I had the privilege of celebrating a special Mass at Genazzano for the parents of Year 12 students on Tuesday, 24 October. This was to coincide with the start of exams for students. Not only is it a stressful time but a significant moment as their secondary education comes to a close. The gospel reading was taken from this Sunday and the first reading was taken from Ephesian 6:1-9. Both readings speak about love enshrined in the Commandments.

When we listen to a text written 2000 year ago it can sometimes really shock us as being primitive and uncivilised. But if we read it in its context the teaching is remarkable for its time. St Paul writes about the relationship between masters and slaves, employers and workers. Long before workers rights and unions, they were often exploited. Here we hear workers and slaves are to be treated without threats as they too belong to the same heavenly Master. St Paul is saying God is the mediator of relationships, look to God for harmony and respect and a change for the better.

The teaching is not so primitive after all if we consider our lives are filled with relationships, family, friends, colleagues. Each relationship has its own dynamic and intricacies. We naturally respond to each by their personality, their relationship to us and our own motivations and needs.

The Commandments in both the Christian and Jewish traditions are what we believe is a divinely instituted guide to living out our relationship with one another. One of the commandments is to honour one’s father and mother. Children look to their parents for guidance, protection, support. Parents are their child’s first educators. It is an education unique only to families. Here they learn above all how to love, how to express their needs without reservation, how to live in a community of love. Each parent knows their child’s progress, hopes and dreams. In some ways parents are students themselves learning from their children. In relationships we are both teachers and learners.

Catholic Education is to help build upon the existing relationship of parent, child and those around them with its ethos of love God and love your neighbour. It does this, not only by stimulating minds of our children but also forming hearts. Students do this by tangible experiences in volunteer and charity work. They are also inspired by the many role models of past and present.

As you support your child in each stage of their development, you find yourself growing with them. Your relationship with them evolves. Parents, as you come to this significant moment of your child’s development. We thank you for your many sacrifices and for putting your trust in the teachers and staff. Your relationship with your child is inspiring.

I hope you find this time a time of reflection and one of celebration on how far you and your child have come from the very first day they walked into the school grounds to the days of their final exams.

By Fr Hoang Dinh

Published: 27 October 2023