MARY MacKillop College, Nundah celebrated St Joseph’s Day with a special focus on refugees.
St Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods chose St Joseph, who embraced truth and courage and was known by many titles including – the Dreamer; the Worker; the Protector; the Carpenter, as the patron for their Josephite Sisters, who founded the college.
He was also known as Joseph the Refugee, which highlighted his connection to the plight of asylum seekers and refugees.
As part of the celebration, students and staff selected quotes related to the topic of human refuge, wrote them on ‘bricks’, which they then used to build a Wisdom Wall.
Assistant to the principal religious education Catherine Rodden said Joseph’s story of flight as a refugee 2000 years ago was not dissimilar to refugee stories of today.
She said Joseph chose to seek out asylum in another land and risked much to do so.
“Think about what he had given up with an unknown future ahead,” she said.
“He would have had to use up all the family savings.
“Abandon their home and all their possessions.
“Take just enough food and clothing to survive.
“Leave family and friends, their support network and a town they had called home.
She said the safety of his family was ultimately Joseph’s only concern.
“The job, shelter and food would come later… hopefully,” she said.
She said today Joseph would have to wait in a detention centre to be processed with the prospect only of being able to stay in detention or to be sent home.
She said refugees and asylum seekers were not political statements but people like “you, me and Joseph”.
“They are seeking a better life free from fear of death, free from war.
“How can we deny them?” she said.
