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MMDEVILL]kN Registered by Australia Post Publication Number VBH 7636 Vol. 2 No. 3 September 1987
A NEW PRINCIPAL
NO-ONE IS A
'V
STRANGER
- SISTER DEIRDRE ROFE, I.B.V.M.
With the last few months of our school year
ahead of us, it might be an appropriate time to reflect on how we have responded as
At the end of August, the position of Principal
individuals, as families and as a school
of Loreto, Mandeville Hall was advertised
community to the issues highlighted by
nationally. The intention is to appoint the first
International Year of Shelter for the Homeless.
lay Principal of the school for January 1989.
As most of us enjoy the comforts of a secure
Such a move brings the reality of the changing
face of Catholic education to the doorstep of
lifestyle, it is often easy to choose not to
FS
confront the reality that 1,031,000,000
Toorak. Any change brings with it a sense of
people in the world are homeless; that many
sadness at losing something familiar and yet, there is anticipation and hope that the change will bring new ideas and energy. Such feelings
thousands of Melburnians spend each night in our parks, on our streets, slumped in doorways, in Brotherhood Bins ...
mark this initiative. For 63 years, there has
This, however, is the painful, confronting and
been an I.B.V.M. Principal at Toorak. Over
challenging reality.
these years a school with a strong identity and
As a school, we have made small, but
sense of purpose has been formed. The
significant responses in the three following
Provincial Council of the I.B.V.M. has decided
areas:
that the time is right for the school to be
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handed over to lay administration. This move has the assurance of support from 1.B.V.M. personnel and administrative structures. And so a new phase in the school's history begins. The forces for continuity are strong. A committed staff have been working with the
CURRICULUM
ilit
4As Christian educators, we have made a
concerted effort this year to educate ourselves and our students about the realities of poverty,
Loreto Education Philosophy and more recently the I.B.V.M. Mission Statement for Schools.
injustice and homelessness in our world. In
*St
These
response to 1.B.V.M. initiatives, each faculty has
two documents will continue to provide the
been encouraged to explore ways in which a
inspiration and guidance for all undertakings
Christ-like disposition of love for the poor can
in Loreto schools. The I.B.V.M. will provide
be fostered in our students. We have attempted
support through the presence of a religious
to challenge the many students who uphold
community at the school and through the I.A.S. (Institute Accountbility Structure), a
the belief that the homeless and the poor bring
panel of I.B.V.M. educationalists who will visit
difficult to promote loyalty, commitment and
suffering upon themselves. It is sometimes
the school regularly to advise the Principal and
love toward people who are not "like us."
to support initiatives taken. The Advisory
Jesus challenges us to welcome strangers into
Board will continue to be a source of expert
our homes. Has this challenge impinged on
advice and are committed to the school's
your life this year? Through our Religious
welfare.
Education program, our students have certainly
A change such as this presents a challenge to
welcomed strangers into their hearts. Many
all sections of the School community. The
classes have focused on areas of poverty in the
goodwill of the parents, students and past
local context and have become more attuned
pupils is essential. There is everything to gain
to the plight of refugees, the ultimate victims
from adopting a positive, hopeful attitude to
CLEAN AIR
the move. The converse is equally true.
Some people have asked "Why Toorak?". The
Congratulatiions to Prep, Years 1 and 2 who
simple answer could be "Why not Toorak?",
won second
however there are better reasons. The
relatively high concentration of I.B.V.M,
personnel in Melbourne was one factor which determined the choice of Toorak as the first of
the I.B.V.M. schools to be handed over to lay administration. In the context of decision-
making regarding the future of Loreto schools, it was a case of when, not if, on this particular
prize in the poster competition
were presented with a nursery voucher for
$250 for the school. In making the
of homelessness, in our world.
LITURGIES
run in conju nction with the Environmental
presentation Mr. Kennan said " The quality
Protection A uthority's Clean Air Campaign.
and standard of entries and the , large
We have pondered the deeper reality of
Ann Conroy (Year 1) and Prudence Doig
volume received, reflects the cc )ncern
I.Y.S.H. at a number of school liturgies this
(Prep) attencled a press conference at
younger people have for the ai r
Treasury Pla,ce with our Science
environment."
year. At the Mass to open the school year, the
Junior School community prayed : "God our Father, no one is a stranger to You and no one
Co-ordinatoi -, Mrs. Virginia Moloney and
is ever far from Your loving care." We celebrated this unconditional outpouring of
point of lay administration. Like most Orders,
Christ's love at a number of liturgies to mark
the I.B.Y.M. has been steadily declining in
JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE
numbers. (Some statistics may help: there is currently no professed member of the I.B.V.M.
the Feast of the Sacred Heart on 26 June.
Students participated creatively in these respective liturgies and made a symbolic
- RUSSELL STAIFF
who is under the age of 30; there has not been a vocation to the I.B.V.M. from Toorak since
offering of food to be given to our homeless neighbours - those who hunger ... literally,
1965.) It is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain our present commitments to schools. Added to this is the belief that religious need to be constantly alert and free to respond to
News of the Senior School's plans to
"go overseas" and for many, the experience
celebrate Australia's Bi-centenary
is a return to "home".
has travelled very quickly indeed.
In this behaviour there is both
FUNDRAISING
In April, 1988, 680 students along with the
The desire among students to give has
new missions in the Church.
entire Senior School staff and a support
acknowledgement and denial. We acknowledge that we are all migrants in this
The appointment of the new Principal will be made by the Provincial, Sister Anne McPhee I.B.V.M.. She will be assisted in this task by
team of perhaps 70 personnel will leave
land and that we have created a multi-
increased as the year has progressed. Although
Toorak in a convoy of 17 buses and begin its
donating money cannot be hailed as a cure for
two interviewing panels. The first will be made up of members of the I.B.V.M., two members
It seems appropriate that Australia's Bi-
of the Advisory Board and a representative of the C.E.O.. The final panel will comprise four
members of the I.B.V.M.. The panel members have been selected on the basis of their
familiarity with Catholic education and the Loreto spirit; they bring to the task wide experience and expertise,
We hope to be able to announce the new appointment some time in November. During this period of interviewing and decision making, 1 would ask the support in prayer of
the school community, that the Holy Spirit of Wisdom ancl Truth will guide those entrusted
with the important task of selecting the new Principal.
Australian, and that this reflection should
cultural society. We deny the harshness of an environment that we have never really accepted in our hearts. Perhaps the latter is the guilt of the trespasser who knows deep down that the soul of our Aboriginal brothers and sisters is spiritually wedded to
involve a real journey of self-discovery
the land and has been for thousands and
rather than the second-hand experience of
thousands of years.
the classroom.
Thus a pilgrimage to the centre of Australia is an opportunity to not only celebrate the
epic-making trek to the centre of our nation. centenary should be the occasion to reflect on the question of what it is to be an
But why a pilgrimage to Central Australia that involves the entire Senior School? For
Bi-centenary of white settlement, a
most of us the heart of this ancient
momentous occasion for us all, but in the
continent is both alien and remote.
spirit of the pilgrim, with peace and
Culturally, Australia's soul is nourished by Europe. Geographically our cities cling to the coastline. Climatically we defy the arid and hot summers by keeping our lawns green. For a multitude of reasons we long to
reconcilation in our hearts to reflect on who we are as Australians.
In pilgrimage then is a journey of discovery, of praise, of thankfulness and of celebration.
the extensive social problems that confront us, it has been heartening to witness the improvement of our students to take action. So far this year we have sent money to Community Aid Abroad for their Mozambique Appeal, the Catholic Family Welfare Bureau to
support their work with homeless women and local networks to support refugees during their difficult period of resettlement. A special thanks must go to Year 10 and 12 students for their fundraising efforts. Our students have taken the initiative.. How
can we, as the Loreto Community at Toorak, make a more tangible contribution to the alleviation of suffering among the homeless in
our own city, in our country and in the international community? 1.Y.S.H. is almost over...