Rector's Report
Greetings!
As I write to you for this second edition of the college newsletter, I do so after celebrating Ash Wednesday with our students and staff, in conjunction with the whole church, with the blessing and distribution of Ashes to begin the Season of Lent. Lent is a time when Catholics around the world are invited to pray, fast, and do works of charity as we prepare ourselves spiritually to enter the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ. You might be wondering why we get ashes on our foreheads for Ash Wednesday. Throughout history, ashes have been a powerful outward symbol of interior repentance and spiritual awareness. The Early Christians used ashes to express repentance, but not just on Ash Wednesday. After going to confession, it was common for the priest to give the person ashes on their forehead as a sign of their personal conversion. Catholics have been receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday since the time of St. Gregory the Great. In 1091, Pope Urban II encouraged the entire Church to use ashes on Ash Wednesday.
As a youngster I was always asked the question: “What are you giving up for Lent”? The answer was invariably chocolate or sweet things. However, Lent is not just a time to ponder over what we might give up. An alternative could be to take up something to assist our spiritual growth in faith. This can be achieved through extra prayer, attending a weekday Mass (morning Mass is celebrated at 8.10am each weekday in the college chapel), spiritual reading, assisting others or through the various Lenten courses offered in your local parishes. As members of the De Mazenod Family, you have the opportunity of participating in our annual Lenten course. This can be by printing the material and creating a group of friends or with your own family members or for personal reflection. Our focus for Lent 2026 will be ‘Carry Your Cross” which invites us in the Year of Matthew to turn our gaze to the Cross and to walk the Lenten journey with honesty, courage, and hope.
‘Take Up’ Suggestions:
Make more time for your family: Try to make quality time for family and friends.
Read a book: Spiritual reading – parishes have free libraries on various topics or lives of saints to inspire.
Reconnect with your faith: Recommit to praying daily or celebrating the Eucharist on Sundays.
Be more selfish: This one might sound strange at first, but sometimes we don’t take enough ‘me-time’. If you’re a ‘yes’ person, you might focus on more self-care.
Being grateful: It's easy to think about everything we don't have rather than everything we are blessed with. Start each day by reminding yourself of three things you are grateful for and ending every day the same way.
Give Something Away: Go through your possessions and find used but still good quality items, then pray about how you can bless others with those items.
Encourage One Another: Gather for a meal and then go around each person at the table and take turns saying something encouraging or what you achieved that day.
Reach out to someone: Whether by text, email, or handwritten card, choose a person and send them a line or two of encouragement. “I’m thinking of you” or “we’re praying for you” can mean more than you think.
200th Anniversary of the Papal Approval of the Oblate Constitutions and Rules
February 17 is known throughout the Oblate World as “Oblate Day.” It commemorates the day in 1826 when Pope Leo XII officially validated the work of Fr Eugene de Mazenod and his new Missionaries of Provence by officially approving their rule for life under the new title, The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. On February 17 this week we recognised the 200th anniversary of this approval by gathering for a double celebration.
As well as celebrating this major milestone of the Papal approbation of our Constitutions and Rules, about 22 priests, Oblates, Diocesan and other religious, also gathered at our new St Eugene Retreat Centre, Newborough, for the ordination to the diaconate of Br Jesuthasan Jero Danistan OMI by Oblate Bishop Mark Edwards OMI, Bishop of the Wagga Wagga Diocese. Br Danistan is from Sri Lanka and has been undertaking his priestly studies here in the Australian Province over the past several years. This double celebration was filled with deep gratitude and emotion as we reflected on the grace of God upon the little society of Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate under the leadership and guidance of Eugene de Mazenod, and with the hope that our new St Eugene's Retreat Centre will be a new home of our Province' ministry and service.
Pictured: Fr Harry Dyer OMI, Br Danistan OMI, Bishop Mark Edwards OMI, Fr Andrew Chen OMI (Provincial). Fr Dominic Rozario OMI.
Happy Lunar New Year 2026
I know it is a little belated but a Happy Lunar New Year 2026, to all our families within our Mazenod Community who celebrate this occasion.2026 is the Chinese Year of the Horse. According to Chinese astrology, Horse is confident, agreeable, and responsible, although they also tend to dislike being reined in by others. They’re fit and intelligent, adoring physical and mental exertion; they’re decisive but also easily swayed and impatient. I am of the Year of the Horse.
2026 DMFEN Student Leaders Conference
The De Mazenod Family Education Network Student Leaders Conference was held at the Luther Heights Camp Site at Coolum Beach and was hosted by Iona College, Brisbane. The purpose of the conference is to build connections; to understand more about St Eugene and the De Mazenod Family Charism, and to appreciate and discover strategies that make leaders more effective.
Twenty-eight students and seventeen staff, including five Oblates provided an extraordinary amount of experience and knowledge. Students from each of the colleges, Iona College, Brisbane, Mazenod College WA, St Eugene College, Brisbane and Mazenod College VIC, shared details of the activities and actions, peculiar to their respective college, that builds and nourishes the charism.
We were privileged to have Fr Andrew Chen OMI, Australian Provincial, join us for these days and lead us in the celebration of the Eucharist.
Yours in Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate
Fr Harry Dyer OMI