Today we gather for this Thanksgiving Mass, to pause, to look back on the year that’s been and to give thanks to God for the journey of Year 11 – the growth, the challenges, the friendships and the faith that has deepened along the way.
Our Gospel today gives us a powerful and simple image of Jesus going up the mountain to pray. Before he makes one of the biggest decisions of his ministry – choosing his apostles, Jesus takes time apart, to be still, to listen and to be close to God.
Notice what he doesn’t do. He doesn’t rush. He doesn’t just rely on his own wisdom.
He doesn’t make decisions on the run. Instead, he spends the night in prayer. He listens deeply.
And when the morning comes, Jesus acts with clarity and purpose – he calls his disciples to himself and chooses the Twelve, those who will walk with him, learn from him and carry his mission into the world.
Year 11 can feel like a mountain: assignments, exams, responsibilities, decisions about the future. There are times it’s exciting and times it’s exhausting. And yet, like Jesus, you are invited to go “up the mountain” – to pause, to breathe and to pray.
As you move towards your final year of school, remember that real strength comes not from doing more, but from being rooted in prayer and reflection. It’s in those quiet moments – away from the noise – that we find who we truly are and what God is calling us to do.
After his night of prayer, Jesus calls his disciples. He sees their potential. He knows they are not perfect – they are ordinary people – but he calls them by name. That’s how God calls each of you too. You may not know exactly what lies ahead after Year 12, but God already sees your gifts, your goodness, your capacity to make a difference. Maybe God is calling you to be a teacher, a builder, a nurse, a scientist, a parent, a leader, a priest, a religious person or a quiet friend who lifts others up. Whatever your path, God’s call begins when you listen just as Jesus did and trust that your life has meaning and purpose.
This Mass is a moment of thanksgiving – to thank God for the people who have walked with you this year: your teachers, your families, your classmates, your friends. Each person has played a part in shaping you. Like the disciples Jesus gathered, you have been formed in community, learning not just facts and formulas but compassion, resilience and faith.
As we finish this school year, maybe we can each take a moment to imagine Jesus going up that mountain – not far away and distant but close by, inviting you to do the same:
to pause, to reflect, to pray and to let God speak to your heart.
May your final year ahead be a time of growth, courage and joy and may you always remember that before every big step, Jesus prayed and so should we.
Fr Ziggy Wloczek
College Chaplain
