Instaurare omnia in Christo. To renew all things in Christ.
This is actually quoted from 1Cor.15:28 and was the motto Joseph Sarto chose to guide his pontificate when he became Pope Pius X in 1903.
Our high school at Adamstown is named after St Pius X, Priest, Pope and Saint. He was the first Pope of the Church selected for canonization in the 20th Century (1903 – 1914). He is a very fitting patron of a modern high school because of his affinity with young people.
Our motto reminds all staff, students, parents and carers that our aim is to put Christ at the centre of all we do. It reminds all staff, parents and carers that we are expected to be, for our young people, excellent role models of how to live a good Christian life, animated by the Gospel values.
By direct teaching and by this consistent role modelling, we aim to nurture all students to come to know, understand and embrace the Christian lifestyle, and more specifically for us, the Catholic lifestyle. Our Ministry and Religious Studies programs, our subject specific curricula and pedagogy, our cultural, academic and sporting programs, our Wellbeing System and our policies and procedures, each help in their unique ways to achieve this aim.
However, our motto calls us onward even further. Instaurare omnia in Christo challenges us to make our world a better place by sharing the love of Jesus Christ always and everywhere. We share that love by renewing our relationship with Jesus every day through prayer; by nurturing our relationships with family and friends through staying in touch with them, communicating often, forgiving them, celebrating with them and enjoying each other’s company. We share that love by renewing ourselves continuously, by learning and growing so that we become the best people we can be.
Our motto challenges us to renew our school and our local, national and world communities to whatever degree we have the opportunity to do so, so that they too become the best they can be. Knowing that we are loved by Jesus, gives each of us the joyful confidence that we are indeed capable of achieving this noble goal.
The crest has been designed to acknowledge a number of characteristics of Pope St Pius X.
The Triple Tiara of the Popes and the Crossed Keys of St Peter, together with the Cross and Orb, recognize his kingship and the history of his office.
Since St Pius was once the Patriarch of Venice (the city of St Mark the Evangelist), we include the Winged Lion of St Mark.
The Star of Hope and the Anchor of Faith complete the symbolism of our Crest.
As already mentioned, Instaurare Omnia in Christo – to renew all things in Christ, is our motto. By wearing the badge, members of our school community are saying that everything we do, we do for Christ; that in everything we attempt, we will seek Christ’s help and intercession.
It is a very bold statement of faith. It is also a promise which requires all members of this school community to strive to the limit of their talents to bring God’s kingdom to their lives and the lives of all around them.
