St Brendan Shaw Valedictory Mass 2026

There could hardly be a better place than Devonport to celebrate a Valedictory Mass on the eve of a launch.

Tomorrow night, the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries enter service. After all the discussion about them, all the anticipation, all the photographs and headlines, they will finally begin doing what they were built to do: carry people from one shore to another.

And tonight, we have another launch.

Our Valedictorians of 2026 have reached the end of their years at St Brendan-Shaw College. You, too, are about to leave familiar shores. Some of you know exactly where you are going. Some have a fairly good idea. Others may still be studying the timetable!

And that is perfectly all right.

A month ago, your Principal, Stuart Ralph, and I were pilgrims together. Pilgrimage is different from simply going on a trip. A tourist wants to see things. A pilgrim wants the journey itself to make a difference. You come home from pilgrimage having travelled some distance geographically, certainly, but hopefully having travelled some distance within yourself as well.

That is what education is meant to do.

You entered St Brendan-Shaw some years ago as one person and tonight you leave as another. Your education has not simply filled your mind with information. It has helped form the person who now stands ready to cross to another shore.

St Paul begins his letter to the Philippians tonight with tremendous affection. He tells them that he remembers them with joy. He is grateful for what God has begun in them. And then comes that beautiful confidence: the One who began this good work in you will see that it is finished.

That is a wonderful promise for a Valedictory Mass.

The good work begun in you is not finished tonight.

Your teachers have finished teaching you here. Your assignments have been submitted. Your days of wearing the St Brendan-Shaw uniform are ending. But God has not finished with you.

And St Paul prays for something more important than examination results. He prays that their love may continue to grow, that they may develop true knowledge and discernment, so that they can recognise what is best.

That is education worthy of the name.

The world will offer you many choices. Not every choice will be good simply because it is available. Not everything that attracts attention deserves your attention. Intelligence is valuable, but discernment is something deeper. It is learning to recognise what is good and then having the courage to choose it.

Your College motto puts that beautifully: By faith and deed.

Not faith without deed. Not deed without faith.

Faith must become something we live.

And that brings us to the Gospel. Jesus is at a meal on the Sabbath when he encounters a man who is suffering. Everyone is watching him. There are rules to be considered and reputations to be protected. Jesus asks a simple question: is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?

Nobody answers.

Jesus responds with a deed.

He takes the man, heals him, and sends him on his way.

There is your College motto written into the Gospel: By faith and deed.

Jesus does not merely speak about compassion. He acts compassionately. He does not just believe that the suffering man matters. He treats him as someone who matters.

Valedictorians, that is the Christianity I hope you take from St Brendan-Shaw College.

There will be plenty of people throughout your lives who can tell you what they believe. What matters is whether those beliefs become visible in the way they live.

Faith becomes real when somebody is lonely and you sit beside them. Faith becomes real when doing the right thing costs something. Faith becomes real when you forgive someone who has hurt you. Faith becomes real when another person’s dignity matters more than your convenience.

By faith and deed.

Tonight, we have come to the feast together. Around this altar, bread will be broken and wine shared. What we receive here is Christ himself, who then sends us out to become what we have received: his presence in the world.

And soon enough you will go out from this College.

The new ferries will leave Devonport carrying passengers towards a destination. Note well: a ferry is built for more than sitting safely at the wharf. Eventually the ropes have to be released.

So too for you.

St Brendan-Shaw College has been part of your harbour. Your families, teachers and friends have helped prepare you for the crossing. Tonight, we thank them. We thank God for them. We thank God for the friendships made here, the lessons learned here, and even perhaps for some lessons you did not appreciate learning at the time.

Tomorrow the new ships begin their service.

Tonight, you prepare for yours.

Go forward confidently. Let your love continue to grow. Learn to recognise what is best. Allow the good work God has begun in you to continue.

And wherever the journey takes you, may people recognise something of St Brendan-Shaw College in you—not because you are wearing its uniform, but because of the person you have become.

May your faith be visible in your deeds.

And when life is wonderful, shout your praise to the Lord. When the crossing becomes rough, trust that Christ remains with you.

For the One who began this good work in you has not finished yet.

Congratulations, Valedictorians of 2026.

The ropes are about to be released.

God bless you on the crossing.

Most Rev. Anthony J Ireland
Archbishop of Hobart
30 October 2026