Principal's Reflection - 31 October

Happy Halloween!

Halloween in Australia can be controversial, depending on your theological perspective or whether you embrace or reject a concept that many identify as very American. I believe that most of our young people don’t think much past the lollies to be gathered, and so I was very happy to see Mrs Payne’s Year 8 Pastoral Care students lead an All Hallows themed Worship service on Thursday. As well as a very entertaining modern interpretation of the myth of Pandora’s Box, the Worship focused on the Christian traditions that form part of the Halloween story. I would like to share some of Mr Cathcart’s reflection from the service.

The word Halloween is derived from All Hallows’ Eve; the night before the feast day of All Hallows, when some Christians remember all the saints who have gone before us. In the early Church, it was a time to give thanks for holy men and women, known and unknown, who lived with courage and faith, shining light into the darkness of the world.

The night before All Hallows was not about celebrating evil or fear, it was about facing fear. In medieval times, people used this night to act out the battle between good and evil, light and darkness, life and death. They believed that when you name your fears, laugh at them, and bring them into the light, they lose their power over you.

And that is still true today.

Halloween invites us to look at the things that scare us, whether it is ghosts and monsters, or the real fears in our lives like loss, failure, or the unknown, and to remember that hope and courage will always follow. Because after Halloween comes All Saints’ Day, a day of joy and light. And after that, All Souls’ Day, when we remember with love those who have died, trusting that God’s love is stronger than death itself.

Halloween is about facing what frightens us. The costumes and laughter remind us that fear and death don’t have the final word, hope does. This echoes an ancient truth found in another old story: the Greek myth of Pandora’s Box.

When Pandora opened the forbidden box, she released pain, sorrow, and every kind of evil into the world. But at the very bottom of the box, one thing remained, hope. Even in the midst of suffering and fear, hope stayed with humanity, quietly reminding us that light is never truly gone.

So, I wish you a good All Hallows’ Eve. Whether you are a Christian or not, we cannot deny that the message of Hope is universal. The really good news is that hopeful people tend to lead healthier and happier lives. 

Staff Appreciation Day

Today, St Luke’s recognised Staff Appreciation Day with a breakfast for our dedicated staff. Globally, World Teachers Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of October, but since that usually falls during the Queensland School Holidays, in Queensland, we celebrate it on the last Friday in October. At St Luke’s, we recognise that all staff play an important role in the development of young people, and so we celebrate all of our staff. To all St Luke’s families, if there is a member of staff who has made a particular impact on you, today is a great day to reach out and acknowledge them. 

Thank you for your ongoing support of our School.

Mr Matthew Hughes

Principal

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