Mission News

Safeguarding Sunday 2021

Sunday 12 September 

This coming weekend, the Catholic Church in Australia marks Safeguarding Sunday, on which we pray for those who have suffered abuse, their families and supporters.

Safeguarding Sunday seeks to acknowledge the immense damage caused by the sexual abuse of children and adults at risk, including by priests, religious and lay people within Catholic contexts. It makes a commitment to practices and protocols that create and maintain safe environments for all people. It invites people to pray for those harmed by abuse directly and indirectly.

We recognise and apologise for the harm done by priests, religious and lay people in Church settings. 

We recommit to practices that support survivors and make the Catholic Church and its ministries the safest possible place for children and people at risk.

You can find out more about the Church’s work in this area at: www.catholic.org.au/safeguardingsunday

Prayers

Conscious that the life and death of each person is precious in the eyes of the Lord, let us place our prayers before God who is kind and merciful, and rich in compassion.

For our community: that we have the strength to stand in solidarity with victims, the humility to come to terms with the sinful crimes of the past and the patience to stop and listen to

children and the vulnerable. Let us pray to the Lord

For families: that they may grow stronger and more resilient in their love and care for one another so that children are raised in safe and nurturing environments. Let us pray to the Lord

For parents, relatives, mentors, teachers, coaches and other adults: that they may always follow the example of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, by treating children and young people with proper respect and care. Let us pray to the Lord

For those whose lives have been traumatised through abuse: that they may find the courage to share their story and to find lasting peace and healing. Let us pray to the Lord

For Church leaders, especially Pope Francis, Archbishop Mark, Leaders of Religious Congregations, lay leaders of Church organisations and all entrusted with ministry and pastoral care in the Church: that they will continue to help build stronger faith communities that will promote the safety of children and adults at risk. Let us pray to the Lord

For our community as it seeks to follow the example of Christ and the teachings of his Church: that we will work to ensure that policies and procedures are implemented to protect children, young people and the vulnerable in our society. Let us pray to the Lord

For all in our community who are sick or suffering that they may know the Spirit of God as breathing new life into their hearts to give them courage, strength and healing.  Let us pray to the Lord. 

We pray for those called home to heaven, especially:

• Ian McPherson (father-in-law of Gary Keown)
• Patrick Sullivan (brother-in-law of Damian Nelson)

May they share in the glory of Christ’s Resurrection.

Gracious and loving God, source of all truth, justice and healing, we implore you to hear the prayers we offer and to look favourably on the pleas of your people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. 

May our loving God, with Mary and Champagnat, walk with all members of the Marist family. Amen

Conor O’Donovan Month’s Mind Mass - Friday 10 September

Families are warmly invited to attend a “Month’s Mind Mass” as a memorial for Conor O’Donovan (Old Boy 2014) to be held on Friday 10 September at 6:30pm at St Finbarr’s Catholic Church Ashgrove. Such a memorial Mass is an Irish Catholic custom to gather to pray for and remember a loved one a month after they have died. A Marist presence would be very greatly appreciated by the family.  Please contact Gina Clare on 0448 009 490 or jabinika@hotmail.com regarding attendance in this time of COVID-19.

Chaplain’s Corner

Sunday 12 September – Most Holy Name of Mary. This memorial in honour of the Most Holy Name of Mary has been restored to the Church calendar in the most recent revision along with the feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

Years ago, there was a musical called “West Side Story.” There is in it a familiar song called “Maria.” A young man sings about the girl he loves and how her name evokes everything beautiful that he knows as well as everything about her. Referring to her name, he sings: “Say it loud and there’s music playing; say it soft and it’s almost like praying.”

The name evokes the person. Lovers often write the name of the one they love over and over. 

The name of Mary brings to mind everything she was to Jesus and everything she is to us. It reminds us of her fidelity to God’s Word, her journey with Jesus through the joyful, luminous, suffering and glorious moments of His life. It reminds us of all the ways that Mary has been part of the Church’s life throughout history and how she is part of our life as Christians today.

There is a growing practice in the Church of saying the “Jesus prayer.” This prayer is of ancient origin and consists in the slow repetition of the name of Jesus and allowing the Holy Spirit to bring forth everything Jesus did for us as it opens our hearts and minds to the gradual influence of grace. Perhaps we can try to say the “Mary prayer.” This consists also in slowly repeating the name of Mary and letting her influence, love and faith blend with our hearts and souls to draw us closer to her Son.

Mary is a powerful intercessor. We can entrust to Mary our leaders, our friends, victims of natural and man-made disasters, our relatives and those in need. We know they will find in her a helper and a friend. We can also entrust our hopes and dreams to her as well. If we have the custom of saying the “Jesus prayer”: we can also start the Mary prayer.”

As we quietly and slowly repeat her name, we can let Mary touch our hearts and minds through that prayer to make us strong and wise in her Son, Jesus.

Mary’s name and the name of her Son have enormous power to bring to our minds and lives Christ’s grace, hope and peace. There are many beautiful prayers we can say to Mary. The Church’s tradition has gathered thousands. But a prayer we can always say wherever we are, whether we have a prayer book or not, is the “Mary prayer.” Her name evokes all that is beautiful, worthy and holy. She is, in a paraphrase of Gerard Manley Hopkins, our atmosphere, our happier world, wherein we meet no sin. 

Mary, our Good Mother, pray for us.

St. Marcellin Champagnat, pray for us.

St. Mary of the Cross, pray for us.

And may we always remember to pray for one another. 

Toiletries Drive – We Still Need Donations

Thank you to the students, families and staff who have donated to our Toiletries Drive. We hope to receive more donations to support those in need in the community. The final date for collection is this Friday 10 September. Items are collected in Pastoral Group/Primary classes.