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It is often said that the New Testament is the book of Jesus, whilst the Old Testament tells of a time, of a relationship with God, that is ‘before’ Jesus. Of course, this really isn’t the case, since Jesus is indivisible from God then Jesus has existed since the start of time. As this is so, then it is perhaps more correct to think that in the Old Testament Jesus is somewhat ‘concealed’, whilst in the New Testament Jesus is ‘revealed’.

There is something about this concept of ‘concealment’ that resonated with me as an educationalist. Perhaps concealment is just another way of thinking about potential. The true potential of our students will only be absolutely revealed throughout the many years that follow schooling, yet it is still the educationalist’s job to nurture potential whilst at school. In fact, it is not just the educationalist’s job, it is also one of the many important roles a parent plays. Nurturing the concealed potential allows students to grow, allows them to dream large and to live the most extraordinary of lives.

Last week we celebrated Catholic Education week; Catholic schooling is rooted within a tradition of holistic education, and such an education glories in diverse and multiple opportunities and experiences, each of which is designed to reveal more and more of a student’s true potential. Catholic schooling is designed to nurture the concealed, to provide the platform, the springboard, for a child’s potential to be revealed.

Thinking about Christ as concealed in the Old Testament and yet revealed in the New Testament, has provided new meaning to understanding Christ at the centre of the Catholic School. The example of Christ sets the example for our work at St Aloysius in revealing that which is concealed in our students.