Mass for the Principals of Schools and Colleges in the Archdiocese of Melbourne

Celebrated by Archbishop Denis Hart
at Flemington Race Course
on Thursday, 11th November, 2004, at 6.00pm

Introduction

Dear Friends, Principals and Leaders of Catholic Education,

Welcome to this Mass, in which I lead you in thanking God for the blessings of the past year and in looking forward to the future.

The service, which you as Principals render, is part of the discipleship acknowledged by Pope John Paul in the lives of countless faithful men and women, priests and religious, from Australia.

I know you are joined to my own ministry, described by the Holy Father in March as “fearless prophets, witnesses and servants of the hope of Christ, leading men and women from the shadows of moral confusion and ambiguous thinking into the radiance of Christ’s truth and love”.

Tonight at the beginning of the Year of the Eucharist we celebrate the Mass of the Eucharist because it is our encounter with Christ, which enables us to speak of him and show him to the world. Let us call to mind our sins.

Homily

My dear Friends,

It is with a deep gratitude for the increasing responsibilities, which you face with truth and courage, that I celebrate this Mass for you. Every time I am in your presence I know that I have a strong group of capable, dedicated and committed leaders in education and formation, who are vitally involved in the work of Christ.

This year we have spoken about the importance of excellence in education and the challenges of governance, and the work which Principals, Priests and other leaders do together for the welfare of all.

Fundamental to Catholic education, however, and more urgent in this pontificate and in the new millennium is an acceptance and an implementation of the complete Christian vision of personhood, of formation and of our place in the world.

The Pope recently reminded missionaries in terms, which apply to all of us; “In a world where the shadows of poverty, injustice and secularism are cast over every continent, the need for authentic disciples of Jesus Christ remains as urgent as ever. It is precisely witness to Christ’s Gospel that dispels the darkness and illumines the way of peace, fostering hope in the hearts of even the most marginalised and dejected of people.” ( Address to Religious, 22 January 2004 )

The broader programme for the whole Church in the new millennium, given by the Pope in Novo Millennio Ineunte is particularly incumbent on Principals and through you on our teachers. First, to encounter Christ. Second, to seek true holiness. Third, to launch out into the deep of the missionary work in which we are deeply involved, of drawing others to Christ and presenting the vision of Christ and his Church in our educative mission in such a way that our society is challenged and impelled towards the Gospel which gives it life.

The Pope has chosen this year from October 2004 to October 2005 as the Year of the Eucharist so that we will encounter Christ in a deeper way through the whole Mystery of the Eucharist.

You are aware that the Catholic Church is of its nature ‘Eucharistic’. Because this has been somewhere forgotten the Eucharist must become the beginning of our challenges, which are of their nature missionary. The third edition of the Roman Missal was published in 2002 and eventually available in English; the Encyclical, ”The Church draws life from the Eucharist” last year; the Instruction, “Redemptionis Sacramentum”, published this year; and the establishment of the Year of the Eucharist gives us this focus. In the Letter, “Stay with us Lord”, of 7 th October, the Pope wants us all visibly to engage in the Eucharist as the centre of what it means to be Catholic.

As a former parish priest myself I rely heavily on you and on your staff to be Eucharistic people. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus we recognise and follow the Lord in the breaking of the bread and show him to others.

With our staff and pupils, we have to implement the Holy Father’s words to the bishops in March: “The obligatory presence of the faithful on Sunday makes it the supreme day of faith. Any faltering in the Sunday observance of Holy Mass weakens Christian discipleship and dims the light of witness to Christ’s presence in our world. He noted that when Sunday loses its fundamental meaning and is subordinate to a secular “weekend” people stay locked within an horizon so narrow that they can no longer see the heavens. Please invite them to draw comfort from the faithfulness of the Lord himself, who continues to beckon his people with a love which challenges and calls.” ( Ad Limina Address, 26 March 2004 )

I would urge you and your staff to study the Pope’s Letter, which has just been published in English by the Society of Saint Paul in Sydney. He and I would wish that in your schools and colleges and communities you emphasise the three points, which will ensure that the Lord will stay with us:

• An emphasis on the invitation to and the reverent celebration of the Sunday Mass, because Sunday is the day of the Lord.

• The importance for us all – Bishops, Principals, staff and students, to visit the church for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus sends us forth to use our gifts in the community.

• The Catholic Education Office and the Vicariate for Religious Education have published a kit for schools on the Year of the Eucharist.

By work on the Pope’s Letter with your staff, and the use of the kit, we will come to a more profound appreciation of Christ’s activity in the Eucharist. We will be personally more one with him and inspired to the wonderful missionary work for which Melbourne is so noted in supporting our families, giving them strength and calling them to the encounter with the living Lord. Jesus is the reason for my hope in all that you do, my gratitude for the remarkable leadership you show and my joy in being with you tonight.

The words that echoed down the centuries from the road to Emmaus, “stay with us, Lord, for it is almost evening”, are nowhere more applicable than as we gather together joyfully as bishop, educational leaders and mutual friends on this important night.

+ Denis J. Hart,
Archbishop of Melbourne.