THE principal and chaplain of St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe, have spoken with pride of the way the school community has handled the tragic death of 12-year-old Elliott Fletcher.
Principal Dr Michael Carroll and Divine Word Missionary Father Liam Horsfall have also spoken of the “magnificent response” of the entire community, especially the old boys’ network, in supporting St Patrick’s traumatised students.
The men also spoke about parents and teachers visiting Elliott’s parents and the mother of the 13-year-old charged with his murder.
Dr Carroll outlined the college’s two-pronged response towards recovering from the tragedy – built around counselling and a return to school routine as quickly as possible.
Dr Carroll said on Monday the school had a “more normal feel”, a week after the tragedy.
“There is more of the usual school noise starting to return which is certainly a good thing,” he said.
“Sports like hand ball are starting to be played around the school again and classrooms seem to be operating well.”
Dr Carroll said the funeral for Elliott, who died on February 15 at the school of a stab wound to the chest, was a “powerful experience”.
About 2000 mourners attended the funeral held at the college’s Callan Centre on February 19.
“I was so impressed with our boys – the way they supported each other; the way they conducted themselves,” he said.
“The reverence and respect these students aged from 10 to 18 displayed was outstanding.
“I’m not sure I would have had that level of maturity at that age.”
Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane, in his blessing at Elliott’s funeral Mass, prayed that “St Patrick the patron of this college (may) inspire us by his faith and courage as we move forward slowly but confidently towards a new beginning”.
Fr Horsfall said he had based his homily for Elliott’s funeral around the New Testament’s Emmaus story.
“It was only at the Friday preceding Elliott’s death I had presented a similar homily at the induction Mass for the Year 12s,” he said.
“In the Emmaus story the disciples had been plunged into doom because someone they loved – Jesus – had met a tragic death on the Cross.
“They were looking on the death of Jesus as the end of their dream but it turned out new hope was just around the corner with the Resurrection.”
Fr Horsfall said “in a strange way” such a tragic time could bring a community closer together and make it stronger.
“That’s what I’ve been observing in this instance,” he said.
Fr Horsfall said among the many aspects of the tragic event which had struck him were the fortitude of the dead boy’s mother and the “respectful behaviour” of all students throughout the funeral.
He said the mood around the school could best be described as “recollected”.
“It’s been a terrific shock for the school – for all students both smaller and bigger.
“When I looked out at the funeral Mass while Elliott’s mother read a poem in his honour, I could see a lot of crying and this included the Year 12s.”
Fr Horsfall said several parents and teachers had been visiting the mother of the boy charged with Elliott’s murder.
“Some have also attempted to visit the boy in jail but were not allowed,” he said.
“However, they reported back that prison authorities had said the school chaplain may be eventually allowed in.
“I haven’t pushed this yet but I want to and will get to see the boy.”
Dr Carroll said a “solid infrastructure of support” was being created to assist the school community in the aftermath of the tragedy.
“During the first week an assembly of the entire school was held every afternoon at 2.30 in the college hall to keep students informed of events as they unfolded,” he said.
