Today, here, at Merici College we gather to celebrate the life of a woman known to us as Angela Merici. Angela was born in 1470, in an insignificant farming village called Desenzarno. Later, after the death of her parents she moved to Brescia to live with an uncle.It was not until Angela was 65 years old that she and her friends formed the “Company of St Ursula”.
They were recognised as STRONG, INDEPENDENT, WISDOM women.
Together they promised to devote their lives to
- Being open to the guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT,
- Reflecting on the scriptures, and
- Responding to the needs they saw in the people around them.
All of this happened a long, long time ago – it’s 500 years to be exact, since Angela responded to the needs of those living in her local community of Brescia.
Yet the events of Angela Merici’s life and especially the personal qualities she embraced continue to speak to men and women today, in particular, you the students, staff, parents and friends of Merici College Braddon.
As I reflected on this celebration I found myself wondering……
If Angela Merici were standing in my place today……..
WHAT WOULD ANGELA WANT TO SAY TO US?
I think she would firstly hold up to us, written in large print, the message of our first reading……
There are a variety of GIFTS but always the same SPIRIT working in us all FOR A GOOD PURPOSE. 1 Cor 12:4-7
A VARIETY OF GIFTS…….
To grasp the enormity of these words I think Angela Merici would challenge us to look back over the 59 years to when this College first began in 1959…..
The very foundations of this College have been built on
A VARIETY OF GIFTS…….
But always the same. HOLY SPIRIT working in us all FOR A GOOD PURPOSE.
It happened like this….
The city of Canberra was built to be the capital of Australia representing all the States and Territories that make up Australia.
When the first Catholic High School was to be built in Canberra, Archbishop Eris O’Brien wanted it to be
- inclusive,
- a place welcoming ALL,
- embracing not just one group of teaching Sisters but many,
- thus, reflecting the diversity, the uniqueness of our Australian Community.
So in 1959, the leaders of SIX religious congregations as represented by these SIX house banners…
- The Good Samaritans,
- The Brigidines,
- The Sisters of Mercy,
- The Josephites,
- Presentation Sisters and
- The Ursulines.
accepting the Archbishop’s challenge to bring …
A variety of GIFTS
Led by the HOLY SPIRIT
To share the richness of their GIFTS
FOR A GOOD PURPOSE.
Thus the countless number of
- students,
- Religious Sisters and lay staff,
- parents and
- friends
who have ever been part of this school since it began in 1959 up until today, 2018.
To YOU the present
- students,
- lay staff,
- parents and
- friends
here in 2018.
YOU ARE THE REASON FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SCHOOL.
YOU ARE THE GOOD PURPOSE….
Establishing this school was a unique venture in 1959, the first of its kind in Australia (and probably the world).
And today this School continues to be UNIQUE because of the countless VARIETY OF GIFTS
that have been shared FOR A GOOD PURPOSE.
Now in 2018, the sharing of YOUR VARIETY OF GIFTS FOR A GOOD PURPOSE is reflected in your SCHOOL THEME – JOY that embraces the Year of Youth……..
with its reminder from Pope Francis:
You were NOT made for COMFORT.
You were made for GREATNESS.
Following Jesus, Pope Francis said at World Youth Day Vigil, 2016,
“Following Jesus demands a dose of COURAGE….. to blaze trails that open up possibilities for spreading JOY, born of God’s Love….”
So
- your involvement with Project Compassion,
- your Bake for a Just Cause (to help Tathra fire victims)
- your Donate for Life walk
- your own care of one another through your Feel Good Friday activities……
these are only a few of the many GIFTS you share here at Merici FOR A GOOD PURPOSE.
Angela Merici would also recognise that the message of today’s Gospel would be like a ribbon that wraps around all YOUR gifts of sharing that we have mentioned
Drawing them together into
- a very profound purpose
- a deep down heart purpose
- the gift of the LOVE of God for each and every one of us.
Jesus says
“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.”
THIS is the GOOD PURPOSE deep in our hearts.
Tell story….
All because someone believed that deep within every human heart is the spark of God’s love.
In the Gospel, Jesus also says
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you.”
Angela Merici knew this joy,
we too can know this joy
that flows from the spark of Gods love, deep in the heart of each of us.
Today Angela would remind us
“Know that I am always in Your midst……”
May you, the students of this unique college continue to grow as strong, independent, wisdom women.
May all of us – students, staff, parents and friends
be united in that JOY that flows from the spark of God’s love
deep in our hearts as we share our variety of gifts for a good purpose.
Sr Genny Ryan
