[St Mary’s school] is committed to embodying Jesus’ love for all and his refusal to treat as “other” those whom the society of his day marginalised. Thus, and in line with the school’s commitment to be a South African school, St Mary’s seeks to encourage respect for and understanding of a rich and vibrant diversity within its community, on the part of girls, parents and staff (Statement on Christian identity and ethos #16).

Celebrating Heritage Day is celebrating our community. It is a recognition that there is an ambivalence present in all encounters between peoples, cultures, and spiritual traditions. This ambivalence was also present at the annunciation. As the African theologian Claude

Ozankom puts it:

“a foreign arrival is an event with unknown outcome. The uncertainty cannot be eliminated in advance even when the event is the arrival of Jesus Christ. The reason is that the arrival of “[one] who comes from afar” is felt in all cultures of the world as something ambivalent: the foreigner may be a threat, a danger or a chance for the individual or for the community that receives [them]” (Ozankom 2003:97)

In Senior School, the chapel services for this week focused on our relationship with the school’s Christian identity and ethos, and on the religious diversity in our community.

Wishing you all a blessed Heritage Day.

REVD RAKGADI KHOBO
CHAPLAIN