The
Catholic Weekly
Online
Sydney
11 January 2004
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The day Br Nicholas dropped the pin
The day Br Nicholas dropped the pin
Br Nicholas Harsas
By Damir Govorcin
“You could have heard a pin drop … the staff was in a state of shock.” Anne Saliba, secretary at Patrician Brothers Primary School, Fairfield, is describing the reaction to the announcement by Br Nicholas Harsas that he was stepping down as principal of the boys’ school.
“ It was quite emotional,” she says. “Members of staff were in tears.
“
It took me a couple of days before it sank in that he would really be leaving.
His going will leave a big hole at the school.”
The departure of the much-loved principal means an end of an era at the
school which for 50 years has had a Patrician brother as principal.
But, with a decrease in vocations, the Patricians are not in the position to appoint a replacement for Br Nicholas.
A lay principal, Warren Loy, has been appointed to take over this year.
Br Nicholas, who has spent 10 years at the senior primary school, including seven as principal, says he has been overwhelmed by the love and support shown by the school community.
“ I was humbled by it and initially the reaction from the staff threw me into a bit of a spin,” he said.
“ I was thinking ‘have I made the right decision?’
“ But through prayer I knew that God was asking me to do it.
“ It was a tough decision because I have made so many wonderful friends among staff, student, parents and parishioners.
“ However, I felt the time had come for a change in environment and ministry.
“ As I explained to the students and staff, because I’m not here doesn’t mean that our friendships will cease to exist.”
Anne Saliba says Br Nicholas, 38, “is a compassionate person, so giving in his support of staff and students and their families”.
“ He always has time for people,” she says.
“ Br Nicholas has an open door policy … ex-students always come to him to talk about their problems.
“ He is a terrific counsellor and provides a calming presence in the school.”
Now he is moving to Sadlier-Miller, in Sydney’s west, as principal of St Therese primary school.
His legacy at Fairfield includes the Boys for
Middle School Education project, establishment
of an anti-bullying
committee
and the
STAR (Sit, Talk and
Rest) area in the schoolgrounds where students
can read, talk and play board games
such as chess.
Br Nicholas and his hardworking staff have
made the multicultural school – 37
countries are represented in the student body – a safe learning environment
in an area that has long been tarnished by drugs, gangs and violence.
“I may have been the leader,” says Br Nicholas, “but for these initiatives to be successful it had to be a collaborative effort from the staff and students.
“ The students are aware of our hands off-policy, so we have never had a problem with bullying.
“ I think my legacy will be that I have helped build a strong community among the students, staff, parents and parishioners in Fairfield.”
Br Nicholas says he is excited about his new challenge as principal in an area which has a low socio-economic status. “It will provide me with the opportunity to carry out the charism of the Patrician Brothers of helping the poor, hospitality and pastoral care,” he says.
More than 500 people attended his farewell celebration at Fairfield, including Bishop David Cremin and the Patrician Brothers’ provincial, Br Paul O’Keeffe.