St Bernard’s College in West Essendon celebrate the feast day of St Bernard of Clairvaux on the 20th of August each year.
It is a big day: the highlight is the celebration of Mass in the large stadium – 1,500 students and 200 teachers.
I was given a special invitation in 2013 to be the main celebrant at the Mass and also to do the Blessing and Opening of the new Food Technology Building.
This was a significant time as it was 50 years since my group did their H.S.C.
I went back again this year for the feast day.
Bishop Terry Curtin was the main celebrant. The College Chaplain from Avondale Heights and also Fr Frank Moloney, a Salesian priest also another old boy of the College and also from Moonee Ponds.
Past students pre 1973 were particularly invited. It was a great catch up for many of us.
Bishop Terry introduced me at Mass so later at morning tea and then lunch many old boys made contact with me to say which of my brothers they may have been to school with back in the fifties.
This was very special and to pass on to my brothers.
I caught up with a friend of mine John Perrett and we went off later to spend some time reflecting on ‘old days’ and also what was happening in our lives since we last caught up.
We may not see much of each other these days but how easy it is to slip back to when we were teenagers the things we did and the friends we enjoyed time with.
We are also grateful for the life we enjoy, when so many others have gone to God.
Life is short, so keep contact with the people who are part of the fragment of your life.
Fr Michael Morley
Parish Priest
Sacred Heart Parish Tatura
Words 318
