Nunc dimittis! World Youth Day outstripped every boy’s expectations for what it meant to have the youth of the world in our backyard. Profound thanks and prayers go to Cardinal Pell for his vision in bringing those youth to us, and to Bishop Anthony Fisher for his logistical nous in looking after them when they came. In a very special way World Youth Day meant a number of big events in the College. In May we had Mass with Cardinal Pell to explain and promote WYD, in June there was the overnight visit of the WYD Cross and Icon (with confessions round the clock!), there was the July hosting of 200 pilgrims from India, Kenya, Hong Kong and the Philippines, and then the August School Assumption Mass in thanksgiving to Our Lady for the many spiritual fruits of this year. Special mention goes to Gina Marden for her flair and incredible work rate in making these major undertakings a success. Her artistic know-how was called upon with only hours to go before receiving the Cross into the chapel. The solution was brilliant and allowed parents and students to contemplate the Cross under the loving gaze of Our Lady as many, many families spent time in adoration at the all night vigil. Frank Romeo brought together a choir that could sing anything from Gregorian chant to the WYD hymn. He has formed a core of boys we can lean on for further singing in the future. We are very grateful to the National School Chaplaincy Programme for substantial funding which has made it possible to expand attention given by the Chaplain to the staff and students. Going around the classrooms every week I not only answer questions but also give the students the option of reconciliation, which is provided in the chapel’s confessional. I am currently having a workbench made for the confessional so that I can spend even more time in there (we will need to install an air conditioner!). It is also my philosophy that every student going through Redfield should be able to have a chat with the Chaplain outside of the confessional. I find that these one-to-one follow up meetings often aid the formation of a positive outlook in the student and contribute to his general wellbeing. Many times it is a question of simply reinforcing the values already learnt at home. On occasions it may deal with more serious matters and provides an outlet for the student to unburden himself of a deeply troubling worry. I firmly believe that being able to provide an adolescent with sympathetic and spiritually informed advice acts as a major preventative to the angst so commonly associated with teens bombarded by nihilist messages. In the year gone I extended a personal invitation to every Year 12 student and, with two exceptions due to time constraints, was able to have an in-depth chat with each one about setting firm foundations for their lives ahead. Both Fr Jerry and myself caught up with many boys from other years as well. Although the boys are more than free to decline the offer they were all glad to spend a bit of time outside the classroom and go for a wander on the field between Primary and Secondary. Weekly meetings with tutors and the Formation Committee is a great way for the Chaplain to keep informed and also provide non-sensitive feedback on the regularity of the priestly attention that is being offered. Alongside the more traditional Chaplaincy activities of Holy Mass, preaching in the chapel and First Friday Exposition, were a number of initiatives with a more technological edge. With my laptop and Youtube’s resources I was able to present the older boys with abundant material in their religion classes concerning life issues and other faiths. I would also lead the Year 9’s and 12’s in group discussion about societal attitudes through forms of role play. As for chaplaincy activities outside of official school hours, at such venues as Somerset and Challenge Ranch, my odometer reading for the year past says it all - 37,000km. At the request of some parents I also invested much time in learning to celebrate Mass in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite - this involves a good deal more Latin than the usual Friday responses! One last initiative to mention is the coordination of the school’s religion resources in my office. The springboard has been laid for an even bigger 2009. The fruits of WYD08 look set to continue well into the future!

Fr Richard Umbers

College Chaplain