Greetings! As this is my final newsletter for 2023, I would like to extend my Christmas greetings to you all. During this year I continued to enjoy presenting my section of the newsletter. I am grateful that several community members have expressed their enjoyment of the Rector’s news, the fun anecdotes at the end, the reflections about the Oblates, and the scripture that I hope have brought a clearer insight into our united mission in spreading the Good News of the Gospel through the charism of St Eugene de Mazenod.

At the heart of the Christmas season, sometimes buried beneath the well-intentioned array of lights, decorations and wrapping paper, remains the single reason that we celebrate. Jesus being born. God entering our world. That night in Bethlehem, in a humble manger, remains so inspiring, that it’s difficult to imagine it ever being forgotten or overlooked during the holidays. However, it is not uncommon for those of us who embrace the “reason for the season” to get swept up in the trappings of Christmas time. And no days are busier than Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Let us strive to keep the Christ of Christmas in all our celebrations.

As one year concludes our attention now turns towards 2024 as we prepare to welcome a brand-new Year 7 cohort for their orientation day on December 4 as they prepare to join our college community on the next stage of their educational journey. We have visited the 52 schools from where our 252 students will come from, and I can assure you there is a great sense of excitement and nervousness amongst them.

Our College community will finish the academic year today, Friday December 1st, with a final assembly and celebration of the Eucharist in the Provence Centre. I will offer my Mass for all your intentions that you will be kept safe over the Christmas holiday period and during the New Year of 2024. The office will be closed on December 8 for the day and then closes on Friday December 15 until it reopens on January 15, 2024.

Reflection on the Christmas Tree

Need a last minute gift that keeps giving?

Christmas in our Christian tradition is a time to celebrate God's love for the world through the birth of the Christ child: Jesus. It is also a time of giving to others. Most of our giving is to close family and friends. However, as Christians we are also called to care for our neighbour, people we will never meet. How can we do this?

Oblate Christmas Gift Card. How many gifts do we receive or give that are really needed? We all have so much. The idea behind this giving is that you purchase a card or cards from various amounts to assist people in our Oblate Missions. The card you purchase is sent to your family or friends and it explains that you have purchased this gift card on their behalf to help someone in need. It is about thinking about giving outside of the normal gift giving box.

These cards can be purchased from the Front Office (via cash only) or on online through MAZCOM or mami@oblates.com.au

Generous responses make this world a better place for our unseen neighbour.

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate Perpetual Profession

On Sunday November 26 many Oblates and students gathered at St John Vianney parish, Springvale North, to witness Br Kombo Benjamin OMI from the Province of Cameroon (Oblate Mission of Nigeria) make his Perpetual Profession as a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate. Br Benjamin has been in the Australian Province for the past couple of years completing his studies for the priesthood. This is one of the many ways that the generosity of people who support MAMI (Missionary Association of Mary Immaculate) assists our brother Oblates in our various missions to complete their priestly formation.

Fr Christian Fini OMI, Australian Provincial, presents Br Benjamin with his Oblate Missionary Cross.

Fundraising for the Oblate Missions

The staff at Mazenod have been very generous in their support of the Oblate missions through eating. Hot beef rolls on one occasion and pulled pork rolls on another at lunch time have raised money for our overseas missions and our local mission of Rosies Oblate Street Outreach. This is an example of simple but effective ways through which we could all support of brothers and sisters in need and live the Oblate charism.

National Oblate Youth Encounter - 2024

The National Oblate Youth Encounter is an event that brings together young people from around Australia who wish to share their Catholic faith in tandem with the Charism of St Eugene De Mazenod. NOYE will be a great chance for new friendships to be formed and for old friends to catch up. The National Oblate Youth Encounter for young people (Year 12 - 30 years old) will be held from Thursday January 4, 2024, 12.00pm till Sunday, January 7, 12.00pm at Mazenod College, Victoria. This year’s theme "You Are the Light of the World" will explore the charism of St Eugene de Mazenod and how each of us are called to burn brightly in today’s world. The cost is $100.00. Email: erice@oblates.com.au or oya@oblates.com.au. I ask that parents encourage their son or daughter to consider attending this event. It might break the boredom of the holidays.

Adore - De Mazenod Family Advent Program

Even though this program has just started I invite you to consider joining us on any Thursday evening in preparation for Christmas. We all know there should be more to our preparation than the shopping for presents or the dinner items. It is about preparing ourselves spiritually for the birth of Jesus into our lives once again. This year’s reflections focus on the Nativity through the eyes of four artists: Giotto, Van Der Goes, Botticelli and Caravaggio. The program has been designed so that you can use it privately, getting a group together or you are most welcome to join me and other people from our De Mazenod Family online.

The online component will run for 40 minutes on Thursday evenings starting at 8.00 pm AEDT. Further details: demazenodfamily.com.au or to download this year’s program: Zoom link HTTPS://US02WEB.ZOOM.US/J/83793869667

Some final funnies for the year with a Christmas theme. Ho! Ho! Ho!

I pray that you and your family and extended families will receive all the joy, peace, hope, and love that the Christmas season offers. May it be a time to relax and spend time with family. May the spirit of Christmas carry you and your loved ones forward into 2024 with good health and hope for a better world for all to enjoy.

Christmas Blessings from our Mulgrave Oblate Community

Fr Harry & Fr Kevin

Fr David & Fr Casmir & Br Emmanuel

Enjoy your summer holidays!

Yours in Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate

Fr Harry Dyer OMI

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