A Heartfelt Farewell

It is with a mixture of sadness and gratitude that I say farewell to this wonderful College and community, as I prepare to move back home to the Greater Bendigo Region to work at Catherine McAuley College. It has truly been the privilege of my professional and personal life to have served as Assistant Principal: Faith and Mission in this wonderfully diverse community, to work with and support some truly outstanding students, staff and families.

My core aim throughout this journey has been to recontextualize the Christian narrative, ensuring every student felt truly welcomed, irrespective of their faith, philosophy or cultural background. It has been an immense joy to foster an environment where Jesus' mission to "love one another" truly thrives. 

For me, the real joy in teaching comes with that 'lightbulb moment' – seeing the spark in a student's eyes when everything clicks. It's truly amazing how that instant of understanding blossoms, intertwining their own faith journey with an appreciation for other beliefs, guiding them towards wonderful future wisdom and growth.

I extend my deepest gratitude to Fr. Barry Hughes, Fr. Jude Pirotta, Fr. Gerard Keith, Fr. Elio Capra, Bishop Martin Ashe and Bishop Terry Curtin, whose supportive presence and spiritual guidance enriched countless Masses, liturgies and faith development workshops and to Audrey Williamson at St Paul’s parish. Their partnership in nurturing our staff and students' spiritual lives has been invaluable. 

To our current and past College Principals, Angela Romano and Ray Pisani, and the Leadership teams, thank you for entrusting me with so many opportunities to weave the Catholic narrative into the vibrant tapestry of our Marian community. Your vision and support have been truly instrumental. My sincere appreciation also goes to our governing body Kildare Ministries and Co-Chairs Kathy McEvoy and Rosemary Copeland who lead a team whose insightful guidance and profound commitment have underpinned all my endeavours.

Thank you to the Marian Catholic Identity Team: Jenny Stafford, Mary Attard and Nhu Tran and the Marian community for the experiences and memories that you have so generously gifted to me, and for the wonderful expressions of thanks and best wishes I have received. I move on with a heart full of gratitude and hope for Marian’s continued spiritual journey. I wish you all the very best for your futures.