Rector's Report

Greetings! I am writing this newsletter to you from the Santa Teresa Spiritually Centre, Brisbane where Oblates from around the Australian Province have gathered for their annual Ongoing Formation Program. This time together began on Tuesday morning with a visit to our Oblate missions in Queensland.  We commenced with a celebration of the college morning Eucharist in the chapel at Iona College followed by being present at the full college assembly. We enjoyed presentations from the college leaders and the Rosies CEO. I took the opportunity to visit several grade 5 and 6 classrooms. We then visited St Oliver Plunkett Parish, Cannon Hill where we were warmly welcomed by parishioners. The next stop was my former parish of St Eugene de Mazenod in Burpengary followed by afternoon tea with the St Eugene de Mazenod college staff. The final stop on the way home after a rather full day was to Nudgee cemetery where we visited the graves of the Oblates buried there and prayed a decade of the rosary. On Wednesday Bishop Tim Norton SVD, Auxiliary of Brisbane, gave a presentation on inculturation. On Friday Fr Chris Ryan MGL presented some useful information on homily preparation and delivery. 

Inaugural Mass

On Friday February 28 all roads from the Southeastern suburbs lead to St Patrick’s Cathedral for the celebration of the Eucharist for our 2024 Inaugural Mass. As I processed up the main aisle I was filled with a sense of joy and thanksgiving as I witnessed the cathedral packed with our Mazenod staff, students, families, Oblates, friends, and our visitors from our three Oblate Colleges of Iona and St Eugenes, Queensland and Mazenod, Western Australia. Th procession of flags highlighted the multi-cultural nature that constitutes the Mazenod community of 2024. A special thanks to all who assisted in planning and taking part in the liturgy which is without doubt the highlight on our college calendar. We can all be proud our musicians, readers, altar servers, choir, flag bearers, college leaders etc who enabled our liturgy to be a spiritual and prayerful experience in the grandeur of St Patrick’s Cathedral our mother church of the Melbourne Archdiocese.

Oblate Appointment

After our recent Provincial Council Meeting, Fr Christian Fini OMI, Provincial and his Council, appointed Fr Casmir Arul OMI as chaplain to Mazenod College and chaplain to Rosies Oblate Youth Mission. Fr Casmir will fulfill the pastoral ministry of chaplain formally undertaken by Fr Kevin Davine OMI before his recent retirement and subsequent move to our Provincial House in Camberwell.

Fr Casmir was previously assistant priest at St John Vianney parish, Springvale North so he hasn’t moved very far. Fr Casmir is originally from the Oblate Province of India and came to the Australia to complete his studies before being ordained a priest on the August 1, 2017. After his ordination Fr Casmir was appointed to the Australian Province by our Superior General. 

De Mazenod Family & Lenten Season

As you are aware we are about to enter the 4th week of Lent. The word Lent means "Spring”. We often speak of ‘Spring’ cleaning around the home. We can see Lent as an opportunity to ‘Spring’ clean our hearts and minds, by listening more to the message of Jesus and what that means for our daily lives in preparation for the great feast of Easter. The De Mazenod Family Lenten Program is still running, and you can still join in the remaining sessions over the next couple of weeks.

DATES: Thursday - 14th & 21st March 2024.

Sessions for Victoria are held at 8:00 pm AEDT.

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83793869667

As youngster growing up in my catholic primary school of St Mary’s, Newborough, we often asked each other: “What are you giving up for Lent?” It was like a competition as to who could come up with the most novel way of fasting, however, in the end, we all generally settled for a simple solution like giving up chocolate or something along those lines. 

As I grew in my understanding of Lent, I began to consider not only about giving up but taking up something extra during Lent. Not always successful I might add. The act of doing something, such as alms giving or volunteering is seen as an activity to help oneself focus more on a task than just seeing Lent as a time to get through.

Some  ways to help make Lent more meaningful are spiritual reading, reflection, meditation, and prayer.  Fitness enthusiasts could use their running or walking as a time for reflection. There is the formula for reflection called an “Examen of Consciousness."  This about asking some questions and seeing how God is calling you through this reflection to improve your spiritual way of life.

Reflective questions can be:

Have I been a good memory in someone’s life today?

Have the ears of my heart been open to the voice of God?

Have the ears of my heart been open to the needs of my sisters and brothers?

Have the eyes of my heart, like St Eugene calls us: seen the world through the eyes of Christ?

How have I contributed to the quality of this day?

Is there anyone, including myself, whom I need to forgive?

What is the one thing in my life that needs attention?

The season of Lent can be a time of trial as Jesus faced in the desert, but used wisely it can be a positive time through quiet reflection and meditation that brings new life and eventually a time of great rejoicing with the Christian Church at Easter. Let us live with faith, hope, and love.

Have you heard of St Joseph Bakhita

There are many saints in our church who are very familiar to us and whose names we may have chosen at the time of our confirmation. Here is a saint you may not have heard of, and it is worth recalling her journey of faith which should inspire us all.

On February 8, the Church commemorated the life of this Canossian Sister who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Sudan. Josephine Bakhita was born in 1869, in a small village in the Darfur region of Sudan. She was kidnapped while working in the fields with her family and subsequently sold into slavery. Her captors asked for her name, but she was too terrified to remember so they named her “Bakhita,” which means “fortunate” in Arabic. She was tortured by her various owners. She bore her suffering valiantly though she did not know Christ. 

She also possessed a certain awe for the world and its creator as she recalls:

“Seeing the sun, the moon, and the stars, I said to myself: 'Who could be the Master of these beautiful things?' And I felt a great desire to see Him, to know Him and to pay Him homage.” Bakhita felt called to learn more about the Church and was baptized with the name “Josephine Margaret.”

Josephine remained in Italy and decided to enter Canossians in 1893. She made her profession in 1896 and was sent to Northern Italy, where she dedicated her life to assisting her community and teaching others to love God. She was known for her smile, gentleness, and holiness. Josephine is on record saying, “If I were to meet the slave-traders who kidnapped me and even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands, for if that did not happen, I would not be a Christian and Religious today.” St. Josephine was beatified in 1992 and canonized shortly after on October 1, 2000, by Pope John Paul II. She is the first person to be canonized from Sudan and is the patron saint of the country.

Yours in Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate

Fr Harry Dyer OMI