From the Director of Mission

On Friday we celebrated Eucharist in recognition of the feast of Saint Marcellin Champagnat. The day recognises the connection we have here at Saint Gregory’s, to the global Marist family. Saint Marcellin started primary schools in the country areas of France over 200 years ago to give an education to children who would not normally have received that opportunity. Today there are Marist schools and other ministries in over 80 countries around the world.

During the Mass, we recognised the 2021 recipients of the Champagnat certificates and Medallions. These men and women fit the criteria of strong mind and gentle heart. Congratulations to;

The recipients of the Champagnat Certificates 

• Kindergarten – MaKenzie  O’Brien 
• Year 2 – Patrick Ursino
• Year 3 – Evie Simpson
• Year 4 – Lucas Spragg
• Year 5 – Lucy Stewart

Year 7

• Max Anastasio
• Connor McGettigan
• Justin Susnjara
• Mitchell Williams

Year 8

• Riley Clifton
• William Degeling
• Hunter Elson
• Sebastian Sia 

Year 9

• William Hackett
• Samuel Labbozzetta
• Dominic Neville
• Sean Stevenson

Year 10

• Toby Drinnan
• Adam Fordham
• Macs Rubain
• Samuel Smith

Year 11

• Lucas Braithwaite
• Liam Croker
• Thomas Fletcher
• Andrew Parkin

Year 12

• Joshua Berhardt
• Zachary Braithwaite
• Lachlan McGufficke
• Bayley Suters

The recipients of Champagnat Medallions

• Alexander Sheedy, Year 1
• Daniel Poonattu, Year 6
• William Carter, Year 7
• Andrew Nothdurfter, Year 8
• Travis Martin, Year 9
• Jack Noy, Year 10
• Lucas Bucca, Year 11
• Joshua Newell, Year 12
• Mr Edward Stefanski, Community Award

During our celebration of Eucharist, during the Liturgy of the Word, we heard a reading from the Acts of the Apostles describing the early Christians, the first disciples of Jesus: “They went to the room upstairs where they were staying, devoting themselves to prayer. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.  Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. 

This is how we as a Marist family should be today and we recognise the power of the Spirit which enables us to continue this work. Allow me to share a little of the reflection which was prepared for the Mass:

When I was little I used to believe that dandelions were magic.

You had to make a wish, blow the dandelion and it was supposed to make your wish come true. 

As we reflect today on our theme of Breathe the Spirit of life today, I am drawn to the dandelion. While I don‘t believe in the magic,

As we reflect today on our theme of Breathe the Spirit of life today, I am drawn to the dandelion. When the wind blows a dandelion, 100s of little seeds attached to tiny parachutes are spread for miles and miles, each one resulting in a new flower. 

The average person takes 20000 breaths a day, nourishing our physical bodies each time we breathe in. We instinctively then breathe out… about 6 litres of air every minute.  How far then does our breath go? As well as breathing in in the physical sense, we also breathe in the spiritual sense. We breathe in the Spirit of life and we breathe out the message of that Spirit.  And metaphorically, of course, how many communities can be affected by that breathing out if we think of it like to 100s of little parachutes leaving the dandelion and spreading for miles and miles. 

There are two symbols used to explain the work of the Holy Spirit – wind and fire. Marcellin too was inspired by the power of the Holy Spirit and his story can be compared to the magic of the dandelion. The message of Christ reached Marcellin in France and he realised the need for young people to be educated in literacy and numeracy and citizenship, but also about their faith. When he breathed out, the Gospel message of family, work and service, simplicity and humility was clear and it spread from his little village of La Valla across France. He began the Little Brothers of Mary and it spread across Europe and then through generations of Marist Brothers, landing here in Australia in 1872.

The Brothers in Australia continued the work and our Brothers here today are doing the same, breathing in the fire of the Spirit and breathing out to inspire young people through generations. We teachers and staff at St Gregory’s have also been reached by the breath of Marcellin via our Brothers, Brother Bryan, Brother Ernest, Brother Paul. Because of them, we are Marist, educating about Jesus in the Marist way. 

As we breathe out, this spirit will fall on you, our students, the next generation. Your responsibility is to take the message of God to the world. Be men and women of strong mind and gentle heart. Know Jesus and live in the way of Mary with gentleness, humility and modesty.

In the Gospel, Matthew tells the story of Jesus calling his disciples and all of us to be childlike. ‘Truly I tell you’, Jesus said, ‘that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.’ This does not mean childish, but humble: ‘whoever becomes humble like a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’

So, whenever you see a dandelion, be childlike, as Marcellin was and as his Brothers have shown us. Breathe in the fire of the Holy Spirit and breathe out the breath of life, the Gospel story, not so much in what you say but in what you do and who you are. And make a wish. Who knows! Magic might just happen.