Message rings true
By Joel Atkins, Year 12, St Augustine’s College
CHRISTIANITY is at the core of St Augustine’s College, and 200 years of compassion, love and devotion from Marist Brothers across the world was recognised in the annual Commencement Mass.
On the morning of February 16, St Augustine’s celebrated it with vivacity and vigour. Staff and guests were in awe of the manner in which students participated on this notable occasion, embracing the 2017 College theme of “Awaken”.
The harmonious relationships between parents, teachers and students was evident to all.
It was memorable to celebrate this prominent occasion with community representatives, including Queensland director of Marist Schools Australia Brother Neville Solomon and Father Frank Gordon from Cairns West.
College chaplain, Father Laurie Timms, led a thoughtprovoking service that addressed students’ morals and ethics. He also made a clever comparison between an excerpt from the Lord of the Rings film trilogy and the Mass’s theme of Awakening.
Representatives from the teachers, students, Marist Brothers and parents submitted to the notion of hard work, promising to embrace the theme of Awaken with a positive attitude and an open mind.
Principal Brother Darren Burge applauded the students’ participation as he wished the college community a productive and prosperous 2017. He and Fr Laurie blessed the incoming leadership team and the Year 12 cohort.
Such a profound Mass wouldn’t have been so reverent without the orchestra and cantors, under the leadership of Dr Malcolm Cole.
The ceremony ended with a fine rendition of the ancient Marian hymn Sub Tuum and a moving recital of the Salve Regina, sung by the college’s prefects.