‘Tis the season to be what your community needs

What a year it has been for our various communities and the world at large, we all saw through it as best as we could under the most uncertain of circumstances.

However, as the year wraps up and the festive season leans in to give us a warm embrace, it is important we reflect on the good life still has to offer us and the promise of tomorrow. De La Salle Holy Cross College, like many schools, faced and overcame a challenging year. To usher in Christmas, the Northcliff Melville Times sat down with the school’s headmaster, Atholl Murray who shared that as they are a faith-based school it is the appearance of Christ that they celebrate.

Murray said it would be easy to focus on the negatives the year had to offer, ‘but this season brings along the feeling of hopefulness although in that one recognises the feelings of loneliness the season can bring too’.
For him, however, the key message one should always remember is there is always hope and as a school they had to emulate this message. “If this year has taught us anything it is that everyone has a role to play.

“This year we saw the generosity of so many people, not only in our community but throughout the country as well, we have seen communities rally and support those who were adversely affected.”

A strong fixture in the school is their belief in God and knowing that He sees the best in all of us, all while knowing one’s potential and challenges faced individually.
Murray reflected on a quote he read that said, ‘keep going, keep loving, keep reaching out and keep hoping’ and for him this is the message that best resonates with the Christmas spirit.
He added that what will serve the community best is the mentality of giving to others and that gives us the wonderful opportunity to develop our humanity which should not just be done during this season. “It really should be a daily effort, making us the sort of people the society desperately needs.”