Watch: Easter Message by College Rector Fr. Jimmy Bartolo sj

This is the Easter message by the St.Aloysius College Rector Fr Jimmy Bartolo, sj. 

Dear students, educators, parents/guardians,

This year we are hearing about Fr Pedro Arrupe, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, who, fifty years ago, created the motto for Jesuit education worldwide: “being men and women for others”. Nowadays, we add the phrase “persons with others and for others”. This motto is very much relevant to the mission of St Aloysius College.

It is very important to keep this motto in mind so that we can form our students to be competent, compassionate persons, persons of conscience, and above all, persons who have commitment. In brief, we are to strive for this human excellence that comprises what our Superior General, Peter Hans Kolvenbach, described as the 4Cs. This year, all our AMDG celebrations focused on the 4Cs. This is a clear message for all that the formation given at St Aloysius College is not only academic, but one that integrates other important dimensions: the human, spiritual, moral and social dimensions. The mosaics we are preparing for the secondary school entrance will all depict the 4Cs.

Interesting events await us during the third term. I am pleased to inform you that our Superior General, Fr Arturo Sosa, will be visiting us on the 10 of May. It is a great honour for us to welcome him to our College.

On the 26 May, we celebrate FestAlwiġi, an event that unites us as an educational community.

The College is implementing important changes: in a year and a half, the primary school will be all coeducational, with boys and girls continuing their education in the secondary school. In six years’ time, all the College will have become co-educational.

As regards assessment, in a year’s time, this will have changed in all three schools, whereby students will not be assessed solely via end-of-year summative examinations. Assessment will include formative work done throughout the scholastic year together with the end-of-year examination. This change recognises further all the students’ abilities. My heartfelt thanks to all educators for their sterling work in the implementation of this change under the leadership of the heads and assistant heads in the three schools.

The refurbishment of the sports complex is another major change. The complex will have some of the best facilities. The agreement with Vassallo group is already offering great opportunities so that students develop their sports skills. These opportunities are also offered to the general public. The complex will be completed by October this year.

My heartfelt thanks to you for your collaboration. I would like to invite you to join us as we celebrate the Easter triduum. The Holy Thursday celebration starts at 7 p.m. in the College church, and the Good Friday solemn ceremony starts at 3 p.m. in the College church. The Easter Vigil celebration starts at 8 p.m. and will take place in the College theatre. We shall be very happy to see you.

A blessed Easter to you and your loved ones!