Mission News

Prayers

We give thanks for this term and the times we have spent together. We reflect on what has been: plenty of moments of wonder, deserving wins, hard work and lessons learned. As we look towards the Easter period and the holidays, we ask God to keep our families safe, whether we are travelling far or staying nearer to home. May we take this time to rest and rejuvenate, and to be with loved ones. 

Community Mass

Our final Mass for the term will be held on Wednesday morning at 8am – All welcome. 

Gospel Reflection

Matthew 26:14 - 27:66 NRSVACE - Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus - Then one - Bible Gateway

The long extracts from Matthew on Palm Sunday act as doorway from Lent into the most important season in the Church’s calendar – Holy Week and The Easter Triduum. The Gospel begins with Jesus’ short journey from Bethany to Jerusalem – where he is accompanied by shouts of “Hosanna” – a direct quote from the psalms – linking Him to the messianic expectations many Jews held at the time. We are then transported to his Passion – His last night with the disciples, the betrayal of Judas, his suffering and anguish in the garden, and finally a criminal’s death on the Cross.

Palm Sunday invites us to enter Jesus’ last days with him. Over Lent we’ve seen him provide living water to the woman at the well, his power of creation with the man born blind, and finally authority over death itself. This slow build up from man to prophet to messiah reaches its climax here. 

At its heart Palm Sunday is a story of inversion. All gospel authors recount his humble procession in on a donkey – not a war horse – a symbol of his humility – and a premonition of the type of king he will be. The Jew’s were expecting a messiah who would wield temporal power. By the end of Holy Week there is a realisation that this is not what Jesus was offering. 

At Easter we see that Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this world – he knows there is a darkness lurking within creation – he has encountered it repeatedly over his ministry. On the cross, says Saint Irenaeus, Jesus defeats this darkness and the death that holds humanity bondage – literally acting as a physician to heal and restore humanity to its proper state. In becoming man, God gives us a hint of what he’s like, his love for us, and extends a hand promising hope – that there is a life to come – and that we won’t always see reality “through a glass darkly” (Corinthians 13: 12). 

Easter Fundraiser 

500 Snags, 480 Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, 600 lolly bags, 300 bags of Fairy Floss plus much much more were a sell out at today’s Easter Fundraiser!!! The cloudy skies and occasional shower did nothing to dampen the joyful spirit of the day. A massive thank you to the boys for getting behind today; their excitement and enthusiasm helped create a wonderful event and all for a good cause! Our contribution helps Australian Marist Solidarity support the educational needs of Marist communities in the Oceania and Asia Pacific region. We will share our final Lenten Fundraising total with you all in the Term 2/Week 1 Newsletter. 

A huge THANK YOU to Glenn & Ja’ze Pink for the Fairy Floss Donation, Old Boy Hamish McDonald for donating 500 sausages for our BBQ, Woolworths Ashgrove for a $50 voucher towards our “Guess how many Easter Eggs” are in the jar game and to our families for donating lollies, chocolates and cans! The support of our community is invaluable, and we are forever grateful (and couldn’t do it without you!!). Lastly, to our wonderful Year 12 students leaders who so capably planned, set up and ran the House stalls: you are wonderful, hardworking Marist men! 

Marist Mothers Retreat 

On Sunday, Marist mothers gathered for the Marist Mothers’ Retreat at the Marist Centre. Retreatants were invited to be gently present and attentive to the breath of the body, a reminder of the breath of God’s spirit in each of us created in God’s own image. As we were gathering on Palm Sunday heading into Holy Week, there was opportunity to reflect on the journey of the Cross, and on women who stay with Jesus to the end, including his own mother, Mary. With the 2026 Marist theme Full of Grace, we reflected on the story of grace in our lives and Mary ‘full of grace’. Mary’s ‘yes’ of the annunciation called us prayerfully to offer our own yes to the challenges and invitations in our own lives. 

The retreat provided a few hours of gentle contemplation, prayerful listening and thoughtful discussion. We are so grateful for the sixteen wonderful women who so generously shared of their time and wisdom. Sincere thanks also goes to Br Neville Solomon fms who together with Clare Locke facilitated the retreat. 

Anzac Liturgy 

On Wednesday the 22nd of April (Term 2/Week 1) during our Period 5 normal assembly time, our College will hold an Anzac Liturgy in the Champagnat Centre. Students and staff will come together to pray and acknowledge the many men and women who have served our country with courageous hearts and generous spirits. All are welcome to join.

Stationery Aid 

A reminder that Stationery Aid sorting sessions now take place weekly on Wednesdays during Break 1 in Room 801 (behind the chapel) – Students from any age group are encouraged to attend. 

To find out more about the wonderful things Stationery Aid are doing, visit their website -https://stationeryaid.org/