Blessing Of New Classrooms at Saint Matthew’s School, North Fawkner

Celebrated By Archbishop Denis Hart
at Saint Matthew’s School, North Fawkner
on Friday, 6th August, 2004, at 2.00pm

Introduction

My dear Friends,

I am delighted to be with Father Paul Kane, your Parish Priest, Mr. Cilia, your Principal, your teachers, parents, friends and dear young people of Saint Matthew’s School.

Today we come to remember that everything we have comes from God, as we bless these new classrooms. My prayer is that they will be places of interest and eager learning, of truth and goodness, where we seek to live as one family, growing in knowledge, love and wisdom to prepare ourselves for life.

Homily

My dear young Friends,

Every one of us is special in some way, but our abilities are different. Our time at school is meant to help us to grow in the things we learn and are able to do, to respect and work with others, to be thankful to God for so many of his gifts.

Today you might think about the things that you can do well and which give you joy and in which you can help and serve others.

When I was in grade three (fifty-five years ago), I remember being good at Maths and English, but I was not so good at Art and Drawing and many of the class got a picture up on the wall of the classroom, but I never did. The time came when we had to draw a piece of fruit. My mother, who was an infant teacher, thought that this was just the right moment for me to get something up on the board. So she and I persevered together and we drew a most magnificent orange. It looked rich and juicy and it did get up on the board at the back of the classroom. I think I became confident from that day on that all things are possible, even those things I had not imagined.

Jesus came here on earth to share our human nature and to become one like us to help us to learn this important lesson. As we come to bless these classrooms, we ask that Jesus’ presence and inspiration, the knowledge of his love for us and his encouragement will be present in our school.

Your patron, Saint Matthew, is the one of the four writers of Gospels who wrote the most complete story of Our Lord’s life in order. He wants to lead us too to knowledge and appreciation of what we can do. This blessing today asks that Jesus will be here among us, that Saint Matthew will pray for us and that through the gifts of our teachers and the help we give each other these classrooms will be truly places of growth, learning, hope, courage, determination and inspiration. All of these things go together, provided that we think big things and do what is possible.

Congratulations to Father Kane, to Mr. Cilia, to the builder and architect, and all who have worked so hard. I know when there is building going on in a school it is hard for the teachers and pupils too, so I thank you.

May these new classrooms be places of real encouragement and growth. God bless you all and may Saint Matthew help you to learn that Jesus is the centre of our life, the inspiration of our family, the hope of what we can do and become.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.