Welcome back to all our families and how pleased we were that we could be together as a learning community, so different to the start of last term. We hope that you have had a restful break. One of our biggest challenges has been the cancellation of events such as sport and excursions at which everyone enjoys such wonderful community engagement. I was however so very impressed at how many ways the staff and students found alternative ways to engage last term. These have been showcased in this newsletter and on social media but most of all they have enriched the learning environment that we share each day here at St John’s. Thanks for your positive engagement and encouragement of our young people to get involved.

EDUCATING WITH A MISSION LENS

On Monday last, our staff engaged in a Spirituality Professional Development day. The focus of the day was ‘Educating with a Mission Lens’. As a Catholic school we are called to live the Gospel and align our actions with those of Jesus. When St John the Evangelist was established by the people of the parish of St Michael’s they chose a school motto focussed on peace. 

Our Mission also calls us to be people of peace. This is a daily focus, one which I believe we are very successful. This does not however mean that all actions of everyone are peaceful but it does challenge us to ‘call out;’ when it is not, so that we may all grow to be positive contributors to peaceful relationships, a peaceful community and thereby a peaceful world.

A question that I often ask students is;

 ‘What does that look like in our school and how will you contribute to it?’

Most will respond that it is people being kind, no bullying, helping each other and most also identify that they would be kind to others and treat them as they themselves want to be treated.  And this is an excellent answer and certainly how we bring peace to the lives of others and in turn make our own life peaceful.

However, our Motto is not just PAX, it is PAX CHRISTI, the peace of Christ. So what is the Peace of Christ? Peace of Christ is about how Jesus brought Peace to others. So our challenge is

‘How do we live our lives so that we make others feel more at peace?’.

Yes this absolutely means being kind and caring for others. However it is much more than this.

 Jesus also brought peace to others often by challenging them. He challenged the tax collectors and he challenged the Pharisees. He explained to them that their actions were not appropriate. He also forgave them and did not discount them as a person, just challenged them to change their actions.

By ‘calling out’ unjust behaviours we are creating a peaceful community for ourselves and others. We, too, are called to ensure that others feel more at peace by challenging injustice. If someone makes a racist statement or tells a racist joke we must call them out and say that’s not OK. This makes others feel more at peace. If someone's behaviour is rude or inappropriate, if they are disrupting the learning of others, then challenge them. This will make the classroom a more peaceful place and make others feel more at peace.

PAX CHRISTI, the peace of Christ is also a call for justice. Only when we are all treated equally and everyone has access to a just situation do people experience peace. 

Jesus always acted for the marginalised and less fortunate. He met with the lepers, the Samaritan woman at the well was treated with respect and tax collectors were amongst his disciples. In fact, Matthew who wrote the gospel, was a tax collector when Jesus invited him to join Him as a disciple

He included them in His teachings and encouraged them to live peaceful lives that brought peace to others and He forgave them.  He often made the statement ”Your sins are forgiven”.

Inclusion brings peace. Forgiveness also brings peace.

We are called to be people of peace and live our motto: PAX CHRISTI; the Peace of Christ, we are called to act as Christ did to bring peace to others.  We are called to be kind, and we are called to challenge others, seek justice and forgive as it is in creating a peaceful community that we make the lives of others peaceful and that is a wonderful gift to give. This is how we live our lives with a Mission Lens.