Joe Nardo, Lacey House Spirituality Prefect
From the Director of Mission, Phillip Davis
Last Friday 26 May 2017, the Lacey House Mass was celebrated by College Chaplain Fr Milani. The Readings (1 Corinthians 12: 4-11 and Matthew 5:13-16) mirrored the theme Strength through Diversity – Let Your Light Shine in Front of Others with Lacey Prefect of Spirituality, Joe Nardo, connecting this message with the Waverley College environment in his Reflection.
Other features of this Mass included the Entry Procession, featuring the new Touchstone Banners, the Gospel Procession, which included symbolic lamps and a ‘bushel basket’ and the Communion Reflection Song Burn Bright by Natalie Grant.
I would like to thank the staff and students responsible for their organisation and specific roles during the Mass. Our House Masses now begin at 8.20 am which gives parents an opportunity to attend and it was wonderful to see parents at the Lacey House Mass. All parents are most welcome.
Reflection from Joe Nardo, Lacey Prefect of Spirituality.
Strength Through Diversity – Let Your Light Shine in Front of Others.
What does it mean?
In our House, Lacey, as well as throughout the whole school, we must be able to recognise the unique qualities of every person, and realise that all our talents and differences contribute to making our school a better place. This concept is established in the passage we have just heard very clearly.
The most important/significant message that should be gathered is the importance of individuality, expressed through the analogy of light and the basket. ‘You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works”. Basically, the Gospel teaches us that every person, no matter what race, gender, sex or religion, is able to contribute to the greater good with their own unique abilities. We have everything here at Waverley: the most important of these are opportunities to express strength and individuality. We have opportunities to excel in academia, sport, social justice, technology, drama, music and countless others. Imagine what we could achieve as a community if we were able to join all our talents and qualities together?
Look towards the front. In the processions, we saw four candles being moved individually in front of you. In a way, these singular candles represent each of us, unique and diverse. However, if you combine the flames, you amass an unhindered light. This is exactly the theme of today’s Mass : Strength Through Diversity – Let Your Light Shine in Front of Others.
Alone, there is a single flicker, however, if you combine the flames, you amass unhindered, abundant light. Now it might be ‘cheesy’, but this House does reflect a community. Each member has its own role in contributing to the greater whole. This can could be seen in the Lacey weekly assemblies: the initiative of one Home Group actually running the assembly without the help of Head of House Mr Thompson or any of the prefects is quite impressive. Each member has to work together collaborating and using all their skill sets to create a successful meeting, exactly as Home Group 4’s presentation was. It is this kind of unity that we require in this House if we are to have strength through diversity. We should applaud those who express their individual qualities, and those that exceed in them, and this idea celebrated will be shared with all members of Lacey.
We should also let this idea of letting your light shine enter our daily lives at the College. For years 7-10, your Half- Yearly Exams are about to commence and I challenge you to do the absolute best you can. Push yourself to the limit and do all that you can to get your best mark possible, let your light shine. Also in the upcoming House Athletics Carnival try to participate in as many events as possible, even if your mates convince you that it’s a waste of time. Try something new – you might find something you’re good at. But don’t stop there, you need to keep working at it and be the best you can be.
On the back of the Lacey House Mass Booklet in front of you is a list of quotes from a variety of globally known figures, from Benjamin Franklin to the famous author, Stephen King. These quotes optimise this idea of letting your personal light shine and using your talent to the best of your ability. Just take a minute after this Mass to read and reflect on them. In my opinion one of the most significant quotes is from Benjamin Franklin; “Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?”
Lacey House. The Lacey motto is “Nil Desperandum”, Never Give Up. This motto emphasizes the Willingness, Dignity and Power that represent our House, the courage and determination to continue and pursue success and power together by uniting and never giving up. Never give up, let your light shine, and embrace strength through diversity.
