The Ignatian - December 2016 Vol 26 July Edition Vol 27 | Page 2

Commitment with purpose E D IT O R I A L S TA F F Editor Leanne Gomez Design and Layout Danielle Fairhurst Administration Brooke Hillsdon Alumni Relations Christine Zimbulis James Rodgers Marketing and Communications Ashleigh Kingston CONTRIBUTIONS Please forward to [email protected] Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview Tambourine Bay Road, LANE COVE, NSW 2066 O N T H E C OV E R Throughout my project, a great deal of dedication has been required due to the amount of work and intricacy that goes into the project. There is the commitment of time, such as staying back after school and coming to the workshop on weekends, and there is also the physical commitment of the labour required to build it, as small mistakes can cause injuries. This process of building something from nothing has allowed me to take something that I could only imagine in my mind and bring it to life. Through this project I feel that I have been able to gain a deeper understanding of the magis through the level of commitment that has been required of me to achieve excellence in my project. Max Stokes, Year 12 The text paper in this magazine is chlorine free. The paper manufacturer has been independently certified in accordance with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council. Printed on FSC certified paper. The theme of this edition of the Ignatian is commitment. One of the tenets of Ignatian education, along with competence, conscience and compassion, ‘commitment’ is a loaded word. It’s the follow-through after the initial ‘yes’, the refusal to quit when things get tough, and striving for excellence when everyone else says ‘good enough’. In other words – in Ignatius’ words – it’s the magis. In history and literature alike, there is no greater example of commitment than that of Christ. We know that he began his ‘career’ as a carpenter - fitting then, that the cover image of this Ignatian should be a woodworking student. A true woodsmith is said to have a deep love for the craft, patience for intricate details that others might miss, and skills and scars borne from experience. One can envisage how these qualities came into play in his later ministry, when blocks of wood were replaced by living, breathing humans, and his commitment was tested to the point of the cross. Ephesians 2:10 says, ‘For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works’ (ESV). We are, in essence, the product of his skills, his knowledge… his commitment. And the purpose? To do good works. It is the privilege of this publication to be able to show some of these good works in action. From the Ignatian Children’s Holiday Camp to various immersions, assemblies honouring the ANZACs and First Nations to initiatives like ‘Friends Listen’, students at Riverview are engaged in activities that exemplify a commitment to those around them, and to a purpose greater than their own. Beyond the walls of the College, the works and achievements of our alumni show a striving for excellence that resonates with our motto: quantum potes tantum aude (‘as much as you can do, so much dare to do’). Over and over again we hear the refrain: ‘men for others’. This phrase in itself embodies a commitment to a cause beyond oneself – walking in the footsteps of one who was, indeed, a man for others. We hope you enjoy reading the pages of this Ignatian, and are encouraged by the stories of hope, triumph and commitment they contain. LEANNE GOMEZ