Page 3 - Salesian College Calendar 2019

2019

Mark Brockhus
College Principal

Welcome to the New Year! It is with pleasure that I present to you our
College Calendar for 2019. As well as providing families with key dates
of College events, it also showcases some of the fine work created by
students of the College throughout the previous 12 months.

The Salesian Strenna (or ‘theme’) for 2019 is:
“Holiness for you, too”
The Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Boco, Fr Ángel Fernández
Artime, has chosen the gospel passage from John (15:11) “So that my joy
may be in you” as the inspiration for this year’s Strenna. In describing
himself as the vine, and we the branches, Jesus is inviting us into the
gift of holiness, a call to live our lives to the full using Jesus as our guide.
The call to holiness isn’t just for some (those we deem to be ‘saints’), but
a call to live our lives to the full as ‘everyday saints’ according to God’s
plan for us. Sounds challenging doesn’t it? St Francis de Sales (from
whom Don Bosco drew his inspiration) challenged everyone to be holy
through the practice of eight little virtues; I’m sure they are familiar and
accessible to every one of us:
• Kindness
• Gentleness
• Thoughtful Concern for Others
• Gratitude
• Patience
• Generosity
• Honesty
• Cheerful Optimism

Who among us could not cultivate these ‘little virtues’ in our everyday
living and so be on the path to holiness? Holiness is participation in the
life of God, it is a journey to be walked, not an endpoint. The path to ho-
liness can be beautiful, but at the same time demanding. Together, it is
easier; this is what community is all about. Let this be our goal for 2019!
God Bless.