Mission News

Prayers

We pray for those in our Marist community who are mourning the loss of loved ones. 

We pray for the McGauley family following the death of Wayne McGauley, beloved father of Will (Year 12 Ridley), Oliver (Year 10 Ridley) and Old Boys Nick (2009) and Harry (2020).

We remember Fr Marty Larsen who died suddenly on April 7. Fr Marty was a much-loved Associate Pastor in the Jubilee parish for some time.

We pray for those who were injured or lost their lives in the Bondi Junction tragedy.

May God welcome those who have died into everlasting peace and may those who are grieving be comforted. May God’s peace reign in our world.

Mass Times

Wednesday Morning - 8:00am

Friday 1st Break - 11.45am

ALL WELCOME!

Gospel Reflection and Prayer

Luke 24:35-48

The disciples told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised Jesus at the breaking of bread.

They were still talking about this when Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you!' In a state of alarm and fright, they thought they were seeing a ghost. But he said, 'Why are you so agitated, and why are these doubts rising in your hearts? Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed. Touch me and see for yourselves; a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see I have.' And as he said this he showed them his hands and feet. Their joy was so great that they could not believe it, and they stood dumbfounded; so he said to them, 'Have you anything here to eat?' And they offered him a piece of grilled fish, which he took and ate before their eyes.

Then he told them, 'This is what I meant when I said, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets and in the Psalms, has to be fulfilled.' He then opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, 'So you see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this.'

Reflection

When last Jesus saw the disciples, they were not at their best. Some were denying him. Some scattered altogether. They must have been feeling uncomfortable. But Jesus eases the messiness of the past away by granting them peace: “Peace be with you”. What an example that is for defusing tension in our own lives!

What is also clear from the Gospel is that Jesus must expend a good deal of energy proving to the disciples he’s not a ghost. See, he has skin and bones. See, he eats! While this might strike us as inordinate, we need to remember that the concept of a person rising from the dead, while familiar to us through the Christian tradition, had not been encountered before. The apostles were the first to witness such a thing. Of course, they’re confused!

Lastly, Jesus tells the disciples that they are “witnesses of these things.” By extension, so are we. So are you. Maybe our minds haven’t been opened to understand the Scriptures the way the disciples’ were. But we do know Jesus. We know what he stands for. What he cares about. It is our job to bring that sight to a world with blurry (at best) vision.

And so we pray,

+ Lord, help us to look for opportunities to bring peace, whether in conversation or in everyday dealings with others. Mary our Good Mother showed us through word and deed how to be true disciples of her son Jesus through her strength, her compassion, her love and her gentleness. May we like Mary, be bringers of peace in our families, our school, our Church and our world.

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. +

Work and Welcome Program

We’re delighted to welcome Fadi Abu Arreh who is joining the College for Term 2 as part of the Work & Welcome program. Fadi, who has extensive professional experience in his home country, will learn the ropes in the science laboratory. We are proud that our involvement in the Work & Welcome Program continues to provide opportunities for people who have been refugees or asylum seekers to gain a foothold in employment in Australia.

Photo L-R: Suzanne, Elizabeth, Fadi and Henrique in the Senior Science lab.

Sony Foundation Camp, 14-17 September

Sony Foundation Camp is back at Marist for 2024!

Year 11 students are invited to apply to volunteer to help with this year’s Sony Foundation Camp. If you have any questions about the Sony Foundation Camp, please don’t hesitate to speak to a member of the Mission team.

St Vincent de Paul and the Environment Group

The Vinnies group is trialling Bacon and Egg Burgers rather than sausages starting this Thursday morning from 7:30am. Get excited, follow your nose (and your stomach!) for a delicious start to the day. Only $4.50 for a burger.

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

Encountering Hospitality in Timor-Leste

During the first week of the holidays, I was privileged to join an Encounter Program in Timor-Leste. The group comprised of staff from a few different Australian Marist Schools was ably led by Bec Bromhead, the CEO of Australian Marist Solidarity (AMS). Our aim was to strengthen connections with the communities that AMS supports and to better inform our planning as schools undertaking immersion, many for the first time since COVID. We were reminded that immersion is less about ‘helping out’ and more about building relationships and spending time together with communities, with the underlying goal of ensuring immersions happen in a sustainable and beneficial way for host communities.

Throughout the memorable week, visiting the local schools was a highlight. On one occasion, with the support of local Marist Brothers, we had travelled by 4WD to a diocesan school in the tiny, mountainous village of Kulugia. The track was rough and unpredictable and we were relieved to make it safely without getting stuck in the mud or falling off the side of the mountain! Our heart-stopping journey made the warm welcome from locals all the more moving.

Even before we opened the doors, we could hear the cheers and clapping of children. The community of Kulugia were gathered to welcome us. Our local guide, Sebas Santos, asked us to form two lines. We then watched a group of young girls dressed in tais (traditional woven cloths) perform a customary welcome song and dance using handheld drums called babadoks. Following this, each member of our group was introduced. We each in turn stepped forward and bowed as a local representative placed a tais around our necks then shook our hands to cheers and clapping.

Following speeches and formalities, we had an opportunity to look at the small school and interact with the children. The kids were a delightful blend of cheeky and chatty, with many keen to have their photo taken: “Selfie!” was heard a lot!

The generosity of our hosts continued with an amazing spread for morning tea. There was no shortage of banana (presented in various ways), jackfruit, cassava and other surprising but tasty food. As guests, we were invited to eat first and the community after us.

The hospitality of the people of Kulugia and throughout Timor-Leste made it clear that demonstrating respect and welcome to guests is deeply ingrained in their culture and community life. Their incredible generosity is remarkable given the material poverty they face; life in Timor-Leste remains one of subsistence and struggle, especially for those living away from the capital, Dili.

As we walked through the small school, it was clear that upgraded facilities was needed for the staff and students. Fortunately, Kulugia is the next school rebuild to be funded by AMS, with donations from Marist College Ashgrove directly contributing to making this project possible. Currently, the students at Kulugia are learning in classrooms with no lighting and dirt floors. Facilities and resources are basic at best. There is one toilet for everyone. It is heartening to realise that this school can be improved to allow students the opportunity to learn in safe, clean, well-lit and adequately resourced classrooms. And for teachers who currently share a tiny ‘staffroom’, the improvements will make a huge difference. The comparison to our own college and context is unthinkable. 

Despite the challenges they face, the people of Timor-Leste--through their faith, joy, hospitality and sense of community--teach us so much. The Timorese use the word ‘resistance’ to describe their own character and survival through waves of invasion, occupation, destruction and death. They are a strong, hope-filled people.

In June, a group of eight Year 11 students with two staff members from our college will undertake an immersion in the Baucau region of Timor-Leste. This experience will ensure that our relationship with the communities we support in Timor-Leste continues to grow and that our appreciation of our wider Marist family deepens.

-Clare Locke, Campus Minister