austraLasia #19

AUSTRALIAN PATRON HONOURED AT XAVIER COLLEGE

By Dennis Handley

Xavier College Gawler in South Australia, is a Salesian School that 
opened three years ago. As with all schools Patrons were chosen to 
inspire students at the College. The four College patrons are, Bosco, 
MacKillop (Blessed Mary MacKillop is Australia's first Beatified), 
Polding (John Bede Polding was the first Bishop in Australia) and 
McCormack,( Sister Irene McCormack was an Australian Josephite sister 
who was murdered by the Shining Path movement in Peru for her work 
among the poor and disadvantaged. She died in 1991.)

Special celebrations were held this year to focus on Irene McCormack. 
Feast day celebrations were held where Mass was celebrated and 
students then engaged in a variety of entertaining pursuits ranging 
from Ice Skating to Rock Climbing.

The activities were associated with Mission week. During this week the 
students raised over $1500 for the work of the Australian Josephites 
in their Peruvian Missions.

The highlight of the celebrations was the presence among the students 
of the sister of Irene, Miss Bernadette McCormack. Bernadette traveled 
from Western Australia to take part in two special occasions. The 
first was the College Presentation evening. At this celebration 
Bernadette awarded the first McCormack medal to the outstanding Sports 
students at the College.

The next morning Bernadette visited the College campus and took part in 
a ceremony to Bless and Name the new College Gymnasium the McCormack 
Gymnasium. The significance of her presence was appreciated by the 
students.

Irene McCormack has a much higher profile in Xavier College since 
these days.