Weekly Newsletter #38 - 1 Dec 2021
Reflection
Celebrating an Eternal Advent
By Richard Rohr
In the first 1200 years of Christianity, the greatest feast was Easter with the high holy days of Holy Week leading up to the celebration of the resurrection of Christ. But in the 13th century, a new person entered the scene: Francis of Assisi felt we didn’t need to wait for God to love us through the cross and resurrection. Francis intuited that the whole thing started with incarnate love, and he popularised what we now take for granted as Christmas, which for many became the greater Christian feast. The Franciscans popularised Christmas. Maybe their intuition was correct.
Francis realised that if God had become flesh—taken on materiality, physicality, humanity—then we didn’t have to wait for Good Friday and Easter to “solve the problem” of human sin; the problem was solved from the beginning. It makes sense that Christmas became the great celebratory feast of Christians because it basically says that it’s good to be human, it’s good to be on this earth, it’s good to be flesh, it’s good to have emotions. We don’t need to be ashamed of any of this. God loves matter and physicality.
With that insight, it’s no wonder Francis went wild over Christmas! (I do, too: my little house is filled with candles at Christmas-time.) Francis believed that every tree should be decorated with lights to show their true status as God’s creations! And that’s exactly what we still do 800 years later.
Remember, when we speak of Advent or preparing for Christmas, we’re not just talking about waiting for the little baby Jesus to be born. That already happened 2,000 years ago. In fact, we’re welcoming the Universal Christ, the Cosmic Christ, the Christ that is forever being born in the human soul and into history.
And believe me, we do have to make room, because right now there is no room in the inn for such a mystery. We see things pretty much in their materiality, but we don’t see the light shining through. We don’t see the incarnate spirit that is hidden inside of everything material.
The early Eastern Church, which too few people in the United States and Western Europe are familiar with, made it very clear that the incarnation was a universal principle. Incarnation meant not just that God became Jesus; God said yes to the material universe. God said yes to physicality. Eastern Christianity understands the mystery of incarnation in the universal sense. So it is always Advent. God is forever coming into the world (see John 1:9).
We’re always waiting to see spirit revealing itself through matter. We’re always waiting for matter to become a new form in which spirit is revealed. Whenever that happens, we’re celebrating Christmas. The gifts of incarnation just keep coming. Perhaps this is enlightenment.
(Download this reflection as a PDF)
From the Executive Director
Interviews have been taking place for the Deputy Director: Catholic Education and Deputy Director: Stewardship roles this week. Both roles attracted very strong interest from across Australia. These two appointments are critical to our new organisational structure for 2022 onwards. I look forward to announcing the successful candidates soon.
In further good news, the new CEB Ballarat office is almost complete, having been delayed considerably by COVID during this year. Ballarat based staff will be moving into the new building on the corner of Gillies and Gregory Streets in Wendouree on 17 January 2022. As many of you would be aware, this move has been discussed for many years, some say decades! Currently our staff are spread over four separate buildings in less than ideal conditions, so it will be great to have all of our Ballarat staff in one building in 2022.
The Term 1 2022 Diocesan Leadership Gathering will be held on 17 and 18 February, being week 4 of the term. The diocesan calendar has been adjusted accordingly.
At their biannual meeting earlier this month, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference endorsed the Uluru Statement from the Heart. This decision was based on consultation with members of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC), as well as with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of the Plenary Council. The bishops also reflected on Saint John Paul II’s 1986 inspiring message to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This message was heartfelt when it was first delivered and still resonates with many people today. To mark the 30th anniversary of this speech, Pope Francis wrote a Papal Letter to NATSICC, reiterating Saint John Paul II’s words and noting that the cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are precious and have much to offer.
The Conference’s endorsement provides hope to Australia’s First Nations peoples and shows strong leadership. The Uluru Statement seeks to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by enshrining a First Nations Voice in the Australian Constitution. It also calls for a Makarrata Commission which will help ensure authenticity and ongoing respect in the process of ‘agreement-making’ and ‘truth-telling’ between governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat
CEB Office Closure Period
Please be advised that all CEB offices will close at 4pm on Friday 17 December, 2021 and reopen on Monday 10 January, 2022.
System Improvement Updates
Learning and Teaching Updates
Literacy Newsletter
The 2021 Term 4 Literacy Newsletter is now available.
CEB Graduate Teacher Program 2022
The Diocesan Graduate Teacher Program is designed to support graduate teacher induction into the Ballarat Diocese and the teaching profession, within the Catholic Education context. It reflects the partnership between schools and Catholic Education Ballarat, who together support the professional growth of graduates.
The program runs over four days in Terms 1, 2 and 3 and is intended to support graduate teachers as they move into the profession by building connections, promoting collegial networking, nurturing wellbeing and enabling personal and professional growth.
The 2022 program is open to graduate teachers in their first year of teaching from both primary and secondary settings. Due to the interruptions of COVID-19, any graduates from 2021 who would like to complete the program are also welcome.
Registrations open Friday 3 December and close Friday 18 February. See further information.
People and Development Updates
CEB Human Resources Team
As recently announced, we are looking forward to welcoming Maree Baker as Manager: HR on Monday 13 December.
Compliance with the Vaccination Directions
His Holiness, Pope Francis, has said he believes ‘that morally everyone must take the vaccine … it is the moral choice because it is about your life but also the lives of others’. He has described taking the vaccine as ‘an act of love’. Bishop Paul Bird, CSsR, has said ‘The basic reasons for vaccination are to protect our own health and the health of people around us.’ Bishop Paul noted, ‘I encourage everyone throughout our diocese to be vaccinated.’
Staff are reminded of the key dates for compliance with the vaccination mandate, as applied to education facilities. Non-compliance with the mandate may place employment in jeopardy if staff do not meet the Directions into 2022. You are encouraged to speak with your Principal/Team Leader about your personal circumstances as needed.
DOBCEL’s Mandatory Vaccination Policy, aligned to the COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Directions should be distributed to all staff before the end of Term 4. The policy should also be provided with any new contracts commencing in the 2022 school year.
We will continue to closely monitor the advice of the Victorian Government, Department of Education & Training, and Department of Health regarding the specific details for Victorian schools and workplaces and will communicate promptly regarding these requirements.
Take Some Time to Reflect and Breathe
A breath prayer is a simple, short prayer said in a single breath. It’s very helpful in times of busyness and stress as it can be prayed while working or during a short break. You pray the first line slowly breathing in and the second line slowly breathing out.
The words the prayer are based on are powerful in moments of stress, because it’s hard to fight fear and have strength to help others through willpower alone. Written by Sheridan Voysey, who says, ‘we need to be empowered to be virtuous. And so here’s the gift: Paul says that when we ask, God’s Spirit will fill us with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
So, find a quiet place, sit still for a moment, then try praying each line breathing in for 3 seconds, then out for 3 seconds. Don’t worry about reading it to begin with. In time you’ll memorise it. Just breathe slowly and focus the words on God.’
The Why of Kindness
‘The biggest benefit of being kind is its impact on our own mental health and on those around you. Simply put, it makes you happy! According to one study, happiness stems from the achievement of a psychological reward, and being kind to others is one of our important adaptive goals.’
‘Being kind also creates a sense of belonging and reduces self-isolation.’ ‘Finally, kindness is infectious. ‘Make kindness the norm!’
Read more about they why of kindness in the November edition of the Flourish Health & Wellbeing eMag from Converge International, our EAP Partner.
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Rural and Remote Schools – Employment Opportunities for 2022
The opportunity to teach in rural and remote schools offers professional challenge, career development and inclusive communities. As we approach the end of Term 4, some of our schools are still seeking teaching staff for 2022. If your school is unable to offer you extended employment for 2022, or if you are moving to new communities for personal or family reasons, we would welcome the opportunity to consider you for positions in other DOBCEL schools still looking to fill vacancies.
If you could please share this recruitment opportunity across your professional and personal networks, that would be greatly appreciated.
Please contact Jo Huntley, HR Advisor, at jhuntley@dobcel.catholic.edu.au or 5337 7123 for further information.
Catholic Education Ballarat Vacancies
- Education Consultants (2) – Central and Mid-North Zones - upcoming opportunity for Term 2 2022 – information pack available and applications to open in the new year
- Psychologist – to commence January 2022 (Mildura Office) – ongoing position at 0.6 FTE (closes 7 December)
- Speech Pathologist – to commence January 2022 (Ballarat Office) – fixed-term position at 0.9 FTE (closes 7 December)
School Vacancies
- Italian Language Assistant – Siena Catholic Primary School, Lucas – fixed-term position at 0.16 FTE (closes 1 December)
- Classroom Teacher – St Patrick’s School, Camperdown – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 3 December)
- Drama Teacher – St Joseph’s College, Mildura – ongoing, part-time position (closes 3 December)
- Classroom Teacher – St Patrick’s Primary School, Koroit – fixed-term position at 0.8 FTE (closes 6 December)
- Enhanced Learning Teacher/Facilitator – St Patrick’s College, Ballarat – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 6 December)
- Learning Support Officer – Marian College, Ararat – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 7 December)
- Classroom English Teacher – Marian College, Ararat – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 7 December)
- Teacher – St Michael & St John’s School, Horsham – fixed-term position at 1.0 FTE (closes 8 December)
- Chinese Language Teacher – St Patrick’s School, Stawell – ongoing position at 0.4 FTE (closes 10 December)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Francis Xavier Primary School, Ballarat East (closes 10 December)
- Administration Officer – St Mary’s School, Clarkes Hill – ongoing position at 0.4 FTE (closes 12 December)
- Classroom Teacher – St Mary’s School, Donald – fixed-term position at 0.6 FTE (closes 13 December)
- Casual Relief Teachers – St Columba’s School, Ballarat North (closes 16 December)
From Other Dioceses and Beyond
Australian Catholic Education News
The latest edition of Australian Catholic Education News (25 November 2021) is now available.
2022 National Catholic Education Conference –
Call for Abstracts
2022 marks the emergence from a time of pandemic and our soul searching of the plenary. The theme of ‘The future is listening’ impels us to ask of ourselves, given what we have experienced, who are we as Catholic educators and what do we have to say? What do our young people have to say? What is the ‘new thing’ that is already amongst us?
This call to action in Melbourne 2022 represents a pivotal point in time to explore, listen, perceive and articulate what springs forth for the future of educating young people.
Abstracts are now invited for submission under the four main themes of the Conference:
- Catholic Identity and Mission
- Leadership and Governance
- School Improvement
- Communication and Community Engagement
Abstract submissions close on Monday 14 February, 2022 – see submission guidelines.
Visit the NCEC 2022 Conference website.
Secondary Schools: Quality Teaching Rounds –
Funded Professional Learning Opportunity in 2022
The University of Newcastle and ACER have partnered to investigate how Quality Teaching Rounds (QTR) professional development effects student outcomes in Victorian secondary schools in 2022.
The project team is seeking schools with four interested teachers to take part in the study, requiring at least one teacher with a Year 8 maths class and one teacher with a Year 8 English class in 2022.
In Terms 1 and 4, 2022, students in Year 8 in participating schools will complete PAT Maths and PAT Reading assessments and a short online survey. In Term 2, 2022, four teachers from each school will take part in four days of in-school Quality Teaching Rounds. Participating schools will receive fully-funded training in QTR and $7,000 in funding for teacher release.
What is Quality Teaching Rounds?
Quality Teaching Rounds is an evidence-based approach to teacher professional development that has been found to increase teacher morale, school culture, teaching quality and student outcomes in mathematics by up to 25 per cent in participating NSW schools. We are now excited to be offering this professional development and research opportunity to Victorian secondary schools. Watch teachers and leaders talk about QTR.
Limited Places Available – register your school now
If you would like your school to take part, simply complete and return the principal consent form.
For enquiries, please contact Tim Dean, Project Manager, on 02 4985 4300 or via email.
Recruitment Opportunities in Other Dioceses
The following recruitment opportunities are currently available in other dioceses: