A new year begins...
A new year begins...
Yesterday, in the Cathedral of St Peter, the College assembled together for its Commencement Service.
The Commencement Service actually marks the end of a period of induction and orientation for new students, and the beginning of the serious part of the year.
The service today also marked the commencement of our new chaplain, the Rev’d Mark Sibly. Mark has also been appointed as Senior Associate Priest at the Cathedral and this shared role is a special one. The Dean of the Cathedral, the Very Rev’d Dr Sarah Macneil and I look forward to the wonderful opportunities this presents for both of our communities.
Mark’s role, can best be described as ‘loitering with intent’ (a phrase I have borrowed from the Archbishop) – one of presence; of availability to students and staff, with an open door for whoever might drop by; of offering counselling and support, engaging in other dialogues, marshalling resources in difficult times, accompanying groups and individuals through various challenges, and mentoring students.
Whilst Christian values inform many aspects of our life together, spiritual dimensions of being human are expressed and explored in a variety of traditions, which is a diversity we value. At St Mark’s we are concerned with the overall wellbeing of every person in our community and with the quality of our life together. Helping to integrate the academic with other aspects of life - questions of vocation, personal relationships, experiencing native and diverse cultures, spirituality, physical and mental health – these are all very much part of our mission.
The commencement service also provides us with a perfect opportunity to reflect about what we intend to do individually this year; to think about our role in the College community and to dedicate ourselves not only to self development but to the development of the College and ultimately our broader community. Whatever happens in the College community affects us all positively or negatively at the time and afterwards.
The experience of College life is intense and comes at a critical time of personal development – here is where philosophies of life, work habits, career choices, lifelong friends are made and many other things crystallised – incredible when one thinks that one’s actual time in College is a very small proportion of one’s life - So I encourage you to make the most of your time at St Mark’s and begin with the end in mind.
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