Monday 2 September 2024
Staff Day Of Recollection
We are bearers of light, setting hearts on fire
Reflection for the day
Our Staff Day of Recollection consists of a series of experiences starting with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the Holy Trinity Church in Braamfontein. Mass is celebrated by Fr Russell Pollitt and we spend the morning reflecting on our role in bringing hope to the young people in our care.
Hope is found in our own history and origins story. Visiting the WITS ORIGINS CENTRE and Constitutional Hill provides us with an opportunity to reflect on our place in the world, where we come from as humans, and what we have achieved in creating spaces where our diverse pupil population can unite. We are encouraged to make an individual effort to harness unity through our thoughts and efforts.
Seminarian Rosan Mathew ( Diocese of Broken Bay 2021) writes: As a Catholic School, we are called to promote the church’s teaching of Social Justice.
Social justice holds significant importance in the teachings of the Catholic Church, and Pope Francis, has emphasized this aspect of Catholic doctrine in his papacy. Some key points regarding the importance of social justice in the Catholic Church and Pope Francis’s perspective include;
HUMAN DIGNITY: The Catholic Church places a strong emphasis on the inherent dignity of every human being. Social justice, according to Catholic teaching, is about recognizing and upholding this dignity in all aspects of life, regardless of a person’s background, social status, or economic condition.
SOLIDARITY: Pope Francis has often stressed the idea of solidarity, which means standing together in support of one another. He encourages Catholics and people of all faiths to work toward creating a more just and equitable society, where everyone’s needs are met.
CARE FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE: The Church teaches that society should prioritize the needs of the poor and vulnerable. This means actively working to alleviate poverty, providing for those in need, and ensuring that everyone has access to the basic necessities of life, such as food, clean water, healthcare, and education.
ECONOMIC JUSTICE: Pope Francis has criticized the “throwaway culture” of consumerism and inequality, where the rich benefit at the expense of the poor. He advocates for economic systems that promote fairness, inclusivity, and the equitable distribution of resources.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: Pope Francis has also issued a landmark encyclical called “Laudato Si’,” which addresses environmental issues and their impact on the world’s poor and vulnerable. He argues that caring for the environment is an integral part of social justice, as environmental degradation disproportionately affects the most marginalized communities.
ADVOCACY FOR PEACE: The Catholic Church, including Pope Francis, is a strong advocate for peace and the resolution of conflicts through non-violent means. Peace is seen as a fundamental aspect of social justice, as war and violence often result in the suffering of innocent people.
ADDRESSING INJUSTICE: Both the Church and Pope Francis have called on individuals and governments to actively work against social injustices, including discrimination, racism, human trafficking, and exploitation. They emphasize the need to confront these issues and work towards a more just and compassionate society.
In short, social justice is a core element of Catholic teaching, and Pope Francis has been a prominent advocate for its importance. He has consistently called on individuals, communities, and nations to work towards a more just, equitable, and compassionate world, where the dignity of every person is respected and protected.
Holy Trinity Catholic Church
HISTORY
A mission was established in 1897 by Trappist monks from Mariannhill, Natal Colony, marking the beginning of the parish. The original Holy Trinity Catholic Church was built soon after in 1899, shortly before the outbreak of the Second Boer War. When the war started, the Trappists returned to Mariannhill and the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate took up responsibility for the parish. Later they oversaw the process of replacing the original, hastily built church with a more permanent structure.
In 1966 the Paulist Fathers assumed responsibility for the parish until this reverted temporarily to the archdiocese in 1969. Since 1973 responsibility for Holy Trinity Catholic Church has belonged to the Jesuits. The parish’s Jesuits also run the Catholic chaplaincies to Wits University and the University of Johannesburg, and as such they minister to the spiritual needs of Catholic students at these institutions.
During the August–October 2016 resurgence of the #FeesMustFall protest movement and accompanying police crackdown, the parish opened the Holy Trinity Catholic Church to students and others seeking refuge from the rubber bullets and stun grenades that were regularly being employed by the police to disperse crowds. In accordance with the traditional Christian custom of church sanctuary the church was opened to anyone fleeing the violence. Those who came in armed in any way were told to either dump their weapons outside the church grounds or leave.
On 11 October, after a number of rubber bullets had been shot into the church grounds by a police Nyala patrolling the area, the head pastor Fr Graham Pugin took up position in front of the church’s gate and attempted to bar the armoured vehicle from entering. Police indiscriminately fired rubber bullets at Fr Graham and the students behind him. Fr Graham was hit on his upper lip and needed to be rushed to the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital for facial reconstruction surgery. The shooting of Fr Graham brought international attention to the parish, and was criticised by the Jesuit Institute South Africa and the Vatican ambassador to South Africa, among others. Later a police delegation led by the Deputy National Police Commissioner Gary Kruger visited Fr Graham as he was recovering to “apologise unconditionally” for the incident.
Anyone passing the main gate of Holy Trinity Church in Braamfontein will be confronted by the disconcerting and provocative sculpture of a homeless person lying on a park bench. The figure is completely covered by a blanket, except for the feet which are exposed. The feet carry the familiar crucifixion wounds, which identify the person as Jesus.
The bronze sculpture known as ‘Jesus the Homeless’ is the work of Candadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz. It has been described as a visual translation of Matthew’s Gospel: “as long as you did it to one of the least of my people, you did it to me,” and reminds us that our faith needs to be characterised by active compassion for the marginalised. Fr Graham Pugin received the statue as a donation. There is one displayed on each continent, and we were chosen as the African ‘home’ for the statue.
Wits Origins Centre
Mental Wellness Walkabout with Dr Kirti Ranchod
Neurologist and brain health specialist, Dr Kirti Ranchod for a Women’s Day-inspired walkabout at Origins Centre, while she discusses aspects of our brain, mental wellness and healthy brain functioning. The walkabout is part of a series of monthly walkabouts ‘Investing in our Cultural Capital for Better Brain Health’ that focuses on what we have within our traditions and cultures to support brain health and mental wellness.
A Journey Through Constitution Hill
The Constitution Hill precinct is the seat of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. It is located in Braamfontein, Johannesburg near the western end of the suburb of Hillbrow. The complex consists of the Constitutional Court, the Old Fort Prison and museum.
This visit will give you a chance to think, ask, and reflect about who we are, where we have come from and where we are going. This programme provides an overview of the Constitution Hill precinct. It includes permanent exhibitions in the three prisons – the Old Fort, the Women’s Jail and Number Four – as well as a visit to the Constitutional Court, where you are given the opportunity to learn more about our living, working Constitution, which is said to be one of the best in the world.
Victoria Yards
A focus on social cohesion
Victoria Yards is more than just a commercial enterprise, it’s a vibrant community of thriving tenants. By creating an eco-system that fosters connection and collaboration, we offer a one-of-a-kind urban complex that prioritizes both social development and business growth.
A fresh take on inner-city development.
Victoria Yards Is All About Social Development
Victoria Yards’ owners and shareholders don’t claim to be social integrators, so they work with change makers like Simon Mayson of the Makers Valley Collective, a valley that spans from Ellis Park to Bez Valley, focusing on collaborations and skills development for makers living in the catchment.
“We’ve opened our doors to locals first so that Victoria Yards can bring real positive change to the area,” Brian explains, adding that local fresh produce merchants are offered free stall space at their weekly market.