Principal's Message

Dear Members of the St Joseph's College Family,

“That roast dinner was awesome!” or “That swim of yours was just awesome!” or “I hope your HSC results are awesome because you deserve it!”  So awesome is a word that is used in many different contexts.  But one thing is certain … awesome is one of the most positive of all adjectives.  In her book, How To Get To Awesome, Rhonda Sciortino describes awesome not only as a frame of mind but a way of being.  She writes:

            It is an attitude.  It is a journey that, along the way, becomes a lifestyle.  Ultimately, awesomeness is a destination.

(page 1)

Rhonda identifies ten key characteristics that make people awesome:

1. Awesome people choose to be optimistic.
2. Awesome people are purposeful.
3. Awesome people are honest.
4. Awesome people are generous.
5. Awesome people are good leaders.
6. Awesome people value good relationships.
7. Awesome people are responsible.
8. Awesome people are good communicators.
9. Awesome people are resourceful.
10. Awesome people are effective.

There’s a lot to this list!  I don’t think it’s about being all things at all times.  For we are all human.  We have good days and bad days.  Not even Jesus had perfect days every day.  Things upset him.  People were in awe of him whilst others made it their business to undermine him; notably members of the Sanhedrin, the scribes and pharisees of his day.  These were the leaders of the Jewish faith.  Those who were supposed to be dictators of the way to God.

I’d like to refer to the first characteristic:

Awesome people choose to be optimistic

Let’s refer to them as the glass half full people.  Rhonda offers ten steps or pieces of advice in choosing to be optimistic:

1. Choose to look for the possibility for good.
2. When you feel unhappy, retrace your steps until you figure out what led to you feeling this way.
3. You cannot be awesome and negative at the same time.
4. It is inevitable that you’ll face challenges in life. Know that it is possible to grow because of challenging times and be better off as a result.
5. Decide to celebrate life!
6. When was the last time you were enthusiastic about something?
7. Laugh!
8. Be on the lookout for good characteristics and achievement in others.
9. Be genuine and sincere.
10. Most of the worries that chip away at our sense of optimism never actually occur.

(pages 21-22)

Great advice.  Factor that in with Jesus’ golden rule of Matthew 7:12:

In everything do to others as you have them do for you; for this is the meaning of the Law of Moses and of the teachings of the prophets.

Let’s all make the effort to be awesome in the coming weeks.

Yours in Jesus, Mary and St Joseph,

Mr Peter McLoughlin
College Principal

4 September 2023

Principal's Notes

Father’s Day

Belated best wishes to all fathers and grandfathers for Father’s Day yesterday, September 3^rd.  Our College is named after St Joseph, the foster father of Jesus.  Fathers are supposed to be about protection, guidance, wisdom, courage, humility and sincerity.  I’d like to share with you a prayer for fathers:

“GOD OUR FATHER, WE GIVE YOU THANKS AND PRAISE FOR FATHERS YOUNG AND OLD.

WE PRAY FOR YOUNG FATHERS, NEWLY EMBRACING THEIR VOCATION; MAY THEY FIND COURAGE AND PERSEVERANCE TO BALANCE WORK, FAMILY AND FAITH IN JOY AND SACRIFICE.

WE PRAY FOR OUR OWN FATHERS AROUND THE WORLD WHOSE CHILDREN ARE LOST OR SUFFERING; MAY THEY KNOW THAT THE GOD OF COMPASSION WALKS WITH THEM IN THEIR SORROW.

WE PRAY FOR MEN WHO ARE NOT FATHERS BUT STILL MENTOR AND GUIDE US WITH FATHERLY LOVE AND ADVICE.

WE REMEMBER FATHERS, GRANDFATHERS, AND GREAT GRANDFATHERS WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US BUT WHO LIVE FOREVER IN OUR MEMORY AND NOURISH US WITH THEIR LOVE. AMEN.”