MCC Newsletter

Director of Mission

Year 12 Retreat

I would like to thank the students of Yr 12 2021 for their participation and allowing me to be a part of their retreat last week at Warrumbui. As Director of Mission, it is important to remind the students in times like these, the role in which our faith plays in our schooling life. I was honoured to open and close the retreat with a prayer and reflection, offering a chance for our students to grow spiritually. 

Actions speak louder than words and I challenged the students with three initiatives for positive action as they embark on their final year: 

  1. Someone’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality
  • Do not let the negative noise in your life become who you are
  • Strive to improve and remember to ask how and not why
  • Be confident in who you are and follow the decision you have made because you have made them
  1. You must be willing to do what others are not in order to have what they never will
  • Choose to work hard when others choose not to work
  • A hard decision now leads to an easy life and an easy decision leads to a hard life
  1. Always be grateful and keep perspective
  • There are many who will do more with less
  • Remember what you are grateful for in order to achieve more

Thanks again for a great retreat and I know this group is going to be a success!

Marist and Mercy Sculpture

On Monday the Bishop visited our College to meet and greet the Marian community. It was an honour to have Bishop Mark in our community. It is with great anticipation that we will also be unveiling our recently completed Faith Sculpture inspired by our founding charisms, the Mercy Sisters and Marist Brothers. Further explanation will be given on the day, which you can watch live as we hold a ceremony for the blessing of the artwork from the Bishop. 

 

Religious art plays a vital role in the evangelisation of our community. It is iconography such as this that will provide a spiritual hub for our students to interact with and appreciate. 

 

Of particular interest is the work that has gone into creating and designing this new piece. It has taken over 12 months to complete. Starting with the purchase of the Catherine McAuley sculpture. Many staff have worked on the design, but none more than our maintenance staff who have worked tirelessly to ensure that it has been prepared and ready for Monday’s ceremony. 

 

The final touches were placed on it today with a handmade cross that they created adding the finishing touches. It is important that we highlight this work as it shows how our community comes together through faith to accomplish things of beauty and importance for our staff and students. Thanks to everyone and I encourage you all to watch the ceremony on Monday. 

Speech by Heath Neville -  History around the Sculptures

 

It is with great honour that I have been asked to speak to you today and introduce to you to the latest addition to the spiritual artwork that builds upon our evangelisation mission here at Marian Catholic College.

 

For thousands of years, art has played an important role in religion. There is no doubt that religious art, which represents the sacred, has become the spiritual engine bringing people closer to the divine.

 

We naturally use our sight to experience works of visual art but when beholding religious icons such as these, it appeals to our other senses and feelings. The function of religious art is not to simply refer to external objects but to give a vision to both human limitations and the eternity of the inner world. This is what this design sets out to achieve.

 

Where we stand today is a space where many students choose to sit and eat their lunch, chat and share stories and/or choose to simply sit in a place of retreat and reflect. Every student and staff member in this school will pass this new work of art at least a dozen times a day. With this in mind, we knew the importance when seeking to build on what is becoming a spiritual hub for our College with the existing statue of Mary. In such a place of interaction, it had to be a powerful reminder of who we are and serve as a mission and call to action in our faith.

 

Marian Catholic College has a rich history and we have attempted to bring history to life here. The sculptures that you see behind me are a reminder of our founding charisms, the Mercy Sisters and Marist Brothers. It is in 2020 that we celebrate 50 years of these two charisms working together on this site.

 

Before I speak briefly about the elements of the piece I would like to acknowledge the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes to make this possible. Firstly, Mr Alan Le Brocque and the leadership team who have been involved the entire way, Joanne Smith whose work is often unsung, her organisation and ability to find the funds is nothing short of a miracle and I would like to highlight the effort in design and labour of our maintenance staff Simon Aventi and Warren Bock. Their hard work has been noticed by all throughout the construction of this piece in front of the whole community. Everyone has witnessed the effort that goes into providing such a space for our students and this is what is at the core of this artwork. A piece designed and built by Marian, for Marian. The rock was also sourced and donated from the Aventi family to feature now for years to come in its new space. Once again the resources like many coming from our Marian family.

 

Now the elements:

Firstly, I would like to acknowledge that the Gugaa, the totem animal of the Wiradjurri people has been relocated to this space as we carefully build upon the land that always was and always will be Wiradjuri country.

 

Let me talk you through the sculpture:

Catherine McAuley stands tall proudly on the plinth. Catherine represents the Mercy Sisters. Proud, confident and kind, Catherine gazes across the school and directly to the future site of our staff facilities. It is her gaze that will serve as a reminder of the strength and courage that is needed to lead and teach in this catholic school.

 

Catherine stands beside the flowing water from the mighty rock. This represents the Marist Brothers and how we flow in the tradition of Marcellin Champagnat. We have designed a neverending flow of water that creates not only a visual but audible reminder of Marist values. 

 

A representative from the Mercy and Marist are here today to speak further on these elements.

The stepping stones that surround the two icons you may have seen before. They once formed the path to the former Principals residence. Through the stewardship of our college grounds, we have recovered the beautiful mosaics created by Belinda Pandebianco and her class over 15 years ago. These tiles now step our students through the history of our church and remind us of this history that formed the charisms they now surround.

The stones that lay at the feet of Catherine were also refuged from the former nun’s residence and serve to remind us of the contribution of elements such as our local parish who kindly handed the bricks and mortar of that residence over to the College after the departure of the Sr’s many years ago. 

The Roses planted behind these features form a backdrop and symbolise the possibilities we have to blossom and bloom in full beauty if we take the time to remember the values this artwork represents.

Finally, the cross is placed above all and in full sight. This is a reminder of our telos, our purpose and overarching desire. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life for all. This is central to all that we do. 

This is a space that will continue to grow as our faith continues to grow. Made by the staff and students of Marian for the staff and students of Marian. A reminder of who we are and who we long to be, enjoyed by all for many years to come. 

Aboriginal Mural Competition

Just a quick reminder that our Aboriginal Mural Competition is still running and we are looking for designs for the competition. Please let me know if you are interested or need any help or support with your submission.

Other News

Don’t forget our Christmas Hampers which are well underway. 

We have had a great start to term 4  and I hope you all have a great weekend, reach out to others and take care of yourselves.

Kind regards 

 

Heath Neville 

Director of Mission