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20 Education + religion
Children make a fuss for their grandparents
GRANDPARENTS and grandchildren at a Brisbane school came together to celebrate Grandparents’ Day on the Feast of St Joachim and St Anne – July 26.
Grandchildren attending Our Lady of Fatima Catho- lic Primary School, Acacia Ridge, joined with the staff and the community for a liturgy to honour and bless their grandparents and all grandparents, including Jesus’ own – Mary’s parents Joachim and Anne.
Many of the grandparents said it was a gift to share a day with their grandchildren on the feast of Christ’s grandparents.
One of the grandparents Maree Neilson said it was “wonderful to have Grandparents’ Day on the Feast of St Joachim and St Anne”.
St Joachim and St Anne are recognised in Catholic tradition as the grandparents of Jesus and parents of the Virgin Mary.
Although there is no of cial teaching recognising their existence, they are mentioned in the apocryphal Gospel of James.
The two saints are recognised more commonly in Eastern traditions, especially at marriages where im- ages of the pair are given as wedding gifts.
St Joachim and St Anne are seen as role models for all husbands and wives, their sacred devotion to each other most readily recognised in their united celebra- tion, sharing a feast day.
Another of the school’s grandparents Deborah Seniior said she was delighted to be with her grand- daughter for the feast day.
“No matter how long you’ve been away, there are friends here to meet us,” Mrs Seniior said.
“The joy in my granddaughter’s eyes is wonderful.”
A grandparent and carer Billy Cummings talked about how good it felt to be welcomed into the classroom and to meet the other grandparents.
“I thought there were only a few with grandchildren in their care, but there are quite a few – it’s a growing thing,” Mr Cummings said.
Mercy Sister Bernadette Ahearn, who is student pastoral minister at Our Lady of Fatima, said the liturgy was followed by a walk through the children’s artwork.
Each piece symbolised how they all followed in the footsteps of Jesus.
The day ended with a morning tea where the grand- parents met with Acacia Ridge parish priest Fr Terry Nueva and school staff. – Joseph Higgins
Family event: Federico, Natalia, Antonia and Carolina Gojkovic with their grandmother Anna at the Grandparents’ Day Mass for Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School, Acacia Ridge.
Still inspired 40 years on
Duo strikes
gold in the
Bahamas
TWO students have brought home gold medals from the 2017 Com- monwealth Youth Games held in the Bahamas recently.
Students at St Columban’s Col- lege, Caboolture, Ben Schmidtch- en and Ella Connolly won gold representing Australia in the 4x100m mixed relay on the track.
The pair will be rattling through the airport gates with both of them also winning silver medals.
Ella won silver in the 400m and bronze in the 200m.
Ben took silver in the long jump, landing an impressive 7.54m jump.
College principal Ann Rebgetz was overjoyed with the success of the students.
“We are so proud of being able to support Ella and Ben in their ventures,” Mrs Rebgetz said.
“At St Columban’s, we have a culture of excellence, a mantra of excellence, equity and strategic edge.
“A big secret to our sporting excellence is what we offer in our curriculum program, in our Health and PE, in our excellence programs there.”
The return home was brief for Ella as she has been named in the Australian team for the London 2017 IAAF World Champion- ships where she was to compete for gold in the 4x400m relay in August.
DR Peter Webb has received a Spirit of Catholic Education Award for more than 40 years of teaching, challenging
and transforming the lives of students. The teacher from Chisholm Catholic Col-
lege, Cornubia, was presented with his award by Queensland Education Minister Kate Jones during the of cial launch of Catholic Education Week cel- ebrations hosted recently by St Andrew’s Catholic College, Redlynch Valley, in Cairns.
The launch was a celebration of Catholic educa- tion in a vibrant, growing region with representa- tives from all over the state joining the St Andrew’s community and Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane and Bishop James Foley of Cairns, who concelebrated Mass.
The Spirit of Catholic Education Awards rec- ognised outstanding contributions by individuals within the Catholic education community across Queensland and are presented annually as part of CEW celebrations.
Dr Webb said the ceremony and the experience of being an awardee was af rming and healing, including for his family.
“The congratulations from friends and col- leagues in many communities reaf rm my answer to the question, ‘and why would you want to be a teacher?’,” he said.
“And sharing the awards with the other winners was a pleasure, because all of them are real genu- ine, honest and wise, and they promise great hope for our Church and our Catholic schools.”
A teacher for more than 40 years, 17 of those
at Chisholm, Dr Webb quietly and consistently exempli ed the spirit of Catholic education, as staff mentor, teacher and curriculum leader, and acting in leadership roles.
For many years, he has facilitated the You Can Do It Parent Support Program supporting parents and students who have felt marginalised by the education system.
He helped both parents and students to grow in their learning and form learning partnerships.
For the past four years, Dr Webb has been the
college prayer facilitator, leading students and mentoring staff in classroom prayer and Lenten and twilight Prayer and Spirituality sessions as well as assisting on Year 12 retreats.
He also was an important member of the Caroline Chisholm Charism Focus Group, assisting in ar- ticulating a clear charism statement for the college, and contributes to college life with generosity and humility and in a genuine spirit of gratitude and Christian joy.
Dr Webb said he remembered his rst experi- ence of Catholic education as a child at St Patrick’s, Emerald, when his father built a merry-go-round with his friend Jack Finch.
He said it stood in the playground for years and his own children later swung on it, until Workplace Health and Safety intervened.
“Then I remember magni cent high school teach-
Meeting the minister: Queensland Education Minister Kate Jones pre- sents a Spirit of Catholic Education Award to Dr Peter Webb.
ers at St Brendan’s, Yeppoon.
“When we had a recent reunion, men spoke
warmly and with great joy of those times,” he said. “And I remember saying in enrolment interviews
at Mt Saint Bernard College, Herberton, when I was principal, after the parents and intending students said all that they hoped to gain from our school, ‘and what will you put in the well so the well doesn’t run dry?’.”
CEW celebrates the distinctive ethos of Catholic schools and the many journeys that students and staff are making in teaching and learning, in faith, and in family and community life.
It also was the rst time the launch was held outside Brisbane.
The awards are supported by the QT Mutual Bank, the Australian Catholic Superannuation and Retire- ment Fund and Australian Catholic University.
www.catholicleader.com.au
The Catholic Leader, August 27. 2017