Principal’s Welcome “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” One may indeed say that Summer is an extraordinary time for ordinary people........ or is it in fact that ordinary people have an extraordinary time? The ordinary and the extraordinary are words that describe life at St Aloysius on a daily basis. They are words which describe Always Aloysius, they are words which describe our community and, as Principal, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Welcome to the Summer edition of Always Aloysius. and Queensland and the news brings stories of great courage by ordinary people in extraordinary situations.
As you flick through these pages you will also bear witness to extraordinary achievements, extraordinary efforts, extraordinary kindness, extraordinary friendships and extraordinary talents. The St Aloysius College community is truly extraordinary, but its heart also beats genuinely with the ordinary, for it is a grounded place, it is a compassionate place, a hospitable place and it is true to its inspirations. Always Aloysius indeed.
Our College theme for 2019 has been ‘Courage’, perhaps the greatest of the Mercy values, for without courage it would be impossible to practise consistently any of the other values. Summer of course is not only about sunshine, it is a time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, and these words of courage, ordinary and extraordinary keep coming to mind. When I think of the birth of Christ the word ordinary doesn’t seem appropriate, but then it occurred to me that God invites ordinary people to do extraordinary things, and perhaps this is no better demonstrated than in the life of Joseph. In the most miraculous moment in human history - the birth of Christ - we find at the heart of the story an ordinary man, but a man of God, a Just man. Joseph displays courage and turns the ordinary into the extraordinary.
As I write this introduction, terrible bushfires are ravaging the states of NSW
The two most inspirational figures in the story of St Aloysius College are arguably
Catherine McAuley and St Aloysius. We don’t often think of these greats as ‘ordinary’, just as we don’t think of Joseph as ordinary. But the truth is that all of these extraordinary people were ordinary people who displayed unique courage and created the extraordinary. Courage turning ordinary into the extraordinary. This is the story of 2019 at St Aloysius College and it is the theme that runs strongly throughout this Summer edition. Enjoy the read, as Summer embarks enjoy time for yourself, for your family and friends, trust in God for the courage to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Wishing you a fantastic Summer, a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful and loving 2020. In the footsteps of Catherine McAuley, Mary Farah Principal
Always Aloysius – Summer Edition, 2019
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