Mission News

Prayers 

We pray for those mourning the loss of loved ones, that they may be comforted in their grief. May those who have gone before us rest in God’s everlasting peace. Amen.

Community Mass Times

Wednesday Morning - 8:00am

Friday 1st Break - 11:45am

ALL WELCOME!

Scripture Reflection

(Excerpt from Acts 1:1-11)

…As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. They were still staring into the sky when suddenly two men in white were standing near them and they said, 'Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking into the sky? Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, this same Jesus will come back in the same way as you have seen him go there.'

The Ascension recalls Jesus commissioning the apostles and being “taken up into heaven”. This is a hinge event, moving from how things were to how things will unfold next. For the apostles and the early followers of the Way, “what’s next” is taking seriously their baptism and the presence of the Holy Spirit which will empower their efforts to share Jesus’ message. Paul addresses “what’s next” with the Ephesians when he calls them to “lead a life worthy of your vocation” and to “bear with one another”. Those early communities, involving Jews and Gentiles, had their share of tension and discord as they wrestled with what following Jesus meant. For Paul, discipleship involves preserving unity, of being one community, one ‘body’ in Christ. It also involves recognising that everyone receives their own “share of grace” – various spiritual gifts. 

Paul’s words still resonate for us today as we grapple with faith and strive to live by our religious ideals. 

Amy-Jill Levine, a Jewish New Testament scripture scholar recently in Australia at the invitation of the Marists, when touching on the crisis in the Middle East, noted that our religious traditions today are not always well represented. Far from the devastation in Gaza being a problem to place at the foot of all Jews or Judaism, (any more than acts of terrorism are the fault of all Muslims) she says:

“I do not think Hamas is a good representation of Islam. I do not think that Jewish members of the Knesset (who are members of Jewish Parliament) who refer to Palestinians as animals or Israeli politicians who are promoting Palestinian ethnic cleansing are good representatives of Judaism.”

And of her own US context, Amy-Jill says: 

“I do not think Christian politicians who would separate parents and children at the US-Mexican border are following in the footsteps of Jesus”.

So, how do we live up to the ideals of Christianity as educators in a Marist tradition? How do we encounter the Spirit alive in every person we meet? How do we live up to being good people, seeking dialogue over division? How do we live by the commandments of loving God and neighbour, “bearing with one another”?

With hope and humility, we pray: 

+ Jesus, you called your followers

To a way of being and living, not easy but necessary.

Help us to strive for your kingdom of peace

By finding peace within ourselves and with one another.

Help us accept others as they are, not to exclude or deny people

Nor become indifferent to those who suffer.

Open our eyes and hearts to the dignity and giftedness

Of each and every person

Help us, Jesus, to build bridges and heal division,

To walk the Way of the Cross,

Towards life, towards hope

And towards you.

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. + 

Mother’s Day Evening Mass

Wednesday evening’s Mother’s Day Mass began in the Tower courtyard. Three students with their mum's lit candles signifying the light of faith, hope and love. After listening to part of the Liturgy of the Word we proceeded from the courtyard and into the chapel to hear the Gospel and celebrate Eucharist. After Mass ended with a special Mother and Son blessing, we finished the evening with supper in the Tower Function Room. 

Our thanks to all those who participated in and contributed to our Eucharistic celebration of mothers and mother figures, including the wonderful “Marist Voices”, our Primary choir whose singing added so much to the occasion. We also thank our Environment Group students who diligently potted our violas during first break on Wednesday. These plants were gifted to mums and mother figures during the Mass after Communion in thanks for their gift of life and love, and as a reminder of the Marist characteristics of simplicity, humility and modesty signified by the violet (a relative of the viola).

Mother’s Day Breakfasts and Stationery Aid

Hundreds of Marist sons with mothers, grandmothers and other mother figures gathered on Thursday and Friday mornings for the annual Mother’s Day Breakfast. This year our guest speaker, Alison Schutt, shared the story of Stationery Aid, a charity that she and her husband Jan founded to provide quality, useable stationery supplies to school kids at risk of missing out. Stationery Aid is supported through our MATES program by students who come along every Friday morning to clean and sort stationery. A huge thanks to Alison for taking time to share the story of Stationery Aid.

Donations to Stationery Aid are always gratefully received in the blue bin next to the Mission Office.

We’re always happy to see new (and familiar!) faces in Room 801 on Fridays any time between 7:30am-8:30am to help sort and clean stationery.

To find out what you can donate to Stationery Aid and for other information about this wonderful charity, visit the website: https://stationeryaid.org/.

Vinnies School Sleepout

The Vinnies Sleepout aims to raise awareness of the growing problem of homelessness and the complex and troubling factors that add to the struggle to find and remain in safe, affordable and long-term accommodation. 

The Sleepout will run overnight (5:00pm – 7:00am), with soup for dinner in the evening, and breakfast before leaving in the morning. While there’s no guarantee of a good night’s sleep, that just reinforces how this is an action of solidarity with people whose everyday lives are challenging in ways we can hardly imagine. It reminds us that we can take the simplest things for granted. The Sleepout in one way we can bring attention to the issue of homelessness – an issue of justice and human dignity.

Senior students interested in being part of the St Vincent De Paul school sleepout are reminded to complete the expression of interest form sent out via email. If you have any questions, please email mission@marash.qld.edu.au.

Fareshare

Once a month we are now taking a group of seniors to work at FareShare Charity Kitchen. FareShare’s mission is twofold: they cook up surplus food from Coles, Woolworths, Foodbank etc. – food that would otherwise be thrown away – into healthy and delicious meals for vulnerable Queenslanders. 

Thank you to Nick Marco, Ethan Torrens, Max Bathersby, Harrison Dyer and Hugh Irwin who helped to cut up plums to be made into a plum crumble as a treat for some Queenslanders in these winter months. Due to their pit, plums can’t actually be composted, so this was a much better use of this produce rather than being thrown away.

If you are over 16 and would like to volunteer for FareShare, please email Ms Kathryn Badini at badinik@marash.qld.edu.au.

Paddington Community Centre

We have just begun visits to the Paddington Community Centre. Each fortnight, we’ll be taking a group of Year 7 students to spend time with the centre’s elderly visitors. Last week’s excursion was rewarding for both students and elderly folk who enjoyed the youthful energy in their midst. The boys were made very welcome by the centre staff as they sat down to some interesting conversations and games, including Uno, board games, rolling dice and Jenga. We can happily report that our students were courteous and kind throughout—they’re a credit to our college! We look forward to returning to the centre to enable more students to engage with this outreach initiative and to keep the connection going with the centre visitors who are keen to see our boys return.

Emmanuel City Mission

The Marist College's MATES program is partnering with Emmanuel City Mission in south Brisbane to support the vulnerable in our community. Emmanuel City Mission provides meals, shower and washing facilities, clothing and toiletry packs, and a place where visitors can feel safe. Marist College hopes to partner with Emmanuel City Mission by sending students to the centre to cook a meal for their visitors and share conversations. The centre relies on donations from the community and has asked the college to sponsor the meals that our students will make. Sponsorship of each meal ranges in price from $300 to $350.

If you are a company owner or worker who would be willing to help the college regularly sponsor a meal or part thereof, please reach out through our mates@marash.qld.edu.au email. We would hope to send students to the centre and sponsor a meal at least once a month. Your contribution will directly impact those in need and support our students' service-learning journey. To sponsor a meal or learn more, contact us at mates@marash.qld.edu.au.

St Vincent de Paul and the Environment Group

Come along Thursday morning from 8:00am to grab a delicious Bacon and Egg Burger for only $4.50.

Vinnies and the Environment Group meetings will continue alternating Thursday during break 1B in Room 801. All students are welcome.