We all need some Time and Space with Others

I recently spoke to Year 8 students on an eXcel Day about what is respect (the theme of the day) and how you can get it from the way you communicate with another person. We spoke about how body language plays a part, how eye contact plays a part, and how listening to understand not listening to respond plays a part.

It is a challenge to communicate well when an email or a text means less of the above.

How many emails do you get a day? How many of those emails have been sent to you by someone who sits less than 50m away?

The art of face-face communication in a technological world is getting more challenging. People don’t have the time for such means of communication. People need time and space to craft the art of face-to-face communication that then supports the development of deep and trusting relationships.

On Monday 27 March, and the upcoming Monday 3 April evenings at Padua College, we are again offering the very popular Time and Space program for our Year 7 Mother (female mentors) and children and Year 8 Father (male mentors) and children. Close to 200 parents across all campuses have taken up the opportunity this year to gather for these memory-making evenings.

Why the healthy turnout? Because with all the gadgets, social media, and technology that we have, people are crying out for face-face communication and a time and space to allow it to occur. I try to give my three children, some quality one-on-one time with me each week. It is very challenging.

The Time and Space program is special. These evenings are highlights for me on the school calendar because I see special conversations happening and the impact that it has on both the child and the parent/guardian. The opportunity to gather as a school community is also something we have missed over the past few years.

I thank Dr Kelly Harris from Time and Space who facilitated the evenings. I especially thank our wise ‘mum’ speaker and wise ‘dad’ speaker, Ms Marg McInnes and Mr Anthony Whitty, student panel members, staff members Mrs Kathleen Ronchi and Mr Paul Jenkins, and the dozens of student leaders who helped out on the evenings.

The Importance of Holy Week

At Padua College we will have student led Easter liturgies and Stations of the Cross presentations, at all campuses from March 30 till the end of term. The reflections from students will give thought in that we greet Jesus as a King on Palm Sunday, yet by Friday, he is dead. Whilst we know the end of the story, his followers did not and they were wrought by grief and dashed hopes.

The days of Good Friday and Holy Saturday are perhaps the most important days of reflection in the whole year for us as Christians. They offer us insight into, as St Paul says, the hope that is within us. How do we cope when nothing makes sense?

When we are going through challenging times, how do we endure those experiences of incomprehensible questioning and doubt that life will ever be normal again? It is Paul again who assures us that God's grace is sufficient for us, and it is in that knowledge that hope is possible.

The events of the upcoming Holy Week are not just a week in history. They are an insight into the human journey - a journey of exultation and pain, of friendship and broken relationships, of healing and of faith, and always, of being held in the ever-present love of a caring God.

Have a blessed Easter.

Please check out our Peninsula Easter Masses:

https://melbournecatholic.org/...

Catholic Education Week Mass

On Friday 17 March, a group of selected student leaders and teachers had the opportunity to attend the Melbourne Catholic Education Week Mass at St Patricks Cathedral in the city. We were there to represent Padua College with over 100 Catholic schools from the Melbourne Archdiocese.

Our school was involved in the opening procession to mark Padua’s 125th anniversary. Henry and Brad carried the school banner in the procession and Logan Shelley did the second reading.

As we walked into the gorgeous cathedral, I noticed the high wooden ceilings and the golden sunlight streaming in through the stained-glass windows. The dark wooden pews were full of students and teachers, eagerly awaiting to celebrate mass. Archbishop, Peter Comensoli presided and spoke about the vital role of youth in the Catholic church.

As I studied the cathedral, I noticed Latin words written around the edges of the roof. This beautiful script really spoke to a different time, perhaps back to when Latin would have been on the curriculum at Padua College many years ago. After the service, our photo was taken with the Most Reverend Tony Ireland, Melbourne’s Auxiliary Bishop, whose father attended Padua College in the 1920s.

We then had time to enjoy the city delights, before catching the train back home. It was a terrific way to mark St Patrick’s Day and Catholic Education Week.

Elsa Murphy,
Year 8 Romero