SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

SIGNIFICANT APPOINTMENTS

Becoming a Bishop: Anthony Ireland, Lasallian Old Boy

Father Tony Ireland, known to some Brothers, and by his parishioners at Doncaster in Melbourne, has been appointed by Pope Francis as one of two auxiliary bishops to share leadership with Archbishop Peter Comensoli in Melbourne.

Monsignor Anthony was educated in the once classic Catholic way, in a parish primary school at Caulfield, which led to De La Salle Malvern for secondary studies. Graduating in 1974, he tested out the world of commerce before essaying the vocation to priesthood at Corpus Christi College in 1981. He was ordained as a presbyter in 1987, and later, showing aptitude, was appointed Dean of Studies at his old seminary in 2006. For the three following years he was the in-charge Rector of the Seminary.

Appointments have flowed over his ministry: a member of the CDF Board and Ministry to Priests; a Director of Catholic Capital Grants (Victoria) Ltd: the Archbishop’s appointee to the Archbishop’s Melbourne Senate; on the Archbishop’s Curia; member of the College of Consultors; Commissioner and Assessor for the Diocesan and Extension and Maintenance Fund; School Chaplain and Canonical Administrator to varying Colleges at Mentone, Frankston and Bulleen; and Chaplain to the Catholic Nurses Guild. He was the Spiritual Adviser to the State Council of St Vincent de Paul for eight years. Over time, he has been the Episcopal Vicar for Health and Aged Care and is also currently the Episcopal Vicar for the Eastern Region of the Archdiocese. His qualifications show his ease in the academy. He holds the degrees of Bachelor of Theology from the University of Divinity, Master of Arts in Spiritual Theology from the Pontifical University of St Thomas (Rome), Licentiate in Sacred Theology (Moral Theology) from the Pontifical Gregorian University (Rome), and Doctor of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of St Thomas (Rome).

With Fr. Martin Ashe, he will receive episcopal ordination in July.

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

JOHN GILL - 47 YEARS OF COMMITMENT

Author: Natalie Calleja, La Salle College, Middle Swan

John has been a member of the Lasallian community for his entire life! He attended La Salle College Middle Swan when it was an all-boys’ school and then returned as a teacher and has been here ever since. During that time, he witnessed many profound changes to the College.

John has a great sense of fun, making guest appearances at many camps and retreats, running “Gill’s Games”, setting off the traditional Mission Aid Day pyrotechnics, leading cultural tours to New Zealand and photographing College events. He always greeted students and staff with positivity and an amusing anecdote, always showing interest in every individual.

His life has been dedicated to education and has taught many and varied subjects including Science, Industrial Arts, Photography, Religious Education and Maths.

We thank John for his immense contribution to the College and the Lasallian community. We wish him good health and happiness in his retirement..

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

AN AUTHENTIC LASALLIAN - AFFILIATION OF CHRIS GOODMAN

How to judge a truly authentic Lasallian educator? Many different ways perhaps. One measure is a formal ‘Affiliation’ the highest honour of the Brothers’ Institute, and a recognition- as it were- of being esteemed affectionately as a ‘brother’. Chris Goodman of Oakhill College, Castle Hill, NSW, was conferred Affiliation on Thursday 4 February 2021.

Fellow-teachers and the Brothers’ Community have seen that, for over 24 years, Chris has imbibed the Lasallian spirit, and grown as a powerful Christian witness to a multitude of students and staff at Oakhill. His involvements and on-going commitments cover numerous fields. As an academic teacher over these years, he has been a Technology & Applied Studies faculty member, a Religion teacher, facilitator of junior and senior retreats, administrator, longtime sport coach, and a wide-ranging facilitator and leader in the College of many community service initiatives and programs.

In terms of Lasallian spirituality, Chris has been heavily committed to the District and our Lasallian Region. Having done professional in-service, the Lasallian heritage short-course, and especially the international 3-year Buttimer Program in USA, he has had teachers’ immersion in the wider Lasallian mission in Asia. With colleague Katrina Mann, he founded and has led the “Lasallians without Borders Team India / Philippines”, from 2009-2020. The students make regular immersion /volunteer trips to marginalised Lasallian institutions in Asia. Linking up with the Lasallian Foundation, he has supported the “twinning” of Oakhill with the poorer Albans High School in Pakistan, raising funds via Founder’s Day etc. He was a delegate to the District Mission Assembly (2018).

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

At the local level, Chris has strongly influenced the post-school Lasallian Volunteers and the yearly Lasallian Youth Ministers in their formation, via the Team India/Philippines. As the Director of Mission for the College from 2017 to the present, he has also overseen the Lasallian Youth Leaders’ Program, which includes many service and fund-raising projects for the local community, e.g., hampers for yourtown San Miguel, St. Vincent de Paul, and support for indigenous youth institutions & a local women’s refuge.

Working with Lasallian Mission Services, Chris has helped facilitate junior Oakhill reflection days. He helps co-ordinate the weekly Chapel Masses. All of these roles make him a critical member of the ‘Catholic Lasallian Policy Committee’ of the school, and one who lives the Lasallian spirit of “Zeal”- a Lasallian who puts relationships front and central in his teaching and pastoral work.

Chris acknowledged being “humbled by this honour”, speaking to the 1,800 students and 200 staff at the College’s Commencement Mass:

“Our Lasallian world is a world that we should all be proud of. Being part of the Lasallian family, and its extended network, means that we share the same values of faith, service and community - values that make us closer to God values that should be the driving force in everything we say and in everything we do”. He thanked his extended Lasallian ‘family’- his Oakhill colleagues and mentors- and various Brother Principals, Ms. Miranda Chow and Br. Paul Smith of the Lasallian Foundation, Brothers in Philippines & India, and Br. Finbar (RIP) of San Miguel, who have inspired him. For Chris, they have walked alongside him to teach and guide “our community; to make sure that every individual here can grow to be the best person that they can be”. The students, he said, “constantly ‘walk the talk’ and rise to the occasion to make our world a better place through the many opportunities that we have, to give to others who are less fortunate”. The audience of 2,000 students and staff gave an ovation of several minutes that capped thee occasion. For so many, Chris Goodman has embodied the Lasallian charism (the Spirit-gift to the Church), and its values and educational principles, whereby offering service, building relationships, and walking in faith, are a great privilege which does ‘make a difference’ to other peoples’ lives.

Click HERE to read Chris’ speech

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

A ‘DO-GOODER’ OR A “BENEFACTOR”?

“He went about doing good”, the Christian Gospel says about Jesus. Australians traditionally feel uncomfortable with “do-gooders”, when linked to religion. Yet, we can be full of praise for fire-fighters, surf life-savers, not to mention the ‘Salvoes’ and the ‘Vinnies’. The De La Salle Brothers show gratitude by recognizing a person as a “Benefactor of the Institute”. The ANZPPNG District has given this acknowledgment to 85 individuals since its 1906 founding.

Heather Muirhead was recognised recently in a ceremony. Heather was given a formal certificate, thanking her for thirty years of service in support of our De La Salle vocation, and our association for the Lasallian Mission. The outline of this service is impressive: Heather has been a loyal friend to Brothers in their community over the decades, with her generosity shown especially at Christmas time and for major celebrations.

In the College, she has taken the lead in organisation of ‘St Lucy’s Day’ a service programme for the visually Impaired. There has been involvement in the ‘Show Team’ helping students with farming skills and involvement in exhibitions at Regional Shows and the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Invitational Tennis Tournaments, the 1990’s Science Club activities and researching and help hosting, as College Archivist, the Class Reunions each year have been all extra commitments taken on.

Over the decades, these Benefactors have supported the local Brothers or the larger Lasallian community mission by their service, often beyond any paid capacity. Many have been teachers, school support or welfare people, Board or committee members, or those from parents, and from friends’ groups. This generosity and openness to the work of “the human and Christian education of youth” is reciprocated by prayer in Brothers’ communities for this multitude of associates.

May Heather with other colleagues be inspired to offer service where it is needed for our youth and young adults!’

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

38 YEARS OF VOCATION: a pilgrim of Lasallian Christian faith

Continuing a journey over thirty-eight years sounds out of this world, exhausting. For Joan Ferguson, fulfilling several roles within De La Salle College Malvern, the path was greatly fulfilling. On Sunday 14 March, it was acknowledged with the conferral of formal affiliation with the Lasallian Institute, in a Mass in the Brothers’ chapel at Malvern, due to COVID restrictions. Family and friends witnessed the occasion.

Br Quentin O’Halloran spoke of the significance of “Affiliation”, in becoming an honorary member of the De La Salle Family, and Br Gerard Rummery, a guide and friend over the years, read the Citation. Joan herself mentioned several Bothers with affection previous Principals in the person of Brs James Taylor (deceased) and two present for the day William Firman and Timothy Peter. She grew up in a strong Catholic family, being a member of Young Christian Workers in her youth, graduating in theology over several years with the Catholic Theological Union, all the time developing her faith and commitment.

Joan took on the job of private secretary to Br. James Taylor as Principal, and - as she related- worked long hours with a passion and zeal over many years, wrote grant submissions, presented the Lasallian charism at inductions for new staff, interviewed candidates for employment, and drafted many College policies. There was teaching the teachers to use computers for the first time (in Saturday morning classes) and writing easy Word and Excel manuals for them to use. Joan was a member of the Melbourne Archdiocesan RCIA forum, and so was asked to prepare the school’s non-Christian students for the Catholic sacraments, in ways that involved the whole boys’ families celebrating together. Br. William, Principal at that stage, invited her to take on the role of official College Chaplain, a position she held for 12 years. Her mandate would be “to instruct all students new to the College in the Catholic tradition of the Christian faith, and especially the sacraments, and to respond to students and families in need”.

In terms of Lasallian formation, Joan participated in various District programs. She visited the Brothers’ mission in Vietnam, offering personal support; while overseas, she went to Reims to connect with the Founder’s spirit. She believed, as she said, on the day, that the Institute is “inclusive and forward thinking”, and thus still relevant after 340 years, as it believes in “educating the whole person”. She could quote the relevance of the Declaration on the Lasallian Educational Mission (2020) and how she had found:

“Fraternity/Community/Association in the daily friendship and wisdom of great (Lasallian) men and women, on whose shoulders I stand today.”

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

“Educational zeal for the poor” spiritual, not solely material has been found by her, she narrates in “grass roots commitment to the poor, regardless of race, religion or creed, during my travels” in the Lasallian global network. Closer to home, her husband Don and several of her five children have offered service / ‘tours of duty’ to the Lasallian ministry in Papua New Guinea. Steeped, as one Brother says, in the Lasallian tradition, Joan, as a dedicated Catholic Christian, continues to prepare people for Christian initiation as adults in her parish, and serves at ‘Tony’s Cafe’ feeding homeless people three days each week. Joan Ferguson is the latest of fifteen female affiliates of the Lasallian Institute in the ANZPPNG District.

STEVE MOLLOY: AFFILIATION AND GRACE-FILLED SERVICE

“Living gracefully” was how a life-long friend and classmate summarises Steve Molloy’s life. That achievement, in terms of his service over twenty years, was recognised by the De La Salle Brothers, in their conferring “affiliation to the Institute” on 27 March 2021.

Br. Chris Gorringe, previous District Bursar (RIP) outlined in a commendation to the Br. Visitor and his Council that Steve was educated by the Brothers at De La Salle College Caringbah and De La Salle College Cronulla. “He has constantly expressed gratitude for the influence of his teachers, naming specifically Br. Quentin O’Halloran and Br. Paul Rigney. He attributes to the former his love of literature and culture, even recalling parts of Br Quentin’s speech at his final-year graduation ceremony. Steve always speaks of the Brothers who taught him with affection and respect. “In 1997, he was appointed to the position of Bursar at Oakhill College Castle Hill, a position he held until his retirement in 2015, having served with four Brothers Principal (Ambrose Payne, Chris Gorringe, Ken Ormerod and Peter Ryan). In addition to demonstrating competence in business and financial matters, and proving himself to be a loyal supporter of the diverse Principals with whom he worked, Steve proved himself to be a genuine Lasallian community-builder, encapsulating in his relationships with others the very best of our Lasallian ideals, including a deep compassion for the poor, which he demonstrated in his approach to families who could not afford to pay fees. Likewise, he showed practical concern for staff who were in need of practical or emotional support - for whom he became a reliable friend and confidant and for senior students. His community-building was shown in the welcome he invariably gave to visiting alumni and to Brothers who called in to the College, often unannounced, in his introduction of regular College reunions for alumni, and in his close involvement with the Parents & Friends Association”.

Early in his Oakhill career as College Bursar, “Steve responded positively to the invitation of Br. David Hawke (Visitor), to join the District’s Economic Council and remained on the Council until his recent retirement, brought about by a pressing need to provide care for his ageing parents. As a member of the Economic Council, Steve was an active contributor to discussion, showing a person with independent views, but always