Rector's Report
Greetings and welcome back to you all!
I know you would have all enjoyed the Easter break and now it is time to settle back down to the normal routine of college drop offs, pick-ups and studies. The encouraging part about this newsletter is that as you read it we are days closer to the next holidays.
Towards the end of the Easter break we received the sad news of the sudden passing of Pope Francis. Pope Francis was the first Pope of the Americas being born in Buenos Aires on 17 December 1936, the son of Italian immigrants. Some details of the Pope’s life:
13 December 1969 he was ordained a priest.
22 April 1973 made his final profession with the Jesuits.
31 July 1973 he was appointed Provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina, an office he held for six years.
20 May 1992 Pope John Paul II appointed him titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires.
21 February 2001 created Cardinal.
13 March 2013 elected Pope.
Pope Francis was the first leader from outside Europe in over a millennium. He boldly chose to be known as Francis, becoming the first pontiff to take on the name of the radical saint from Assisi who had turned his back on privilege and status in this world, and lived with and for the poor. Pope Francis lived this charism encouraging less pomp and ceremony, sleeves rolled up by caring for himself and joining the fight for social and economic justice, simplicity and humility. When told of the tradition to put on white trousers for his first public appearance after his election he replied: “I don’t want to be an ice-cream seller.” Francis’s vision of his role as pope was that of the servant leader, both inside the church and out, starting always with those at the very bottom and offering them practical help, while also challenging on a bigger stage the reasons why they were in such need in a wealthy world. Many of his major teachings echoed the wisdom of Saint Francis. Most people viewed Pope Francis in a positive light. In his autobiography he states: “the bishop of Rome is a pastor and a disciple, not a powerful man of this world”. His famous description of the Church as a field hospital, where wounds could be healed and hearts could be warmed, was a call to a renewal of the Church’s life and mission, grounded in a return to Christ as the source and inspiration of everything the Church sought to do and to be. This is also our mission to be messengers of joy and bearers of Christ’s love.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. His Requiem Mass was celebrated in Vatican City on Saturday April 26, 2025.
May the soul of Pope Francis and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.
Mission Action Day
The last day of term was a highlight for the college as we enjoyed Mission Action Day (MAD). The day started with a prayerful liturgy reflecting on Jesus’ final days of his earthly journey through the Stations of the Cross. Our students and staff then undertook their own journey by walking or running the 5 kilometres around the streets of Mulgrave to raise money for the Oblate Missions. Then it was back to the college grounds for a day of fun, food and festivities. Great excitement highlighted the final part of the day as we gathered in the Provence Centre to draw the winning tickets for the various raffles and announce the winners of many of the other featured activities that we held throughout the day.
Dr Paul Shannon then thanked our community for their support of MAD. I was able to announce that the various activities had raised $59,000.00 (at that point in time), before expenditures, for the Oblate Missions. To conclude the day and term I offered a prayer of thanksgiving and blessing which led to a mass exodus of excited students and staff as they departed to enjoy their well-earned break.
On behalf of the Oblate missionaries and their people who often live in difficult situations I thank you for your generosity towards our missionary activities. Having had the privilege of visiting some of these missions during my time as Provincial I can assure you that the money raised makes a huge difference to people’s lives as we assist in supplying fresh water, connecting electricity, access to health care and markets for their produce and the poverty cycle breaker of education.
Oblate Superior General Fr. Luis Ignacio Alonso OMI
During the holiday break our Superior General in Rome forwarded this Easter Greeting to all the Oblates and their people.
Oblate Easter
Fr Dominic and I celebrated the Easter ceremonies by supporting different Oblate parishes. I was able to spend time with our Oblate community in the St Kieran’s and Immaculate Heart of Mary parish Moe/Newbrough for Holy Thursday and Good Friday. I also visited my sister’s parish in Morwell on Good Friday where my nephew was participating with the parish youth in an outdoor Stations of the Cross.Fr Dominic supported the Oblate parish of St John Vianney, Springvale North over Holy week with both of us concelebrating Easter Sunday Mass at St John Vianney before joining our fellow Oblates for Easter lunch at Camberwell.
Mazenod Optus Cup
I was pleased to accept an invitation from the Mazenod Football Club (soccer) to attend the Optus Future Stars Cup held at Brandon Park Reserve. The day involved about 15 different clubs from around Melbourne participating in matches at different ages levels. It was great to meet the people in attendance and present trophies to the winning teams and runners up. I encourage our families interested in soccer to join the Mazenod Club which provides ongoing support for current and former students.
The different times we live in!
Yours in Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate
Fr Harry Dyer OMI