JOURNEYING WITH YOUTH
St Aloysius’ College, Milsons Point was honoured to have the Provincial of the Society of Jesus in Australia, Fr Quyen Vu SJ, visit the College on 26 April 2023. Fr Quyen attended the Senior School Winter Co-Curricular Assembly and took the opportunity to spend some time with members of the College Leadership Team.
Fr Quyen is no stranger to Jesuit education. He spent six years building a Jesuit school in Cambodia and spent the previous four years building a Jesuit school in Timor-Leste. Fr Quyen was no slouch in his own academic achievements either. He graduated from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in computing and statistics. The Headmaster of St Aloysius’ at the time, Fr A V Smith, made Quyen the Head of the IT Department in his first year of teaching.
Having experienced a turbulent time as a refugee in his early childhood, Fr Quyen knows all too well the value of seizing the opportunities given to you and being grateful. Education is a privilege, and Fr Quyen reminded the students in his address at the assembly: “Be grateful and thankful to your parents and families. Be grateful to your teachers and school because you have a good school with quality education to prepare you for life.” The Provincial spoke from a position of experience, as he has witnessed first-hand the conditions that are present in other parts of the world, on the margins of society. “Many of my students in Cambodia do not have enough money to pay for their education and quality teachers to assist them. Don’t take things for granted.”
Fr Quyen Vu SJ making an address at the school assembly. Photo: St Aloysius’ College, Milsons Point.
Rector of St Aloysius’ College, Fr Ross Jones SJ knows Jesuit education holds a special place in Fr Quyen’s heart. “He enjoyed everything about the life of a school and was fully engaged in the academic, co-curricular and spiritual life of the community,” said Fr Ross.
The college also took the opportunity to involve Fr Quyen in the announcement of the college sport teams for the upcoming winter season. The Provincial assisted in the announcement of Captains and the First Teams for AFL, Cross Country, Fencing, Football, Rugby, Tennis and Volleyball.
The students head into a winter season taking on board Fr Quyen’s message with an added sense of gratitude for what they have accomplished so far and what lies ahead in their school year on and off the field.
By Janark Gray
Find out more about the life of Fr Quyen Vu SJ.
