Mission News

Today is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary Tuesday 15 August, 2023

We remember in our prayers all those who have died recently: 

Denise Spillane, mother of staff member Madonna Spillane, Joe Stephens, Joyce, mother of staff member David Meehan, Sandra, sister-in-law of staff member Dr Danielle Lynch and Peggy Power grandmother of Old Boys Seamus and Liam Coulson and current student Xavier

Prayer

Mary, woman of listening, open our ears; grant us to know how to listen to the word of your Son Jesus among the thousands of words of this world; grant that we may listen to the reality in which we live, to every person we encounter, especially those who are poor, in need, in hardship. 

(Pope Francis, 31 May 2013) 

We Listen

Psalm 16 sings, “You will not allow the one you love to see the pit; you will reveal the path of life to me, give me unbounded joy in your presence.” 

Those whom God loves, the psalm promises, will be raised up above the thousand daily deaths that come into every life.

When we raise our hearts and souls to God, the things that drag us down will lose their grip on us. 

When we refuse to become imprisoned by things and status and ambition and self and greed, our souls are set free and our bodies are unburdened. 

Life becomes livable again. Enough becomes enough. God becomes God again. 

But where can we possibly go to find someone, whose life is not tethered to the earth to the point of death? 

What proof do we have that anyone can rise above what we want to what we can become?

The answer surely is Mary of the Assumption whose love of God lifted her far above the goals and gains of those who had never really seen the Christ for what he was, because their mind’s eye was taken up totally with what they were themselves. 

Mary of the Assumption teaches us to keep our eyes on the things of heaven; to free ourselves from the fetters of anything lesser; to develop a vision outside of ourselves; and to allow ourselves to be lifted up beyond the petty and the transient to the eternal and the unalloyed. 

Mary of the Assumption is a sign of what we can become if we are willing to let go of what we have planned for ourselves.

from In Pursuit of Peace: Praying the Rosary Through the Psalms, by Joan Chittister  

For all walking the journey of life alongside young people.

For all seeking comfort amidst despair and guidance within disillusionment. 

For all with the courage to enter Mary’s story. For what else shall we pray… 

Mary Mother of God                     Pray for Us

St Marcellin Champagnat           Pray for Us

Mary of the Cross Mackillop      Pray for Us

We Reflect 

“Those whom God loves will be raised above the thousand daily deaths that come into every life” 

Over the past week, where have you experienced God’s presence in the form of joy, love, comfort and peace? 

Mass Times – Wednesday Morning 8:00am in the College Chapel and Friday Break 1 in the College Chapel

Feast of the Assumption of Mary Mass

Marist College, Ashgrove celebrated the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation on Friday 11 August, 2023. 

Our Old Boy Fr Isaac Falzon concelebrated our Feast of the Assumption of Mary Mass with Fr Alatini on Friday 11 August in the Champagnat Centre. Fr Isaac shared some of his story about his close relationship with the Sub Tuum and his personal journey of becoming an ordained priest with invited guests, parents, staff and students. Fr Isaac’s homily that “as a fourteen-year-old boy he would never have thought that the next time he would be at Marist College Ashgrove would be as a Catholic Priest. He told us that his only two aspirations in life were to play AFL for the Brisbane Lions and to wear the iconic blue blazer out of the Champagnat Centre on graduation day, however, these dreams never came true”. At the end of our Mass we presented Fr Isaac with one of his dreams, albeit belated. 

Fr Isaac also made the news the following day in the Australian. (Fr Isaac on the far left being ordained.)

Be all for Jesus through Mary, this was Mother Teresa’s theology of redemption, which is similar to St. Louis de Montfort’s devotion “to Christ through the hands of Mary,” with solid foundations in both Scripture and Tradition. (Ines Murzaku)

Marist founder, St Marcellin Champagnat wrote “Without Mary we are nothing and with Mary we have everything, because Mary always has her adorable Son within her arms or in her heart.” The motto attributed to Champagnat, “All to Jesus through Mary, all to Mary for Jesus”, captures the close relationship between the Son and the Mother and Marcellin’s attitude of confidence in Mary. (Terry Lees).

New Youth Minister

Mikael Pitot is our new part-time Youth Minister who has been at WYD in Lisbon. We know that being present at the final Word Youth Day Mass will resonate with Mikael and will deepen his understanding of the Created and Called in all of us.

Coming Up

Vinnies Sleepout - Friday 25 August 

Our students will be given some challenges (preparing a meal, finding water, making a ‘grab bag’) that will allow them to recognise the everyday difficulties that people face each day. Currently, there are around 300,000 Queenslanders experiencing housing insecurity. ”Queensland needs 11,000 affordable and social homes each year for the next 20 years” (Professor Pawson)

Retreat Days for Year 9 and Year 10 will take place on Thursday 24 (Year 9 only) and Friday 25 (Year 10 only) August. Both days will be held by our guest presenter Michael Fitzpatrick. Michael is well regarded amongst Catholic Schools in South-East Queensland for providing thought-provoking days with real-world insight and activities.

Stationery Aid 

Thank you to the students who have so ably supported our Stationery Aid MATES ministry on Friday mornings from 7:30am throughout the semester.

The Stationery Aid collection bin can be found outside the Studies office. Our Primary School students have started donating their time to this great cause. Just email mates@marash.qld.edu.au for information or to sign up. 

ROSIES

A note from ROSIES Kitchen: 

Thank you, Marist College Ashgrove, for all the support that you have given us over the years. Rosies Kitchen would be so grateful if you could help us spread the mission of Rosies and learn more about the patrons you have had an impact on this year by reading and sharing our current newsletter here: Inside Rosies,

Rosies Kitchen looks to secure more support to keep up with the increased demand on outreach across the state. As a College community, we will be collecting packets/cups of noodles in Term 3, thank you to all Pastoral groups who have kindly donated oodles of noodles.

Marist College Ashgrove will be attending ROSIES street outreach during Terms 3 and 4. Thank you to all students and staff who have kindly volunteered for visits. We are still looking for staff for the following evenings: Monday 16 October, Wednesday 18 October, Monday 6 November and Wednesday 8 November, just email mates@marash.qld.edu.au or drop into the Mission Office. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. 

St Vincent de Paul 

We invite students from Years 7–12 to join our St Vincent de Paul conference.  We currently meet Thursdays SECOND break in Room 801. The group is a wonderful testament to the way our students respond to the call to stand with others. We are back serving our community BBQ on Thursday mornings from 7:15am in the main yard, and we are always happy for new volunteers. 

We are planning to run a Basketball competition at the end of Term 3 to raise awareness and funds. Much to do and much to plan for – all students from Years 7 – 12 are welcome to join and assist.  Head to the Mission Office to register interest, or email mates@marash.qld.edu.au

Marist Youth Ministry Game Changers 

Game Changers is a comprehensive Catholic youth ministry program for students in Marist Schools from Years 7-12. journey. These tracks are grounded in the stories of Jesus, Mary, and Marcellin. Participating students are invited to undertake the following tracks across the six year levels, with the focus on each track over two years. Just email mates@marash.qld.edu.au to sign up or drop into the Mission Office.

Mission Team Term 3 - Coming Up

WEEK 6B

Monday Break 1 - Years 11-12  Game Changers Room 801

Tuesday Night 6:00pm - Years 7-8 Dance (Fundraising for Marist Solidarity) 

Wednesday Break 1 - Years 7-8 Game Changers Room 801

Thursday 7:15am - Vinnies BBQ

Thursday Break 1 - Years 9-10 Game Changers Room 801 

Thursday 3:45pm 4:30 - Boarder Veges Kitchen and Vege Patch 

Thursday Break 2 - Vinnies Meeting Room 801

Friday 7.30am-8.30am - Stationery Aid in 801

WEEK 7A

Monday Break 1 - Years 11-12 Game Changers Room 801

Tuesday Night - Years 7-8 Dance (Fundraising for Marist Solidarity) 

Wednesday Break 1 - Years 7-8 Game Changers Room 801

Thursday 7:30am - Vinnies BBQ

Thursday Break 1 - Years 9-10 Game Changers Room 801 

Thursday Break 2 - Vinnies Meeting Room 801

Thursday 3:45pm 4:30 - Boarder Veges Kitchen and Vege Patch

Friday 7:30am-8:30am - Stationery Aid in 801

Friday 3:30pm - Vinnies Winter Sleepout