Villanova College
Villa View: Issue 10/20
Villa View: Issue 10/20
In this week’s podcast we discuss the COVID-19 crisis with Year 9 leaders Connor Maloney and Mitchell Rieck and gain their perspectives. My thanks to Year 9 Pastoral Area Leader, Mr Alex Sullivan for his involvement also. Please click on the image to begin listening.
Mr Greg O’Neill, Head of Middle School
Vinnies Hampers
Right up until the last minute of term-time, several student volunteers were helping to pack the Easter hampers for 23 local households. In fact, we spread out the helpers over two rooms, with some writing cards, others cellophaning the top of the hamper (almost as hard as cling-wrapping sandwiches neatly), and some ensuring that appropriate treats went into each hamper to suit the profile of the receiving household.
With the early finish to school, staff have now undertaken to deliver the baskets. One staff member was greeted yesterday as an “Angel from Heaven.” It is easy to see what a difference these hampers are about to make.
Interesting to note, Frederic Ozanam, the founder of the St Vincent de Paul Society, was jolted into action by a cholera epidemic sweeping Paris in 1831. His first practical action was to join a few friends and give firewood to a local widow.
YAYM Letters Campaign
YAYM students are busy writing letters to local residents of two nursing homes. Normally, the Middle School ministry students visit local nursing homes. The aim of the letters is to create a platform for sharing which crosses generations and allows stories and anecdotes to be shared. This idea is open to any student who wishes to send a letter. Please email me if your son would like to be involved – jholroyd@vnc.qld.edu.au. We have a system of sending the letters from the College and will only supply the first name of the student.
Work and Welcome Program
This week we say goodbye to our Work and Welcome worker, a young woman of refugee background who has thrived within the caring communities of the Tuckshop and the Tolle Lege Library. I would like to thank Ms Dot Blair, Tuckshop Co-ordinator and Ms Helen Caswell, Library Manager, for the outstanding support they have offered to Masoumeh. On top of this, many Villanova mothers have poured time and practical support to ensure that her placement at Villanova has been an experience of home and community just as much as learning about the Australian workplace.
St Monica’s Kitchen
In a new enterprise, the Hospitality Department has prepared, cooked, and frozen several meals which can be delivered (free) to members of the community who may be needing some help at this time. The best way of suggesting whom to deliver to, or making a personal request is to email Fr Saldie at sresolado@vnc.qld.edu.au
Generous gift of inoculation to AFAS
The giving of a free flu vaccination service by parent Dr Juergen Landmann has continued this last week, now raising over $5,000 for AFAS. This is a breathtaking contribution which seems so appropriate to the exact situation the community faces at the moment.
From Rome to the world…
Three days ago, Pope Francis made a special “urbi et orbe” (to the city and the world) address from a deserted and rain-swept St Peter’s Square. As eloquent as his message, of “returning to the Father,” was the image of a man alone, speaking out from his heart and hoping to reach an audience. This seems to sum up the experience of many individuals who are spending more time at home, and risking to share more of their inner lives, whether that be by messages in bottles – or the Internet.
This way of sharing our inner selves seems to me to fit St Augustine’s model of community. The community is enriched by the inner life of each person; individuals are brave to reveal their inner self in a shared search for truth and a shared love of learning.
In that spirit, here is something I have stumbled on which may be worth clicking on: a wonderful “virtual choir” version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah: https://www.facebook.com/RoedeanSchoolSA/videos/215645456316921/. It captures, I think, the idea of the individual spirit singing out from her room to the world. Or, in Latin, de cubiculo ut orbis.
And finally…
This Sunday is Palm Sunday when we commemorate Jesus’s triumphant return to Jerusalem as a servant King, like David, riding on a donkey. Each family is encouraged and invited to place a palm in or next to their letterbox as a sign of our community celebration of this Feast. Excellent family prayer resources are available at this link: http://www.liturgybrisbane.net.au/prepare/sunday-readings-and-family-prayer/ and this link is updated each week.
Evening Prayer of St Augustine
Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch or weep tonight, and give the angels and saints charge over those who sleep. Tend your sick ones, O Lord Jesus Christ; rest your weary ones, bless your dying ones, soothe your suffering ones, pity your afflicted ones, shield the joyful ones, and all for your love’s sake. Amen.
Mr John Holroyd, Dean of Mission and Identity
It’s all about Mindset…
At this time no doubt you have seen many confronting images and possibly have been experiencing these things personally. You are unable to visit Grandparents and perhaps your family is under financial pressure due to jobs ending or business drying up. There are shelves empty in the grocery store and we cannot get to the park to kick the footy with our mates. Unfortunately, we cannot take or avoid these challenges now BUT you can try to control the way you are experiencing it all.
With all the obstacles you currently face, I beseech you to consider the opportunities that may be present in this situation. Through great restriction comes great creativity. Tchaikovsky, the great Russian composer, used to create ‘challenges’ for himself by setting extreme rules to compose within. He found that through these extreme restrictions he composed some of his most inspired work. He was forced to think divergently and find alternate ways to creatively solve the problems he faced.
You are going to face similar restrictions to your everyday life over this coming period. Be creative in how you respond to these – confront these ‘rules’ as opportunities. I hope that you find the time and space to be able to find these opportunities and a little peace over this time ahead.
Ensemble Lessons and Rehearsals
We have been in contact with families over the past week regarding the delivery of our Instrumental Program through remote learning if required. We will continue our group and private instruction through Zoom. Students and parents who have returned permission forms have received the instruction manual around how we will manage Zoom meetings for Music.
We will be working with our students through the Year 5 immersion program during Term Two. The term will commence with activities set through our OneNote and students required to practice and submit work for feedback over the early stages of the term. We are exploring how we may manage synchronous learning with larger groups over Zoom and will attempt to get this running as soon as we can in Term Two.
If you are yet to submit your Zoom form, please make sure this is in as soon as possible.
Stay in Touch
We will be maintaining contact via email, through the Villanova Music Facebook page, and through your son’s OneNote music diaries. Should you require assistance or consumables for your son’s instrument, please don’t hesitate to contact Music Office on 3394 5691. Leave a voicemail if it’s unattended – we will get back to you!
Thank you all for your continued support of Villanova Music. We hope that we can continue to be of service to you and your son as we navigate this challenging time together.
Mr Michael Jones, Director of Music
The Foundation of the Order of St Augustine: a brief history
Augustine wrote at length about the importance of friendship. He was convinced that it ought to be the basic element on which to lay the foundation of any religious life. Today, the element of friendship remains a central theme in the ministry and community living of those dedicated to following the teachings of Augustine.
Augustine did not establish the Order of Augustinian priests that we know today. The Order was founded in 1244 when Pope Innocent IV caused the many religious communities following St Augustine’s teachings to amalgamate into the Order of St Augustine. Following the path established by Augustine, his followers were required to live out the spirit of poverty and humility, mutual love and esteem, daily prayer, self-restraint, chastity, common ownership of goods, commitment to work, love of neighbour and readiness to forgive, correction when needed, obedience and service. His values of friendship and community were paramount and accepted by his followers as sacrosanct.
By the end of the 13th century there were five groups of Hermits prayerfully working in Central and Northern Italy in communities that followed St Augustine’s Rule. These groups were formally unified into one Rule of Augustine in 1256. One group from Tuscany later expanded into France, then England in 1248, and shortly after into Ireland. From 1838 many Irish priests were sent to expand the Order into Australia, and from there into Asia – Korea and the Philippines.
The Augustinians recognise St Augustine as their religious inspirer, teacher and spiritual guide. From him they take not only the Monastic Rule, but also his religious doctrine, love of learning and spirituality. Since the foundation of hope and the Christian message to all people.
Our Augustinian Founders of Villanova College, taken at Whinstanes in 1948.
FRONT: Fr Ben O’Donnell (First Rector and Prior), Fr Patrick Doyle (Sub Prior), Fr Brian Mahony
BACK: Fr Tom Woods, Fr Louis Hanrahan, Fr Kieran O’Shea
Address
24 Sixth Avenue, Coorparoo, Brisbane, QLD 4151 Australia
Villanova College is an independent Catholic School for boys under the care of the Augustinian Order. Striving for excellence in boys’ education as an Augustinian community one in mind and heart on the way towards God.
