Rector's Report
Greetings! This week I am finishing my newsletter to you from Fremantle, Western Australia (don’t be jealous, it is work not fun). I am here with some of my fellow Oblates of the Australian Province for 3 days of ongoing formation as we strive to live our Oblate way of life. Our Oblate presence is scattered over Australia in various ministries, so these days together are important for the health of our community life as we reconnect with each other and share our common mission of caring for God’s people entrusted to our care.
Catholic Education Week (12–19 March 2023)
This year, Catholic Education Week is being celebrated across the Archdiocese of Melbourne from Sunday 12 March to Sunday 19 March. The week is an opportunity for our college to join all 334 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese to celebrate our distinctive Catholic identity, our achievements, and the role our college plays within our local parishes and communities. The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Forming lives of faith, hope and love in the light of Christ’. Mazenod College seeks to provide our students with a high-quality Catholic Education that is inspired by the gospel of Jesus Christ and lived through the charism of St Eugene de Mazenod. It is our aim to foster the development of the whole person, forming our young men with more than just skills, but with the virtues of the Christian life that will enable them to make a difference in and to our wider community. During this week our college replaced our regular college prayer with a prayer for God’s blessings on all involved in Catholic Education.
AFL Season
This week we witnessed the launch of the new AFL footy season for 2023. A new footy season has some characteristics of Lent as it comes with a renewed sense of hope and an expectation to be better. At this stage the playing field is level with each supporter having the hope that their team will be better than last year and make a charge for the final eight. Our so called ‘experts’ have already had their say by looking into their crystal balls and sharing their predictions with us. We shall see what happens. Let us (hopefully) enjoy the ride of another AFL footy season.
50 Years
This footy season is extra special for me as I received my 50-year pin as a Collingwood member. I have certainly enjoyed the ride, although it could have been more successful with some missed opportunities. Please; there will be no need to forward any words of sympathy to me.
Mazenod Football (Soccer) Club
At the invitation of Daniel Paone, former Mazenod student, and current president of the Mazenod Football (soccer) Club, I attended their 2023 season launch on Friday, March 10 at the Freccia Azzurra Club. It was an enjoyable evening as I joined current and former Mazenod students, players, supporters, and families in their shared excitement about the approaching 2023 season. I wish all involved with the club every success for the forthcoming season.
Lenten Season Reflection
This week let us reflect on the Three Pillars of Lent.
Alms Giving – means making the needs of others our own, especially the needy of our world. They are all around us: children and the old, the sick and the suffering, families and individuals, next-door neighbours, and people in missionary countries.
Prayer – offers all of us an opportunity to stop, reflect, and grow in our relationship with God as we continue our life’s journey.
Fasting – During Lent do you think God needs the chocolate, candy, and other things we give up? No, He needs us to look deeper within ourselves and reflect. He wants our hearts.
Lenten Retreat
On Saturday March 11, parishioners, and Oblates from St John Vianney parish, Springvale North enjoyed the facilities of Mazenod College for their Lenten retreat day. The day consisted of a reflection, ‘Open your Spiritual Eyes’ given by Fr Harry Dyer OMI. Following the talk, parishioners experienced some quiet prayer time and then enjoyed a shared lunch.
The day concluded with the Lenten devotion of the Stations of the Cross around the college grounds and a tour of the college facilities.
Lenten Thoughts.
Don’t take your Lenten Fast too seriously!!
See. Miracles still happen!!
Enjoy your weekend.
Yours in Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate
Fr Harry Dyer OMI