Today the boys celebrated the Eucharist together for the first time as a year group at the Year 7 Mass. The College Chapel is an amazing place where many important events in the lives of our boys and “old boys” take place. It is the place where weekly masses, graduations, funerals and weddings all take place and I am sure that today’s mass is an event that will be remembered by all the boys when they reflect on their time at Joeys a little later in life.

This was a also a very special occasion for the boys as Mr Tarlinton and Fr Andrew presented them with their new College Bibles. This passing-on of the good news is very symbolic and important for us as a Catholic school and both Mr Tarlinton and Fr Andrew spoke to the boys about the importance of not only what is in the bible but also looking after their own bibles.

We are very lucky at Joeys to have Fr Andrew as our College Chaplain. He has an incredible ability to deliver his homilies in a way that the boys can understand and relate to which makes their faith very relevant and meaningful for them. Today was no different and the boys were encouraged to continue working on their spiritual life, as they do with all other areas in their lives.

It was excellent to see many of our boys contributing to the liturgy through music and readings and certainly the way that all the boys joined in the singing and responses was very pleasing. It is a great sign of the importance that the boys place on their faith here at Joeys.

Photo 1: Liam Hamilton (Drummoyne) is presented with his College Bible by Mr Tarlinton.

Photo 2: Stephen Matheson (Longueville) reading at our mass.