Dear Parishioners and Friends,
70th Anniversary of St Bernadette’s Primary School
This week, our parish community celebrates with gratitude the 70th anniversary of St Bernadette’s Primary School. It is a moment to be grateful, to remember with joy, and look to the future with hope.
For seventy years, the St. Bernadette School has been a place of faith, learning, and formation. Generations of children have passed through its classrooms, gaining knowledge and skills, and discovering that they are known, loved, and called by God. Helping young people to listen for God’s voice and to respond with trust, lies at the heart of Catholic education.
In the story of Samuel’s call (1 Sam 3:1-10), we find that learning to recognise God’s voice often takes time and guidance. Samuel needed Eli to help him understand that it was the Lord who was calling him. In much the same way, our school community, through the dedication of teachers, the support of families, and the life of the parish, has helped students to grow in awareness of God’s presence in their lives.
St. Luke presents Mary as one who listened and responded with faith (Lk 1:45-55). Elizabeth cried out “Blessed is she who believed that the Lord’s promise would be fulfilled.” Her “yes” to God opened the way for something far greater than she could have imagined.
The 70-year story of our school has been built on countless such “yeses”: the vision and sacrifice of those who founded the school, the commitment of staff who have taught and cared with generosity, the trust of parents, and the openness of students who have embraced all that has been offered to them.
As we celebrate this milestone, we also look to the future. The same God who called Samuel continues to call today. The same God who was faithful to Mary remains faithful to us.
May St Bernadette’s Primary School continue to be a place where hearts are formed, faith is nurtured, and each person is encouraged to respond generously to God’s call. Congratulations St. Bernadette Primary School.
God bless you all.
Fr Silvio