I would like to begin by apologising for the delay in the delivery of this edition of the College newsletter and thank you for your patience.
It has been another great fortnight at Damascus College, as we lived by the light of Christ: embracing growth, reflection and opportunities.
A Milestone in Learning: Opening of the Xavier Flood Senior Learning Centre
With great pride and anticipation for the future, we officially opened the Xavier Flood Senior Learning Centre on Thursday, 22 May 2025. Named in honour of long-serving educator and mentor Xavier Flood, the Centre stands as a beacon of innovation and our enduring commitment to senior student learning.
Students, staff and guests gathered for a prayer service and opening ceremony, which included speeches and a blessing of the building by Bishop Paul Bird CSsR. This state-of-the-art facility features flexible learning spaces, collaborative zones, and quiet study areas, all designed to support our VCE and VCE VM students as they prepare for life beyond school. The opening marks a new chapter in our pursuit of academic excellence and the holistic development of every learner.
The ceremony was led by Bishop Paul Bird, with special guests including Tom Sexton from DOBCEL, representatives from Law Architects and Nicholson Constructions, members of the Sisters of Mercy, local priests, principals, and our Year 12 students, who all took part in the blessing.
It is especially fitting that we honour our Mercy tradition by naming the building after Mother Mary Xavier Flood, a pioneering Sister of Mercy — a woman of strength and tenacity, deeply committed to education at all levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary.
Mother Xavier Flood was a pioneering educator and leader. Born in Ireland, she arrived in Australia in 1872 as a novice and began her service at the Convent of Mercy in Warrnambool. In 1881, she became one of the founding Sisters of the Convent of Mercy in Ballarat East.
Renowned for her educational vision and administrative skill, Mother Xavier was appointed Superioress of the Ballarat East community in 1890. Under her leadership, the Sisters made significant contributions to local education, including the founding of Sacred Heart College, where she served as the first principal. She was also instrumental in establishing Aquinas College Ballarat, which later became part of Australian Catholic University.
Acknowledging Our Shared History: National Sorry Day at Damascus
On Monday 26 May, our College community paused to welcome students from Loreto, St Patrick’s College, Francis Xavier and Emmaus Primary Schools and local families and families form interstate to recognise National Sorry Day, a moment of national reflection and reconciliation. Hosted at Damascus, students and staff came together in solidarity to acknowledge the strength and resilience of the Stolen Generations. Through prayer, storytelling, and art, we honoured the importance of truth-telling and deepened our understanding of our shared history.
The journey of reconciliation belongs to all of us, but it must be shaped and led by the voices and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Uluru Statement from the Heart offers a generous and powerful invitation:
“We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.”
That invitation remains open to all of us—every day. And it calls us to respond not just with good intentions, but with action, awareness, and solidarity.
As a Catholic community, we are called to live out our values of compassion, justice and reconciliation—not just through our prayers and words, but through our everyday choices. Our faith invites us to be bridge-builders and bearers of hope, especially where there has been pain and division.
So today, I ask us all to reflect on three simple, powerful commitments:
- Listen – with open hearts to the truths and stories that have too often gone unheard.
- Learn – with humility about the histories and cultures of this land’s First Peoples.
- Act – with courage and consistency, for justice, inclusion, and healing.
Reconciliation is not a destination—it’s a shared journey, walked together.
Pope Leo XIV, in his first message to the world, offered a simple yet profound blessing:
“Peace be with you all. A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering.”
May that be the kind of peace we seek—not just today, but every day. A peace grounded in truth, carried in hope, and shaped by the courage to walk together.
We were privileged to hear from Brenda Matthews, author of The Last Daughter, whose story of identity, truth and reconciliation resonated with all who attended. The students were later able to participate in a Q&A session and morning tea. The occasion served as a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to walk forward together in the spirit of healing and justice.
Feast of St Martin: A Celebration of Service and Compassion
The community spirit was also alive during our celebration of the Feast of St Martin. Known for his humility and acts of kindness, St Martin’s legacy inspired a brilliant House Assembly led by captains Ky Jans, Luke Eddy, Anna Hodges and Henry Sexton. The assembly was a wonderful display of student talent and a celebration of the values embodied by St Martin – compassion, service and community.
At Damascus, we continue to embrace the richness of our traditions, the importance of reconciliation, and the ever-evolving pursuit of excellence in learning. These recent events highlight the values at the heart of our community — respect, service and a commitment to excellence.
With Every blessing