activity. We worked on the “Welcome Party” during the summer holidays and its result was outstanding even more than we hoped for. I would personally like to thank all those who were involved especially those who gave us a helping hand. Big thanks and well done go to Karma Skies and Sugar Rush for accepting our invitation and liven up our activity with pure Aloysian talent. I would also like to thank my talented friend David Grima for his service as thanks to him we now have some captured memories. Last but not least, the biggest thanks goes to all those who trusted our organisation and accepted our invitation and attended and made this activity a memorable one. Wi-Fi Although the Council makes sure to organise activities we are not activity organisers. Amongst seven aims written in the statute, one of them is “to represent the Sixth Form students on matters that concern their interest as Sixth Formers”. As I explained and wrote last month the Council and the administration came into agreement regards the Wi-Fi issue. Works have not yet started due to some management queries in the company responsible for the work. To put your mind at rest I have the word of Fr Rector that this inconvenience will be fixed for sure as I proposed in the name of the council earlier in September. The council and I have done our part regarding this issue as I promised to do earlier in April when I started to lead the Council and now we are only waiting for the company to start its work.

Seminar: “Il-Faqar fost iż-Żgħażagħ Maltin” Another aim of the Council is “to lead the Sixth Formers to attain their religious, cultural and social ideals as propounded by the College”. On Wednesday 24th October the Council is organizing a very short seminar - in the Assembly Hall - themed “Il-Faqar fost iż-Żgħażagħ Maltin” (Poverty amongst Maltese youngsters). I am currently working hand in hand with our new chaplain; Fr Edgar to have the most professional and expert panel as possible. The seminar will consist of a small panel expert in this field and will also include one or two youngsters who will share their experience of poverty with us. This specific theme was chosen to make sure that it addresses us directly. I am sure that we are all living comfortably and maybe this problem is the last thing that comes to our mind. To address this problem I could have easily organized a charity collection however I believe that education is one of the main keys to this problem and my only aim for all this is to raise some social awareness. Lessons will finish at noon and I personally invite you to attend. More details will be given soon. Amendments in Statute The Council and the administration decided to amend the statute. The amendments include that you the students will vote for 8 members and instead of 10. A CV must be submitted by the person interested in contesting and an interview will be held. The statute cannot be changed without the Rector’s approval. Moreover if the proposed change is approved a General Meeting has to be called and the proposal has to be discussed and

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the amendment must be discussed and voted for. It is carried only by a two-thirds majority of the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cuorum.

To conclude my article I would like to say that a proposal regarding the live-in for uppers was formulated and is ready to be given to the Administration. I would like to encourage you to take active part in the activities we organize and the issues we address as your support is the fuel that keeps the Council alive. I am also open for any suggestions and for any constructive criticism to improve my service. For all those who are continuously criticizing destructively I personally invite them for a meeting anytime, anywhere to discuss any suggestions you might have. Yours Truly,

Karl Attard President

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NEWS

ALOYSIANS

Tuesday 11th September was D-Day for the Aloysians taking part in this year’s session of the National Youth Parliament. It has been the 10th anniversary since the first parliamentary session was organised by KNŻ (Kunsill Nazzjonali tażŻgħażagħ). Several Second-Year and First-Year students voiced their opinion in Parliament, the country’s highest institution. Hon. Clyde Puli, Hon. Anġlu Farrugia and Hon. Gino Cauchi were also present for the session.

CONQUER

This has been the fourth consecutive year that Kyle Sultana, leader of the Media party together with Ms Troisi de Menville, participated in the Youth Parliament. He describes this as being a memorable opportunity, to give a service to the country whilst making new friends and voicing your opinion on several matters. Co-ordinating the Youth Party, Rachel Powell has participated in the NYP sessions for the past 3 years and describes this experience as being the stepping stone for a career in politics and an exercise which shows you the robes of an MP whilst voicing your concerns.

Youths are not only the Future but also the Present! This was the creed of the Youth Party whose resolution focused on the lowering of the voting age to 16, the introduction of a teacher assistant in Primary Schools, a change in the MATSEC Matriculation and Secondary Certificate, voluntary work schemes, a student-friendly summer job search engine within the ETC Website amidst the other proposals.

A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE

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PARLIAMENT On the other hand the Media Party appealed for change in the Public Broadcasting Services, making it more neutral so as to better voice the opinions of all parties in the country. They believe journalists should specialize on a particular sector making the A STEPPING news better and more STONE FOR professional. Journalists A CAREER IN should hold a Diploma in Journalism, and they also POLITICS insisted on continuous professional education and a journalistic warrant. A Dubbing Industry should be introduced together with better programme schemes allowing the TVM to reach a wider audience. The parties met the Prime Minister on the 8th of October and will be meeting the President of Malta and the Leader of the Opposition on the 15th and 16th of October.

A New Scholastic Year by Marthese Grech cont. >> Here, I would like to give all the first years some tips on how to make you stay at SAC a more pleasurable one:

 Take part in as many co-curricular activities as possible: Soiree, SAC Fest, Euroscola and President’s Award are just some of the many cocurricular activities that the school has to offer. Don’t worry! You will manage to study and take part at the same time; you just have to use your time wisely.  Ask for help: Ask the council, assistant heads, the chaplaincy team or the guidance teachers for anything that you might need. They will be more than happy to help out.  Finding your way around: By now you should all be accustomed to the school; it’s quite a small school and makes it easier for you to get to classes quickly. That brings me to my next point, Always be on time! Don’t loiter around in the corridors; teachers won’t be thrilled if you’re 15 minutes late for a lesson just after the break.  Be open-minded: Try to remain open-minded when talking to other people. Be sociable, give good advice if asked for it and try to be as nice as possible to people. Remember that you’ll be seeing your classmates every day for the next two years and probably at University too. The most important thing you should do is to have fun. These will probably be the best two years of your life where you will do certain things that you have never even dreamed about before. Make the most of it, study hard but have loads of fun along the way!

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ENVIRONMENT The Importance of Trees Have you ever asked yourself the question: are trees really important in everyday life? Biologists run over themselves as they vehemently argue the importance of trees. Just like mathematicians getting lost in an avalanche of equations and a colossal amount of calculations disproving, proving, reaffirming, ridiculing, estimating, achieving, extrapolating or simply looking into a; theory. Don’t panic though! The key to the importance of trees is a simple one, no need for some genius, spectacled, over achieving biologist to explain to you why this is so. So lets take on our green side as we discover the reasons why trees are essential for everyday life. Trees produce oxygen I can here you say: Oh no not again, how many times do I have to be reminded that trees produce oxygen!? Well lets just say that even though you are aware of this, you let your apathy reign and never dared grow at least a small plant in your room. Hmm…grow a plant in my room? But that means commitment, I hear you say. Yes but it also means that through photosynthesis plants use the energy from sunlight to produce sugar, which cellular respiration converts into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which all living things use for energy. Oxygen is a by-product of this chemical process. It is written as 6H2O + 6CO2 -------> C6H12O6+ 6O2

In a nutshell they produce oxygen, which until the time of writing seems to be a positive factor for life. Now should some crazy scientist locked up in some secret laboratory find that oxygen is harmful for everyday life (whilst stroking his never ending white beard) then yes I will condone the absence of a plant in your room. Trees combat global warming Again I hear you complain to yourself about the continual reminder that one of the most effective ways to curtail global warming is through trees. Global warming is the result of an excess of the greenhouse effect which is very simply the absorption of heat by gasses in the atmosphere. These gasses are known as the greenhouse gasses one of which is Co2. As affirmed previously trees use up Co2 in the process of respiration. So next time you find yourself in a pool of sweat due to the incredible heat remember that you can aid in cooling the earth by very simply growing a tree. important for everyday life. They weren’t so

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‘‘We won't have a society if we destroy the environment.’’ -Margaret Mead Mead://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/enviro

Trees Fight Soil Erosion Have you ever wondered how soil stays in place in a stormy day? Or were you too busy ebbing your time away on the net that you never experienced soil first hand? Well it could surprise you to know that soil is kept in place by the roots of trees which act as a sort anchor. The roots bind the soil together making it more compact. Together with this the leaves of the tree act as a shield for the soil as they prevent the wind and too much rainwater from carrying the soil away. Trees Control Noise Pollution Yes very useful for when you decide to organise an all-night party blasting music till the early hours of the morning. Trees absorb sound reducing its volume and intensity. Leaves intercept sound waves slowing them down and reducing the noise. This can be very useful for people whose houses are located next to very busy roads or airports. So there they are, finally we managed to get through them,

the reasons why trees are so important for everyday life. They weren’t so complicated were they? A biologist would be red in the face by now regurgitating an endless speech filled with some of the most complicated features of nature. Essentially trees are hugely vital aspect of nature which we need to safeguard and nurture. >> Matthew Cassar is a Second Year Student

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HEALTH AND FITNESS We all want that confidence we need in summer, and if you put your mind to it you can achieve any fitness goal! Whether it’s putting on muscle or losing that stubborn fat, anything can be achieved. I

suggest you take advantage of your weekly sports session and get some hard work done there!

For those wishing to lose weight – starving yourself isn’t a healthy option. In fact it won’t even work. Just change your diet and start eating cleaner foods. Forget fast foods and chocolates. Salads, fruit, fresh chicken etc. are a healthier option and will help you achieve your goal even though you might not like it. It’s also suggested to space out your meals by eating a smaller portion every 2-3 hours in order to improve your metabolism system. I suggest you go to the gym two or three times a week. In an hour’s workout I suggest you do approximately 30 minutes cardio (treadmill, bicycle or some other cardio machine) and some HIIT cardio afterwards (message me for some HIIT cardio workouts). Make sure you sweat and make your workout intense.

UP THiS MONTH …

UNPLUGGED

POVERTY MEETING

For those wishing to put on some muscle; remember one thing: calorie intake>calorie outtake. This means eat clean carbohydrates every day to give you the means to put on lean muscle. Don’t forget to add protein into your diet too. Whilst in the gym push yourself hard, make your workout intense! Also make sure you train different muscle groups each week. It’s useless training your chest four times a week because you’ll probably be doing more harm than good. Don’t neglect your other areas such as shoulders and legs. If you need any information/hel p don’t hesitate to contact me. >>Steve Tabone is a Second Year Student

COUNCIL ELECTIONS

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C O L U M N I S T

GIANLUCA BUSUTTIL WHY ASK.FM IS THE STUPIDEST THING IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD In Greek mythology, the vain human Narcissus stared at his reflection in a mirror, and received a curse from the goddess Aphrodite, causing him to fall desperately in love with his own reflection. The story spawned the term “narcissistic”, referring to an obsessive interest in oneself.

In the modern day, the regular barrage of believe-inyourself drivel along with the competitiveness of everyday life has resulted in an unfortunate side-effect where narcissism is not only accepted, but encouraged. No modern phenomenon encapsulates this evident trend more than the Facebook takeover of ask.fm. Facebook has seen its share of ridiculous trends, from virtual livestock being flung from one corner of cyberspace to another, to cartoon profile pictures. Even in that knowledge however, ask.fm is the undisputed champion of stupidity. The system consists of people creating a profile, and then challenging their friends to anonymously ask them all sorts of questions. Predictably the result has been a massive amount of people reveling in their own anonymity and gleefully snatching the one-time-only opportunity to give the people they don’t like a piece of their well-concealed mind. From excavations of personal life to vulgar verbal onslaughts, ask.fm has already seen it all since its relatively recent conception (or since we Maltese discovered it anyway). But why would someone open themselves up and give others the opportunity to virtually berate them? Maybe they were expecting more innocent questions? Give me a break. Everyone on ask.fm knew beforehand what they were getting into. The crass nature of it was not something they Modern narcissism has grown to such an extent that

to tolerate, but the only reason why they joined in the first place. Modern narcissism has grown to such an extent that individuals crave attention. The more scandalous and spotlight-hogging, the better. People want to be the whispering topic of Facebook chat groups, to be spoken about in terms as simple as “ax ara x’arukaza” and “iiii miskin x’qalulu”. The bonus of it all is that one can only be at the receiving end of abuse, always taking the benevolent side of things. The dirty truth is that ask.fm is nothing more than a glorifying tool where people can revel in how much other people think about them, without caring in the slightest whether their image in other people’s minds is good or bad. The fact that I have just written over 380 words without even mentioning the moronic buffoons who play into the joyous hands of ask.fm members by asking them ridiculous questions in a misguided attempt to embarrass, is the ultimate testament to how incredibly stupid the whole charade is. Nevertheless there are those who have been sucked in by the trend of ask.fm, meaning that obviously not everyone on the site is a narcissist or an idiot. Many, and hopefully most, are people who thought it was interesting and joined without pausing. My goal is to highlight the general idea behind ask.fm, not individually target each of its users. Ask.fm is a paraphrase for what is wrong with society at the moment, and I for one yearn for the day when we can just be happy with ourselves and not seek the judgment or praise of others as the only thing which sustains our will to live. >> Gianluca Busuttil is a Second Year Student

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COLUMNIST

ENYA TANTI

JODIE BONNICI

THE JUDGEMENT OF AN IGNORAMUS

KEEP THE STRESS AT BAY

I shall be plunging you straight into the branch of philosophy called hedonism which deals with pleasures. Both Cyrenaics and Epicureans believe that pleasure is a natural good whilst pain is a natural evil. Yet they are distinguished by the fact that Cyrenaics try to maximise pleasure and thus lead lives which long for bodily pleasures such as sex, drugs and alcohol. Such a life has strings attached. For instance if one were to get wildly drunk then a hangover would be inevitable. On the other hand Epicureans seek pleasures which do not have accompanying pains. For example one may enjoy a glass of wine with his/her meal. Yet this may be criticised as people must be taught how to adopt such a lifestyle and its ‘natural’ appeal may not stand. Yet my aim is to focus on what John Stuart Mill has to say. Mill claims that pleasures may be divided into different levels. The basis of this distinction may be of two kinds: based on quantity or quality. The following example represents a scenario in which pleasures are commensurable: I believe that spending my night at Paceville is of a higher pleasure than eating chocolate ice cream. If the only difference is based on the quantity of pleasure released then it would be logical to claim that if I eat 20 portions of chocolate ice cream this would be equivalent to going to Paceville. Yet Mill thinks contrary. Mill supports the idea that pleasures are distinguished by quality. There would be suitable judges whom inform us which pleasure is of a higher level due to their experience. This may be criticised as one may also choose something due to one’s taste. For Mill if one is given the choice between spending a night studying philosophy or else watching television, those whom choose to watch television are ignoramuses.

Summer flew by and now the hard work begins. But does that mean that we have to say bye to fun and relaxation? No way. All the work might seem a bit too overwhelming, especially for the first years who are still trying to integrate and get used to the new environment. It’s important to keep in mind that when you’re stressed you’re far less efficient, and this will be a major drawback in both your academic and social lives, not to mention the toll it takes on your body. But how do you take a step back and relax with all the work and deadlines? First off, don’t get yourself down. Believe in yourself. If you made it this far then you can handle it and don’t let your mind tell you otherwise. When you’re working keep your mood elevated, put and upbeat song in the background and do your work in a relaxing place which you enjoy. You’re missing the beach? Take a couple books and go study by the seaside. The change of your surroundings will make studying more interesting.

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Freedom At the beginning of this year we the chaplains would like to pass on this simple message: Sixth Form is an important time in your life. It is the time when you ask important questions. One of the most important questions is this: What is Freedom? In this short article we would like to offer a few thoughts about Freedom.

Don’t underestimate the power of music. When you have work to do stay away from songs which are likely to make you feel nostalgic or which may possibly upset you. Stick to relaxing songs, preferably without lyrics, so you can concentrate on your studies rather than what the artist is talking about. Music should also be savoured on its own. Give yourself some time to just sit down with your headphones blaring. It’s also a good idea to do some breathing exercises, and maybe some simple yoga, while listening to music that you know will relax you.

Stay active. It’s a fact that a healthy body results in a healthy mind. Give yourself time to go for a walk or maybe work out a bit at least three times a week. This will help you get your mind off your studies for a bit and improves your mood. Not to mention that studies show that exercise releases neurochemicals into the brain which will elevate your mood and lower stress levels. Remember to also eat for your brain. Don’t limit yourself to fast foods. Take your daily fruit and veggies; it actually does make a difference. At the same time you’re keeping your body healthy, maintaining a good weight.

At the end of the day remember that while your studies are important, so is your social life, so make sure you get to enjoy some time with your friends and engaging in social activities.

Christians view human beings as creatures who are created in the image and likeness of God and who are endowed with intelligence and free will. At the same time, human beings are limited: they are not gods and they are not at the centre of the universe – a loving God is. Jesus' witness to God as Father sheds light on the way he understood the dignity of human beings. If God is a merciful Father to each human being, doing all to liberate him from evil and death, and if He is a Father who takes great interest in what happens to each person and listens to those who ask him for help, then human beings must be very precious in his eyes. Indeed, from Jesus' proclamation of the Kingdom it is clear that human dignity is ultimately based on their filial relationship with God. Jesus by His words, example and life shows us that each individual human being has "absolute" value and dignity. This is not to say that s/he has no limits. Each human being is a finite creature. "Absolute" here means "unconditional". The human person, by virtue of his nature and dignity, demands an unconditional respect. This dignity may never be sacrificed for the sake of another end, whatever this end might be. This pre-established dignity of human beings as persons is but the foundation for their definitive dignity. Human individuals grow and become themselves with time and beyond time. Though every choice made a person chooses him/herself. Through one’s free will one can choose to become who s/he really is or one can choose to become who s/he is not. So freedom in a broad sense is the ability to choose what we want, but choices against the good lead to slavery, and so even if they may be the result of free will, they are an abuse of the gift of freedom. True freedom is the freedom to do good, because doing good makes us the masters of ourselves. We, the chaplains are available to accompany you as you search for the answers to important questions of life. Fr Edgar sj, Lucienne , Christine

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Between San Francisco and Silicon Valley It hasn’t been that long since I moved from Birkirkara to Berkeley via Kenya and Ethiopia. Just over three months ago, those of you who were then in the first year were sweating it out over the annual exams. Even though it feels like I’ve lived in California forever, I must admit missing you loads – the fantastic atmosphere you young people created among yourselves last year and the beautiful spirit of friendship and collaboration in all aspects of life in the Sixth Form. I am sure that all of you would be more than willing to build that up.

Earlier this week I was at Santa Clara University, the Jesuit University in Silicon Valley, of which the Jesuit School of Theology (where I’m spending my sabbatical) is a satellite campus. Many Santa Clara graduates go on to work as lawyers, accountants, administrators and engineers with the big names (Apple, Cisco, ebay, Google, HP and the likes of them); others go on to PhDs. At least two are in the White House (US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Defence Secretary Leon Panetta). But as with any other Jesuit College or University, that is only one side of the coin. Like you guys with your Social Responsibility Programme, Santa Clara students engage in initiatives promoted by its Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education, such as a student activity to experience the day-to-day realities of low income families in Santa Clara County. Many alumni/ae go on to work among the poor in the US and in developing countries for a year or two with Jesuit Volunteer Corps or to support Los Angeles’ Homeboy Industries, America’s largest gangprevention organization, founded by a Jesuit. Learning from the poor and letting them shape the way we look at life changes us profoundly and for the better. The Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley (pop.

The Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley (pop. 114,000) is just two blocks away from the central campus of the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, or simply “Cal”) a public research university of about 35,000 students. Our neighbourhood is swarming with young people. At the JST itself, in addition to Jesuit students there are many young people (male and female) doing graduate studies in theology. Many are preparing for leadership positions in the Church – in parishes, schools, universities and NGOs in the United States and abroad. The 100+ Jesuits in the community are from more than 30 different countries, from Burkina Faso to China, Mexico, USA and Zambia. Whenever we come together – for study, prayer or meals – we bring the concerns of the world in our sharing. Furthermore, the JST participates in a unique network of graduate schools in Berkeley (Graduate Theological Union) with a rich multicultural and interreligious character. No Sunday Mass has been like the one before it since I arrived. Today I was out in west Oakland, where a fellow Jesuit from my community was being installed as the new parish priest of St Patrick Church. The swinging double choir (Gospel and Latino combo) turned out a blend of vibrant songs that had young and old and all in between clapping rhythmically to the beats of the jazzy percussion, piano and string orchestra. The church goes out of its way – it should – to make everyone feel welcome and the neighbourhood turned out in full force. I’m back in Berkeley now and have walked up the hill from Downtown Berkeley underground station through the UC Berkeley campus to our apartment. The lights of San Francisco glimmer across the bay as I look up from my laptop screen and gaze for a few moments through my room window. It’s 11.30pm on Sunday evening. With the 9-hour time difference, you’re now at the end of your first Monday morning lecture. Have a nice week and a really great year! Fr Joseph Cassar, SJ

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Live-In for First Years Fri 19th October at 4:oopm till Sat 20th at 4:00pm For Commerce + Sciences

Fri 26th Oct at 4:00 pm till Sat 27th Oct at 4:00pm For Arts + Maths

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