Mission News

Prayers

We pray for Fletcher Wesslings (Year 11 Ephrem) and family as they mourn the passing of Fletcher’s grandmother. We pray for the swift recovery of those impacted by the damaging effects of Cyclone Alfred and we continue to keep in our prayers those who are unwell at this time and the people who care for them. We ask God to welcome into eternal life Fletcher’s grandmother and all those who have died recently. 

Community Masses

Our Wednesday 8:00am and Friday 11:45am Masses will proceed this week – all welcome!

Reflection on the 1st Sunday of Lent

Excerpt from Luke’s Gospel, 1st Sunday of Lent (Luke 4:1-13 JB)

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit through the wilderness, being tempted there by the devil for forty days. During that time he ate nothing and at the end he was hungry. Then the devil said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to turn into a loaf.' But Jesus replied, 'Scripture says: Man does not live on bread alone.'

The wild weather from Cyclone Alfred has been top of mind. Since last week, we’ve been on cyclone watch, waiting for wild winds and expecting the worst. Then the rains came, and we watched the water levels steadily climb. It’s been a stressful time for many.

Jesus’ temptation in the desert reminds us that he avoids the ‘easy’ way out of his self-imposed forty days of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual duress. Yet the experience does not destroy him. Ultimately, Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness solidifies his relationship with God as a loving father and confirms his mission. 

Our recent days of waiting with uncertainty, worry and even fear reminds us that sometimes there are no easy ways out. We stay and face the difficulty; knowing it might even be dangerous. Through the lens of faith, we hand over our helplessness and fear to God. We sense God is with us and abiding with all living things. And we witness—through wind and rain—the spirit of God at work through the courageous, unselfish, untiring and compassionate actions of so many people: friends, neighbours, strangers. 

We pray:

+ God of life,

We ask you to be with all those who have been impacted by Cyclone Alfred.

In the aftermath of the winds and rains:

May upended lives and livelihoods be supported to recover

May our local environments and beaches steadily regenerate.

We give thanks for the gifts which can emerge from difficulty shared:

The generosity and support of friends, neighbours and strangers

And the dedication, steadiness and commitment of experts and emergency workers

In thanks for your presence in our lives, we ask this prayer through Christ our Lord.

Mary our good mother – pray for us

St Marcellin Champagnat – pray for us

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop – pray for us

And may we always remember – to pray for one another.

Amen. +

Ash Wednesday

Our Ash Wednesday liturgy reminded us—through symbol, prayer and ritual action—of what needs to ‘die’ for new life and better habits to grow. We all received the ashes as a cross on our foreheads with the words “Repent and believe in the Gospel”. The commitment to repentance and renewal will take us through the season of Lent, all the way to the Paschal mystery at Easter. Not unlike the drama of Cyclone Alfred, the Easter Triduum is the dramatic highpoint of our Church’s liturgical year. Along the way, we are called to be humbly aware of our self and others, and open and attentive to God’s presence in our lives. 

Lenten Fundraising Day | New Date – Monday 31 March!

The Marist Lenten Fundraising Day has been rescheduled to Monday 31 March. We’ll continue to promote this in the next couple of weeks.

We are immensely grateful we are still able to hold our Lenten fundraiser to support Australian Marist Solidarity (AMS), whose school rebuilding projects rely on the contributions of donors such as our amazing Marist Ashgrove families!

It is a cashless day, so make sure your ID cards are topped up ready to enjoy the delicious food and fantastic games on offer. 

Birthing Kits

In recognition of Saturday’s International Women’s Day, our Year 12 students will be assembling Birthing Kits during Period 6 ASH lesson this Thursday 13 March. 

The initiative is being led by Foley House under the direction of Mrs Maddie Henry, Acting Head of House. The college is partnering with Zonta and Birthing Kit Foundation Australia. Birthing Kit Foundation Australia's Clean Birth Kits are an invaluable resource in emergency and humanitarian settings, especially for communities in developing countries where the risk of injury and even death to mothers and babies can be high due to infection. The environmentally friendly kits help provide safer births and prevent infection for mothers and newborns. 

Thank you to the generous students, families and staff for purchasing a birthing kit, we have exceeded our sales and look forward to making this a permanent yearly initiative for the college. 

Stationery Aid Friday mornings

Come along to help out Stationery Aid this Friday morning 14 March from 7:30am in Room 801. We’ll continue to get exercise books ready for packs. Students are invited to come along to help out and earn MATE points in the process.

Donating? Good quality unwanted stationery is most welcome and can be placed in the blue bin outside the Mission Office. 

To find out more and to check the list of what can be donated, please visit: https://stationeryaid.org/ 

Marist Mothers’ Retreat 

Marist Mothers are invited to a gentle, reflective retreat facilitated by Br Neville Solomon fms and Clare Locke (Campus Minister).

Details: 30th March, 10:00am-1:30pm

To register, visit: https://events.humanitix.com/2025-marist-college-ashgrove-mother-s-retreat

Please note that the Old Boys’ and Dads’ Retreat has been cancelled. For enquiries, please contact mission@marash.qld.edu.au.

Environment Group

Attention Green Thumbs! Environment Group is planning to raise native Australian plants that will feel right at home wherever you are! We then are planning on having two plant sales this year for all members of the Marist community.

To start this project, we would greatly appreciate any donations of native cuttings or pots. Our next few Environment Group meetings will be in the Science Greenhouse where are going to learn a little more about raising natives and then will tend to them over the coming months.

If you are able to assist with our project, please email the coordinator of the Environment Group; Kathryn Badini (badinik@marash.qld.edu.au)