Catholic Identity & Mission
Our Marist and Sion heritage and our connection to the Kurnai history of this land were all very central to our Commencement and Year 7 Mass of Welcome on Tuesday.
It was a rich privilege to have Bishop of Sale, Gregory Bennet, with us to celebrate Mass – his warmth and connection to community is a great model to us all.
Our Mass tapped into many rich aspects of our spirituality, notably:
The gesture of welcome to our Year 7s, the newest members of our community. Our whole College stood as the Year 7s processed in to take their seat.
The readings celebrated the Annunciation of Mary – when Mary received news from the Angel Gabriel that she would give birth to Jesus, the son of God. Bishop Greg highlighted the courage in Mary’s “Yes”, and encouraged all students and staff to respond courageously to the needs in our world
Following the Mass Bishop Greg blessed our Kurnai Creation Sculpture. The sculpture which stands proudly overlooking our Campus Heart area features a Kurnai shield and the female and male totems of the Kurnai people: the Superb Blue Fairy Wren and the Emu Wren
We were blessed to have Kurnai elder Aunty Cheryl on site to lead us in a smoking ceremony as we moved into the hall for Mass and to be with us for the blessing of the sculpture
The final week of term this week brings us towards one of the most treasured of student experiences at Marist-Sion College, the Year 12 Retreat. Our students will spend their overnight retreat reflecting on the relationships in their life – relationships with self, others and God. Please keep our Year 12 cohort in your thoughts and prayers during this important time.
Our students and staff will be recognising the richness of Holy Week next week, as we join Catholic communities around the world in marking the final moments of Jesus’s life and his resurrection. Our Holy Week Liturgy will take place in the Hall on Monday morning.
Mr Dale Clarke
Deputy Principal: Catholic Identity and Mission