Tenison Woods and MacKillop Centre News: Living bread

This is what I received from the Lord, and in turn passed on to you: that on the same night that he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread, and thanked God for it and broke it, and he said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this as a memorial of me.’ In the same way he took the cup after supper, and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.’ Until the Lord comes, therefore, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming to his death.

1 Corinthians 11:23 - 26

Gathering around the meal table to share food and good company is something we all like to do – with family, friends and colleagues. Eating is a fundamental activity for living organisms. Failure to eat means a failure to thrive, and an organism will quickly die. Our children are utterly dependent on us to provide food and nourishment. It is little wonder then that when we reflect on our relationship with the Divine, that we talk food.

Our ancestors, both Hebrew and non-Hebrew used sacrifice to express their relationship with their God/gods. While these relationships might be terribly complex, in essence, the gods were placated or swayed by sacrifices of crops and stock. They may have sought rain, fertility, safety from their enemies or victory, long life or a successful harvest. The First (or Old) Testament is rich is its recollection of stories of sacrifice, most memorably Abraham’s sacrifice of his son Isaac. In return God will provide, just as he provided manna in the desert to Moses.

This food relationship is embedded in our Christian story too. Jesus’ feeding of the 3000 is about God’s bounty, he feeds those who listen to his Word. Jesus teaches his disciples to pray, ‘Give us this day our daily bread’ – by this, meaning our spiritual nourishment through the Eucharist, yes, but also by providing the faithful with real food through bountiful harvests, flocks and herds. It is in the Last Supper that Jesus declares that the bread and wine he offers to his disciples are indeed his own body and blood. In John’s Gospel (6:51f) Jesus provocatively advises: ‘I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever.’

In much the same way that sacrificed food might be consumed as part of a covenant with God, so it is in John’s view that God is himself present in and through the consumption of this living bread. God provides both the physical and spiritual elements.

Leading up to the Easter Vigil it was an absolute privilege to assist members of our RCIA group in preparing for Baptism, Confirmation and then First Communion, to introduce them to this mystery of the church and of our faith, to help make the links between the ordinary and necessary food of our daily lives and our need and desire to share in the heavenly Eucharistic bread.

This coming Sunday is the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).

Peter Douglas

HEAD OF SCHOOL SERVICES, NORTH

My notes from Friday's Tasmanian Catholic Education Conference at Riverside

My elder grandson Benjamin starts Kinder in 2017. I want him to have the best education possible. I want him to be in a school environment that will ensure he flourishes. I want him to love literature, be inquisitive, search for the truth, be numerate, know how to collaborate with others, encourage his self-discipline and creativity, be emotionally secure, resilient and surrounded by friends. Most of all I want him to be enveloped in our shared faith and the rich traditions we have passed on. I want him to be in a Catholic school. And in Tasmania!

You know there is bad news for Australian schools, well, it's old news, really. According to Geoff Masters we're not doing very well with our PISA scores. Nevertheless our Australian 2015 PISA scores have us sitting well above the UK, Russia and the USA. Apparently that's not good enough.

For years we have heard how disappointing our NAPLAN results are for Tasmania, and you might have heard that year after year those results are attributed to our low socio-economic status. You just might be interested to know that in the Commonwealth Grants Commission's 2013 review on measuring socio-economic status per head of population we had:

· the lowest household income

· the highest percentile of Commonwealth pensioners

· the 2nd lowest skilled occupations

· 2nd highest one parent families with dependents

· the highest percentile of divorced or separated parents

· the highest percentile of unqualified post-schoolers

· the highest percentile of those under 70 who need long term assistance

· 2nd highest paying supported rent

· After NT the highest percentile without the internet

There are other indicators, of course, but this should show you what an incredible task we have to make a difference. And we do. You do. Levels of disadvantage continue to impact on our children long before they step into our schools. The phenomena of the growth of at risk children in our AEDC data, the multiplication of children presented in kinder who require speech pathology, or occupational therapy intervention is nothing short of astonishing. And yet we do make a difference. Every year our teachers attempt to bridge that gap of disadvantage. 16,000 children attend Catholic schools in Tasmania because parents know we make a difference. And that's why my grandchildren, Benjamin, his sister Rose and their cousin Jimmy will find their home in a Catholic school.

These two days are the first opportunity we, as a whole northern educational, professional, community, have had in many years to come together to celebrate the work we do and to take time out to learn together. This is a golden opportunity to meet your colleagues, to ask questions, to be present, and just to relish the day.

Introduce Aunty Patsy

I spent a day with Aunty Patsy with a number of my colleagues some years ago, I read her extraordinary book Grease and Ochre and I am in awe of her contribution to our knowledge and understanding of the Tasmanian Aboriginal people. I am deeply honoured to invite her to welcome to country.

Introduce Libby and Gwenda

Two treasures of Catholic education in the north of the state, Libby and Gwenda will lead us in our opening prayer ritual.

Introduce Archbishop Julian Porteous

Archbishop Porteous was born in Sydney but has family links to Tasmania. His forebears arrived in Tasmanian from England in 1853. His great grandfather and great grandmother were both born in Hobart, within one kilometre of St Mary’s Cathedral.

The archbishop completed his primary education in Melbourne, Singapore and Parramatta before he undertook secondary schooling with the De La Salle Brothers at Oakhill College, Castle Hill. In 1968 he entered St Columba’s Seminary, Springwood, in 1968, then continued studies for the priesthood at St Patrick’s College, Manly, from 1971. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Sydney on September 7, 1974. Pope John Paul II named him as an Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney in 2003 and on Archbishop Adrian Doyle's retirement was appointed Archbishop of Hobart.

Introduce Dr Richard Chambers

Wellbeing is now high on the agenda of every organisation. Productivity, happiness and success hang in the same cupboard as wellbeing. We are now more aware than ever that a teacher's positive wellbeing and a child's positive wellbeing are preconditions for learning to flourish in our classroom.

It is my pleasure to introduce Dr Richard Chambers who will address us on working, teaching and leading for wellbeing. Richard is a clinical psychologist and mindfulness consultant. He specialises in using mindfulness and other effective evidence-based interventions to treat a range of issues.

At Monash University, Richard is leading a program within the Campus Community Division where all students and staff learn mindfulness to enhance their wellbeing and performance.

He is one of the developers of SMILING MIND, a free smartphone and web app with over a million downloads (he must be a millionaire). His vision is to see mindfulness in the Australian school curriculum, and is currently working with Smiling Mind and a number of schools and other organisations to achieve this. Richard is the author two publications on mindfulness with Exisle Publishers.

Introduce Marcia Howard

It is quite a pleasure to invite Marcia to share Circle of life - not the same as the one we heard in our prayer this morning. As I earlier indicated Marcia is a competitor in this season's The Voice. She was formerly a member of the iconic Australian band, Goanna. Marcia is a mum and a teacher in the performing arts. She currently teaches at a tertiary level. Marcia has a home recording studio to enable her to share her music widely. She has two of her albums available for purchase at the registration desk. Please welcome Marcia.

Introduce Dr Peter Mudge

Cardinal Kasper claims that Mercy is par excellence the fundamental attribute of God. It is of God's essence that he or she expresses Mercy. In doing so, mercy is freely and unconditionally given. Dr Peter Mudge will explore with us mercy though the eyes of the artist. Many of us know of the work, or indeed may be familiar with the work of Sieger Koder or Martin Hudacek or can call to mind a range of images that unveil the lavishness of God's mercy, the prodigal son, the woman who touched Jesus' hem, or the adulterous woman. I am expecting Peter to expose us to a variety of works, maybe some of his own, which invite us into the mystery of that unflinching mercy.

Peter is Senior Lecturer in Religious Education and Spirituality at The Broken Bay Institute, Pennant Hills; and Conjoint Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Science, The University of Newcastle, both in NSW Australia. Many of you who completed the GradCert through BBI would know Peter and his work. Peter conducts courses on religious education, theory and practice, and on spirituality – traditions, practices and values. He has also written extensively in these areas. Peter is an artist who loves drawing and painting in his home art studio.

Introduce Jules Allen

I have a Facebook friend who is barely enduring the adolescence of her daughters. What she doesn't know is that she is an amazing mum, she is enormously capable and her kids are brilliant. What she can't see is the forest for the trees. Adolescence will pass. And she will remember even these years as some of the best. What we all do is our best, as parents and as teachers even if during the moment we see ourselves as somewhat lacking. Welcome to reality.

is the single mother of four. Her family is a blend of her own, adopted and fostered. Over the past 12 years, Jules has had 31 foster children under her care. Jules believes parenting is the most wonderful source of lifelong learning. It is her firm belief that cooking and food have been the fundamental healing tool for the children in her care.

Through her degree in Social Science, Jules has been able to provide professional experience in child protection, youth support, school counselling and private practice. However, experiences from her own troubled youth have proved to be her most valuable tool, which she uses to resonate with today’s young adults.

Jules endeavours to empower youths to not only understand themselves, but for adults to understand them better too.

Along with Hugh Jackman and Deborah Lee-Furness, Jules has used her profile to raise awareness of adoption reform. She is also the ambassador of Australian charities such as Adopt Change and Foster Care Australia. Later this year, Jules intends to launch YOUTHinc, a progressive social and global initiative with the intentions of reducing the gap between generations.

In 2013, life took an unpredictable turn, accepting a dare from her kids, Jules found herself as a contestant on MasterChef Australia. She used this platform to increase awareness of the benefits of raising well-balanced children with healthy, good food.

Thank Dr Richard Chambers

There are 15 principals in the room. I suspect most of them have ADD. Principalship was created for those of us who are quite happy with the illusion of multitasking and the ability to attention switch from job to job all day long.

My striatum is filled up and my hippocampus is empty, and I can't remember where my list is anyway. Richard has challenges for our BYOD programs - and it would be good to check out the performance of our students who have 1 to 1.

Richard reminded us that not being mindful is unmindfulness. It means not being fully engaged, not present. We really do need to be brought back to our senses if we want to be in the here and now.

I'm not sure whether a glass or two of white or red every night produces the same outcome as being mindful or meditation.

Thanks Dr Peter Mudge

Peter has told us that art assists us to see differently, that art is transformative. It invites us to view and participate, when it says to us: I want to show you something. When we accept that invitation we enter into a new way of seeing and being. This is what transformation achieves. So it is that when we view certain works that a) we need to be attentive to its purpose, its story, its context - and for us today that has been mercy through artists' eyes and b) We need to see beyond the enchaladas. Peter has shared his rich knowledge with us and I thank him on your behalf for his address today.

Thank Jules Allen

Jules' story is harrowing and yet she sees her greatest gift as adversity. She is very well gifted. To overcome or learn to live with adversity Jules chose to exercise, eat well, serve others. I am happy to put the last two into practice immediately. She showed gratitude. She avoided social media. She recommended two strategies: When you're on a downward journey, create a different path, and, find that place where joy happiness fulfilment and contentment dwell.

Thank you for staying on in Launceston and sharing your story.

SUMMING UP

Apparently, according to one of my lunchtime conversants, today has been all right. Other data I collected included, 'It hasn't been that bad so far', to 'No one wanted to leave - I'd love that to happen in one of my classes'. Another colleague told me it was the best address she had ever heard at a conference. Other immediate feedback was that we were well and truly over-catered.

Feedback from our workshops indicates that they have been rich opportunities for thinking and learning. I want to thank each of our workshop presenters for their time and expertise and I trust we've paid you enough for your great work!

Our key presenters, Richard, Peter and Jules have brought experience, expertise and passion to the fore today. I am appreciative, and no doubt you are. Richard put words into our mouths to express our need to focus, be attentive and present to whatever situation we are in. The work that many of our teachers do with Christian meditation for children is not only admirable but ought be emulated. Timetable it into your school day. Peter brought his deep knowledge and dark humour to tease us with a view of mercy in a variety of works of art. Use the art resources of our communities to enrich our students' lives.

Thank you too to Jules who took us on a captivating and fearsome journey of her own life. My biggest takeaway is that with our children - our own and those we teach - we must love them most when they least deserve it. That sounds so easy but it is an extraordinary challenge.

I know you all need to go, so a final thanks to all of you for your presence and participation. I really do hope that today has brought you something to ponder, something to challenge, or something to change in your life or classroom practice. Thank you to the sound and vision technicians, our venue providers, caterers and cleaners. Travel home safely and return refreshed to your school on Monday.