Catholic Identity and Mission – Two Symbols

Over the past year, I have had the pleasure to work with Mr Joe Morton in designing artwork that communicates the Mission and Identity of Catholic schools resonating with local culture as well as being faithful to our Catholic traditions. Signs and Symbols are powerful communicators that have been used for thousands of years to transmit culture and meaning. These two murals remind us that we are all members of the universal church by rite of baptism and that we are called to act in making the kingdom of God a reality in our everyday lives.

The mural on the hall is based on the Gospel readings of Matthew 4 and 16. The “yellow sails” represent the boat James and John were in when Jesus called them to “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of Men”. The wind in the sails is the Holy Spirit. Similarly, we are called each day to follow Jesus’ example of treating each other with dignity and compassion, having a sense of gratitude for our many blessings and living each day with the hope joy and wonder of the risen Christ. Will we say “Yes” to this adventure trusting in the Holy Spirit for strength and guidance?

The three white circles embody Matthew 16, “Let your light shine before others so that they will see your good works and give glory to our Father in heaven”.  These lights remind us of our baptismal call to be witnesses to the love of Jesus Christ and make this world a better place day by day. Let your light shine today and bring joy to your community. (We have used reflective paint on these and they look brilliant when your car headlights shine on them).

At the heart of the mural is the cross and at its centre St Patrick’s logo. This symbolises that our relationships are the heart of the matter and as an authentic community we live out the reality of the cross through a journey of births, deaths and resurrections.

This mural is to be found in our school grounds.  Corinthians 1:12-13, is the inspiration for this mural. The major themes present are “The Gifts of the Holy Spirit” and “We are one body in Christ with many members”. It also incorporates the local indigenous Wiradjuri symbol for “Meeting Place”. The sense of belonging is a focus of this artwork.

Our eyes are drawn to the centre circles and there we find St Patrick’s community, “One body - many parts – many gifts”. An inclusive and welcoming community where the gifts of each member are valued and supported so they may flourish. The dove symbolises the Holy Spirit who guides us on our journey and draws out our unique gifts. Our local Murrumbidgee River is represented by the blue and gives nourishment to the community who are strengthened by the flames of the Holy Spirit. We may further explore the environmental, cultural and religious significance of fire and water, which symbolise the cycle of life and death juxtaposed to the journey of the cross.

“I Belong, You Belong and We Belong” is the reality that we as humans strive for in our relationships. Our desire to belong, to be part of something bigger than ourselves and contribute meaningfully in a relationship with others is at the heart of this mural.