Newsletter 1: 2 February 2021
Dear Colleagues,
I trust the new school year has commenced as smoothly as possible as we continue to navigate the ever changing COVID-19 environment. Our thoughts and prayers go especially to our friends and colleagues in Western Australia with the sudden lockdown changes there this week and the serious impact of the devastating bushfires effecting so many people and enterprises, including schools.
Memorable during the 2020/21 holiday period was the extraordinary historical events in the United States on January 6th. The tragic loss of life due to the behaviour of a small minority was shocking. The riot was a manifestation of reckless words and uneducated theories based on falsehoods propagated for months. It was deeply disturbing to see such wanton destruction and disruption in the US Capital Building. However, in the midst of the chaos of that day, President (elect at the time) Biden spoke words of calm, dignity, hope, reconciliation and unity. These same sentiments were repeated during his inauguration speech. The sentiments expressed were readily appreciated by people, organisations and countries across the globe. Described generally in the media as a “devout Irish Catholic”, “deeply motivated by social justice”, “inspired by a contemporary theology” and “guided by Catholic social teaching”, Joe Biden seems to be the ideal leader for these fractious times in America’s history. For fellow Catholics, his words during the inauguration resonated. Some excerpts include:
I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days.
History, faith and reason show the way, the way of unity.
We can see each other not as adversaries, but as neighbours.
We can treat each other with dignity and respect.
We can join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperature.
For without unity, there is no peace — only bitterness and fury.
No progress — only exhausting outrage.
The answer is not to turn inward, to retreat into competing factions, distrusting those who don’t look like you or worship the way you do, or don’t get their news from the same sources you do.
We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts.
If we show a little tolerance and humility, and if we’re willing to stand in the other person’s shoes, as my mom would say, just for a moment, stand in their shoes.
Because here’s the thing about life: There’s no accounting for what fate will deal you.
Some days, you need a hand. There are other days when we’re called to lend a hand.
That’s how it has to be. That’s what we do for one another.
Noteworthy in the images and footage of President Biden signing a multitude of Executive Orders, was a photo behind his desk which captured him shaking hands with Pope Francis. May our prayers for the future of our world, join those of Pope Francis in his recent message to President Biden.
At a time when the grave crises facing our human family call for farsighted and united responses,
I pray that your decisions will be guided by a concern for building a society
marked by authentic justice and freedom,
together with unfailing respect for the rights and dignity of every person,
especially the poor, the vulnerable and those who have no voice.
I likewise ask God, the source of all wisdom and truth,
to guide your efforts to foster understanding, reconciliation and peace
among the nations of the world in order to advance the universal common good.