Last week, we began our professional development with a spirituality morning. We reflected on the Archdiocesan theme “Walking Together”.  The Archbishop has decided that this year we need to focus on unity. 

The scripture we are using is from Luke. Luke 24:13-35 The Emmaus story.  There are many ways to reflect on this scripture. A wonderful way to reflect is to listen to music. We started off with this song https://sovereigngracemusic.bandcamp.com/track/show-us-christ

I will share more in the coming weeks about staff spirituality.

What students are learning about

The book and feather represent his writing. If you see a statue, painting or other image of a saint, you will know it is him if he has a book and a feather.

The eagle represents his writing and how it “soared to the heavens”. Again, St John is often depicted with an eagle.

Finally the last section represents two things. After Jesus went to heaven the Romans were very scared of the disciples.  They tried to kill St John twice! The first time they tried to boil in him hot oil. You can see a big urn in the crest. The second time they put poison in his cup of wine. Both times he prayed very hard and he survived! In the end the Romans banished him and he lived the rest of his life on Patmos, a small Greek island.

St John was the very youngest apostle about 14 or 15.  He was so young that at the Last Supper he fell asleep on Jesus because it was such a late night. Have you ever fallen asleep on someone and been able to feel or hear their heartbeart?  Our priests Fr Kimi and Fr Gerard and Fr Michael all belong to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.  St John heard the Sacred Heart of Jesus beating that night at the last supper. That is why we are called St John the Apostle school.