Acting Leader of Mission
“Gratitude is a flower that blooms
in noble souls”.
Pope Francis
Dearest Marian Community,
The end of the College term and year is creeping closer day by day, and there is still such an abundance of learning and fun to occur. Since my last newsletter article, there has been an array of activities occurring in our faith and mission domains of the College. It is great to see that our College continues to develop into a proactive and giving community.
Feast of Christ the King Pilgrim Walk
On Sunday 21st November, the Feast of Christ the King is the final Sunday in the liturgical calendar. The Feast of Christ the King this year coincided with the celebration of World Youth Day. Our College leaders for 2022 led students from Marian Catholic College and members of the Parish community in reciting the Rosary on their walk from the College to Sacred Parish Church. Students then celebrated Sunday evening Mass and participated in a small celebration to commemorate World Youth Day.
Marist Leadership Program
Our newly inducted College Captains participated in the annual gathering of the student leaders across Australia that are associated with Marist Schools Australia. The Marist Youth Ministry program is aimed at supporting students in their leadership roles within the College. Our captains participated in a range of activities that consisted of prayer, discussion with leaders from other colleges and were provided with an opportunity to plan potential initiatives for 2022. Our captains had the opportunity to meet with Mr Le Brocque to express their ideas and potential vision and mission for our College in 2022. I would like to thank Claudia Torresan, Lexi Salvestro, Jayden Skirving and Nicholas Sartor for their participation in the two-day program.
Reflection on the day from our College Captains:
On Thursday the 18th and Friday the 19th of November, the four college captains attended the Marist Youth Ministry Student Leaders Summit, a two-day conference held over Zoom involving Marist schools from across the country. The gathering was an enriching experience held by Marist Youth Ministry aimed at forming a new generation of Marist disciples with strong minds and gentle hearts who desire to live the Good News of the Gospel simply and joyfully in their everyday lives.
The two-day conference was a way for the leaders to further understand the founders of our school, as well as the messages, stories and principles they abided by. The whole nature of Marcellin Champagnat was a core theme of the event, and through the guidance of the team at Marist Youth Ministry, the college captains were able to explore the primary teachings of this religious figure, allowing them to deepen and strengthen their connection to the school’s values.
The college captains had the opportunity to collaborate with leaders from other Marist schools across Australia and explore the characteristics of leadership by reflecting on their leadership styles in light of the Gospel and the Marist Family Story. In addition, our leaders had the ability to display their competitive spirit as a team by facing the other participating schools in speed quizzes. This tested not only their knowledge but their ability to unite and work as a team under pressure.
At the end of the first day, the leaders were given the opportunity to plan an initiative that not only abided by the Marist 2022 theme of ‘Known and Loved’ but met the needs of the MCC Community. On Friday, they presented the idea to Mr Le Broque, who was fully on board with the program. The initiative hopefully will be launched at the beginning of 2022! More details will be released soon!
By Claudia Torresan, Lexi Salvestro, Jayden Skirving and Nicholas Sartor
Spirituality Day 2021 Staff Gifts
In Term 2, our College staff members participated in the annual Spirituality Day. The aim of our Spirituality Day was to explore how all Christians are called to grow together in unity and mission. The hope was for staff to draw inspiration from the Holy Spirit and bring to life within our community the Lord's commandment for us to "live a life of love" (Ephesians 5:2).
Mark O'Farrell from Marist Schools Australia, explained to staff that when staff and students from schools in Timor-Leste and Solomon Islands were asked what they would want most for their schools, the response was Rosary beads. As part of the Spirituality Day activities, staff were asked to make Rosary beads and write a prayer on the prayer cards provided.
The Rosary beads and prayer cards were to be given as gifts to staff and students from schools in Timor-Leste and Solomon Islands. On Wednesday this week, I received an email from Marist Schools Australia expressing their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the work that we have done. The feedback received from the recipients was extremely positive and appreciative. I have attached a video to this article of the presentation of Rosary beads and prayer cards along with photos taken from the communities of Timor-Leste and Solomon Islands.
Saint Vincent de Paul Christmas Hampers
Over the last four weeks, we were challenged to demonstrate our commitment to faith and our compassionate spirit for others. This year, we have been able to create 40 hampers that will be donated to Saint Vincent de Paul and distributed to those within our community who are in most need. I wish to express my gratitude to the staff at Marian Catholic College for all their work this year within the Homerooms in promoting and encouraging our students to develop a compassionate and giving spirit.
The success we have achieved this year with our mission initiatives stem from our staff and the spirit they instil in our students. Staff have demonstrated and brought to life the theme from our Spirituality Day. The Marist theme of Breathe: The Spirit of Life, taught us to breathe in the spirit of the Lord and breathe it out onto others. I believe that we can see the true expression of this through initiatives and the way our students have been so incredibly proactive and giving.
An immense thank you goes out to you, our students and members of our College community for all the work that you have done in order to express and demonstrate love and care for all of God's creation. May we continue to develop this spirit with all our College initiatives in 2022.
Until the next article please continue to Live the Marian Way!
“Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness.
Thankful may consist of just words,
but gratitude is shown in acts”
Henri Frederic Amiel
Yours in faith,
Mr Abdala
Acting Leader of Mission