You were advised recently of the our annual St Patrick's Day Mass and associated functions.Given the worsening corona-virus crisis,the Committee has decided to cancel all the  events planned for Sunday. Whilst the risk associated with proceeding would have been quite low,it has become clear that this risk would be unacceptable particularly given the age profile of those attending.

The AGM process will now be conducted via email with all Patricians invited to participate. Copies of the AGM papers including the agenda have previously been distributed. Patricians will be advised via email of the outcome of the AGM once concluded.

Regards

Murray Cullinan

President

Dear Patricians,

Attached is a current​​ S​P​OCA/ACU ​Scholarship ​update.

Applications are now open and a decision will be made in early April.

Currently we have raised over $113,000 and we continue to accept donations.

Dear Patricians,

Watch out for the following 2020 activities:

·       Release of the school song, sung by alumni at the 2019 dinner Early 2020

·       2020 Saint Patrick’s Day Mass, lunch and AGM at ACU March 2020– this will include if possible an announcement of who is to be awarded the inaugural SPJC ACU teaching scholarship

·       Anzac Day Mass in the Xavier Chapel

        Opening of the reinvigorated Xavier/SPJC archives at Xavier College April 2020

·       The SPOCA Annual ‘Dinner’ in November 2020

·       Release of a discussion paper for the SPOCA Five Year Plan April 2020

In 2020 we will also be adding to our Notables list.

I think we can all agree its been a wonderful and colourful 50th year for SPOCA with many highlights.

May I wish all Patricians a happy Christmas and an exciting excellent 2020.

     God bless

       Paul Buttigieg

Fellow Patricians,

Be part of the Photograph at the 2019 SPOCA Dinner!

This has been the first quiet social year for SPOCA since 2014 – no Jesuit anniversaries, no milestone reunions, no SPC Ireland tour and no closure commemorations. Enjoy the milder November weather this year at the SPOCA Dinner at Green Acres Golf Club on Friday 15 November.

In addition to the dinner’s main purpose of catching up with your school-mates, our film maker Steve Bowman (SPC 1949-54) will propose the toast to the Jesuits and the College and tell us how the film “SPJC – Our School Reflections” came about.

You will see a 10 minute highlights reel of the film, which includes extracts from school movies from several eras and interviews with 60 to 90 yo alumni. A recording of our school song by the Xavier College Choir will also be shown.

The Reflections movie will be launched on the night and DVD copies will be available for purchase with a launch night discount.

 Other features will be:

• an update on the inaugural St Patrick’s/ACU perpetual scholarship
• a report on the Jesuit Partner School support initiatives
• the consolidation of hundreds of SPC memorabilia items in the expanded Xavier College Archives and the 2020 plans for opening the archives for viewing
• recording of a filmed and accompanied alumni rendition of “Semper Fidelis”, our 1960s SPC school song. All present will form the SPC Choir for the evening.

 An evening not to be missed, so please complete and return the attached booking form. Partners (and drivers) are most welcome.

Semper et ubique fidelis

Gavin Wayland (SPC 57-65)

SPOCA website: www.stpats.xavier.vic.edu.au

 

Dear Patricians,

SPOCA Annual Dinner in 2019 is on November 15. Earlier start time of 6:00 pm

Following the 50^th anniversary commemoration in November last year, in 2019 we have the opportunity to continue the recollections.

A professional video has been generously produced by SPC alumnus Stephen Bowman (1949-55). The film, which includes archival footage and still images, importantly captures today’s Reflections of a dozen Patricians who attended SPC between 1937 and 1968. Key events and significant teachers of the College’s last 30 years are remembered by these eye witnesses.

St Patrick’s College East Melbourne – Our School Reflections will be launched at the Annual Dinner where copies will be available for purchase for a nominal cost.

You are invited to enjoy these recollections and to reflect on and share your own memories. You can do this by joining colleagues at this special Dinner or by sending your thoughts, memories and memorabilia to SPOCA for inclusion in our ongoing collection, now under the sustained care of the Xavier College Archives.

Those who attend the Dinner this year will also have the opportunity for their voices to be recorded for posterity in a filmed accompanied choral version of “Semper Fidelis”, our School Song which was first publicly presented in Cathedral Hall in December 1960.

Dinner bookings are now open. Please refer to the booking form attached.

Fresh faces will be welcomed. Familiar faces always are.

If you have email access please let us know as this enables more contact.

Patricians,

The  Committee Meeting on 17 July endorsed a proposal that we develop a five year plan to guide our policy and actions during the 2020-2024 period.

*custodianship of memorabilia

*the St Patrick’s Jesuit College Scholarship

*Partnership Schools

*Other School Alumni

*the timing of the inevitable SPOCA windback.

 A proposed approach to developing the plan is outlined below :

1.Develop a Discussion Paper covering the following  matters :

2.Obtain Presidents agreement to distribute paper  to Committee and Past Presidents for comment.

3. Paper to  be distributed  no later than 4 weeks before next Committee and comments sought no later than 1 week before that meeting.

4.Paper to be revised in the light of feedback received and submitted to the Committee for discussion and endorsement that it be distributed electronically to the Patrician community for comment

5.Patricians be invited to provide comments and/or participate in group discussion sessions in the SPOCA Room.

6.Draft Committee Paper to be prepared for Presidents consideration covering :

7.Paper to besubmitted for endorsement to a Committee Meeting before the end of 2019.