The new school year has begun with a strong sense of hope and optimism. Each school year is a new beginning, and this year is a particular new beginning with Mr Mark Tannock joining us as our new principal. Mark joins us after eleven years of distinguished service as the principal of our brother school, St Aloysius College. He is a passionate and dedicated educator who has a deep understanding of Jesuit education. He has started strongly and I know quite a number of you have enjoyed meeting him at various events already. 

In mid November 2024, Mr Lloyd Walker returned to the College as our new Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning. Many of our younger Old Boys will remember Lloyd who has had two previous stints with us, teaching Business Studies, Economics and Commerce. He has been the Head of this Faculty and a previous Dean of Teaching and Learning. He is a dynamic educator, who is very familiar with our way of proceeding and the Ignatian approach to pedagogy. I am delighted he has returned to us, after spending the last three years at Roseville College. 

At the end of 2024, Mr Pat Lowe was appointed the Director of Students at St Joseph's College. I thank him for his leadership of our house system and his commitment to the pastoral care of our students over the last decade. We are fortunate that Mr Russell Kam, our Dean of Students, has generously agreed to be the Acting Deputy Principal – Students this term. 

With these changes in leadership, there comes a renewed sense of energy and hope. This fits nicely with the theme of the Jubilee Year, being pilgrims of hope. As a faith community we celebrate a Jubilee Year every 25 years. It is a special year of forgiveness and reconciliation, in which people are invited to come back into right relationship with God, with one another and with all of creation. In proclaiming the Jubilee Year, Pope Francis said the following, 

Now the time has come for a new Jubilee, when once more the Holy Door will be flung open to invite everyone to an intense experience of the love of God that awakens in hearts the sure hope of salvation in Christ. In breaking open the theme of being Pilgrims of Hope, Pope Francis said that, "Everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring." Unsurprisingly this theme is rather Ignatian, with Ignatius adopting the clothing of a pilgrim after laying down his sword before Our Lady at Montserrat in March 1522. Ignatius the Pilgrim and Our Lady of Montserrat are beautifully depicted on either side of the sanctuary in the Dalton Chapel. 

May this sense of hope and the fidelity of our God reign in our hearts and throughout our community this year. 

Congratulations James Rodgers OAM On behalf of the community, I extend our congratulations to former longstanding staff member James Rodgers for receiving the medal of the Order of Australia, OAM, for his services to primary and secondary education, and to cricket. Wishing you all every blessing for the year ahead. 

Fr Tom Renshaw SJ College Rector and OIU Patron