Letters to Build our  Christian Communities

The Year 8’s are exploring how early Christian Communities were established. As many of the Christian Communities were spread out through the Roman Empire, Paul's way of communicating with these communities was through letters. Paul tried to support these communities who were facing many challenges by  providing a written message of support and hope. Likewise, the student body of Catholic Regional College St Albans faces its own challenges in their own Christian community context. Our College Principal, the Year 8 Level Leader, a teacher, and a Community Engagement Leader were all asked to write to the Year 8’s, just as Paul had written to his communities over 2000 years ago. In their letters, they discuss the issues of the day and offer words of support.

Here are some excerpts from these letters to the Year 8’s.

Ms Utri - Principal 

I have been thinking about you a fair bit recently, particularly about how different your secondary education  has been to what we imagined it would be. The start of secondary school is an exciting time as we look forward to our world expanding; to meeting new people, making new friends, trying new things and having greater  independence. 

None of us could have imagined the COVID pandemic and what it would do to our world. It has turned all our  expectations upside down, forced us to live with uncertainty and left us wondering, if and when, life will be  normal again. It is my hope that a more normal time is not too far away. 

Ms Stella Alexopoulos - Year 8 Level Leader

Be brave and engage with all parts of your life, appreciating what you have and meeting difficulties with courage. Be fearless and live in the moment because every moment is precious, a gift. The hardships of this past year, the resilience you have shown, and the wisdom you have acquired, let that guide how you deal with adversity into the future. I have great faith in how you will lead the future and how each of you can make a positive difference in our world.

 Hayden - Community Engagement Leader

Speaking of the future, I write to you now to discuss an even greater challenge than COVID. I am of course referring to the Stewardship of the Earth, the greatest challenge of our time.

Earth stewardship is much bigger than the idea of sustainability. Our school motto is ‘Love one another as I have loved you’ and as I see it, Earth stewardship is the desire and commitment to love the earth and all its inhabitants in the expansive and freely given way like Jesus loves us. Imagine cities and communities embracing and celebrating their connection to nature and faith, producing their own food, energy and adapted to the climate and biology of the places they lived.

Mr Donahoo - Teacher

Jesus taught us that we should love our neighbour, and when asked who our neighbour was, he told us the story of ‘The Good Samaritan’, which gives us the understanding that our neighbour or those who we will have a relationship with, could be anyone who is kind, helpful, caring and compassionate.

As you finish this year and move onwards into year 9, my wish for you is to have many good friends, develop relationships that will be of benefit to you and that both you and your friends show kindness, helpfulness, caring and love to each other and to those who you come in contact with. Take care and be considerate of others.