Our Ethos
A Life of Faith
At St Paul’s we believe in and live out Gospel values in all that we do. Every individual
is given the opportunity to develop and fulfil their God given potential. We believe
this encourages each person to develop spiritually, socially and academically. This
leads to a very rounded education for life in the modern world.
St Paul’s is a vibrant Catholic community that lives out its mission in a modern
way. We believe that we have a responsibility to develop every person’s God-given
gifts and talents. This means that we have the highest expectations for all and
look for opportunities to live out our faith each day. We ensure that students leave
us with strong moral values. Many of our students show an active faith through leading
liturgy, serving others in the community and going on retreat and pilgrimage each
year. Our Christian faith is at the heart of our community and this can be witnessed
in the daily life of the College.
About Our Patron Saint
St Paul, the patron saint of our college, originally Saul was born a Jew in Tarsus,
the capital of Cilicia (now modern day Turkey). Saul was born into a successful
tent and cloak making family about the same time Jesus was born. He was a well educated
Roman citizen, speaking Greek (his native language), Aramaic and Hebrew.
Saul belonged to a sect called ‘Pharisees.’ He hated and persecuted the followers
of Jesus and was given authority by the High Priests of Jerusalem to arrest the
so-called troublesome followers of Jesus. Saul, accompanied by several assistants,
made their way to Damascus where they intended to persecute Jesus’ followers.
As Saul approached Damascus, he and his associates were suddenly enveloped in a
bright light from heaven. All saw it and all fell to the ground, however Saul alone
saw in the light a vision. It was Jesus himself. Jesus said to him, unheard by the
others, "Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?"
"Who are you, sir?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Get up
and go into the city, where you will be told what to do."
When Saul arose he found himself blind. Saul continued into Damascus where he lodged
with a Jew named Judas. For three days, the blind man touched neither food nor drink.
Then Jesus appeared to a Damascus Christian named Ananias and instructed him to
go to Judas' house and heal Saul’s body and soul.
Ananias went to Judas’s house and told Saul he had been "sent by the Lord Jesus
who appeared to you on the way here, to help you recover your sight and be filled
with the Holy Spirit." Then he laid his hands on Saul, who at once recovered his
sight, was baptized and having taken some food, recovered his strength.
After Saul’s conversion, God revealed everything to him. Saul changed his name to
Paul whilst preaching in Cyprus, travelled to many places preached in the name of
Jesus without fear, meeting any challenges head on. He spent more than 20 years
of his life travelling the regions we now call Greece, Turkey and Israel. He was
ridiculed, insulted and even imprisoned on several occasions but was eventually
executed in Rome by being beheading at the command of Emperor Nero who outlawed
Christianity and encouraged persecution of all Christians.