Today marked our annual Feast Day at Chisholm. Our focus was on celebrating who we are as a Catholic College as we celebrated aspects of our Values, Patron and Heritage. We began by welcoming in Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Perth, Bishop Donald Sproxton, as well as Dominican Sisters: Sr Margaret, Sr Edith and Sr Myrtle to our whole school Chisholm Day Eucharistic Celebration where we presented Bishop Don with a special gift.

It had been two years since Debra Sayce at CEWA approached me (as College Principal) and asked if the Chisholm Community may have had the capacity and skills to take on the challenge of designing and producing a new Bishop’s Staff (or Crozier) for Bishop Don. He was not only celebrating a special birthday that year, but his original Bishop’s Crozier, which he received as a gift when he first became a Bishop, was in disrepair.

As a former student of St Mark’s College, Bishop Don has close ties to Chisholm and before long we had assembled a working party which initially consisted of Mr Jason Auld and Mr John Swindells interviewing Bishop Don to gather ideas about what sort of Crozier he would like and what sorts of symbolism the College might have been able to incorporate. Today’s gifts was incredibly well received by Bishop Don who expressed considerable emotion and humble gratitude in accepting his new Carry Case, Stand and Crozier.

A Bishop’s Crozier stems from the Biblical symbolisms of Christ ‘the Good Shepherd’ and the important model of leadership and stewardship which Christ charged his disciples with when he sent them out to share the Gospel.

This Crozier and ornate case consist of timber sourced from Bishop Don’s own original Crozier as well as timber which was salvaged from the original St Mary’s Cathedral in Perth after recent renovations. The choice of copper in the Crozier reflects both Bishop Don’s humility and strength of faith. Blue resin highlights stylised aspects of Bishop Don’s own Bishop’s Crest and family crest, including the five fusils taken from his family crest; a Scots Lymphad, representing his family’s migration by boat to Australia and the Fleur de Lis representing both Our Lady’s role as Patroness of the Perth Archdiocese and how his own devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help was pivotal in his calling into the Priesthood.

We are extremely proud of this gift, which we know is a product of considerable planning, problem solving, craftsmanship, fine joinery, attention to detail and good old fashioned elbow grease! In receiving the gift Bishop Don led the Official Blessing of the Pontifical Insignia as well as publically acknowledging and blessing the following staff who were responsible in various ways for its production. On behalf of our whole College Community I would like to acknowledge and thank the two teams of staff here:   

Faith / Design Reference Team:

Sr Chau, Taniya Rodrigues, Mrs Maria Wainwright, Andrew Panizza, John Swindells & Fr Zyggy.

Creative & Production Team (Design, wood working, joinery and brass working skills team):

Jason Auld, Joel Downes, Warren Hawes, David Lyons-Nash, Luke Nuske, Cory Tickner, Michael Vinciullo & David Williams.

The day was a great day of colour, feasting and fun. All funds raised through our many events, stalls and donations will support the numerous charities our College endeavours to donate to each year including LifeLink; Wheelchairs For Kids and the Vinnies.

Thanks to everyone involved and Happy Chisholm Day.

Mr John Bormolini
Principal