Last Sunday we commemorated the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. This event marks Jesus’s bodily ascent into Heaven which took place 40 days after Easter. Significantly, it marked the end of his earthly mission and acts as an assurance that He is now actively interceding for us in Heaven. In teaching about the significance of the Ascension, Pope Francis reminded us that the Ascension does not point to Jesus’ absence, but tells us that he is alive in our midst in a new way. He is no longer in a specific place in the world as he was before the Ascension. He is now in the present in every space and time, close to each one of us. In our life we are never alone: we have this Advocate who awaits us and who defends us. 

It is hard to believe that we are now already into the second half of Term 2 and, very shortly, a range of events which mark the end of Semester One will be upon us. As I have mentioned to Year 12 on a number of occasions, they are now not only in the second half of their HSC year, but they are just six school weeks away from the commencement of their Trial HSC Examinations. Last week also marked the halfway point in the Preliminary Course for all of our Year 11 students who are also preparing to enter into a busy period of assessments in the coming weeks. Significantly, our Year 10 students will commence their HSC Subject Selection process within the next fortnight which includes a parent information evening next Wednesday (11th June), and shortly after, our Year 8 cohort will also commence the process of selecting their own electives to study in Years 9 and 10. As always, we appreciate the partnership between home and school, especially during these busy times of the year. If parents and carers have any questions with regards to any of these events, please do not hesitate to contact the front office and you will be put through to the most appropriate staff member. 

Over the last few weeks, our students in Years 8 and 9 have been participating in their respective reflection days which are held here at the College by both internal and external facilitators. These days aim to meet students where they are at on their own spiritual journey and to highlight the role that God plays in our lives. Among other presenters, we have been pleased to have Fr James remain a constant presence with us, and we remain grateful for the work of Mr O’Neil, Mr Sligar and Miss Neasy who have brought these engaging programs together. Significantly, it has also been really pleasing to see how well each of our cohorts have engaged with these days and have ultimately contributed to their success. 

As you may be aware, this year’s edition of Magdalene Shines will be held on June 19 in the College Hall. This student showcase event was one of the highlights of the 2024 calendar and this year's event is shaping up to be even better. All members of our College community are warmly welcomed to attend and tickets can be purchased through our online ticket portal. 

Wishing you all the best for the week ahead, 

David Cloran

Principal