To begin the new school year, all Catholic staff gathered at Holy Family Church on the 9^th of January 2016 for a staff retreat. Lead by Father Ignatius Huan, the theme of the retreat was specifically chosen to reflect our school’s theme for 2016- Be Forgiving, Grow in Love.

To start, Father Ignatius read out Matthew 5: 14-16

“You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

By sharing this, he reminded us teachers that in order to be a light for God, we must first be willing and open to receiving his love ourselves. Only then, will we be able to reflect his goodness through our words and actions to the children whom we teach and the people around us.

As a teacher himself, Father Ignatius shared how teaching is more than a profession, rather, it is a vocation and a calling. As a teacher, we need to be able to communicate well. However, as Catholic teachers, we are called to communicate with love and to use our words for affirmation, kindness, forgiveness and healing.

The Catholic Staff Retreat was a fruitful session and indeed a reflective start to our new year as we learn to experience the joy of being forgiven before we can grow in love.