From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

Connection

There is a saying, ‘If you can’t beat them, join them’. The mobile phone is very much that in our real world for all of us as adults and for our children. Through our phones, we are now connected to the world in so many ways. It has enabled us to freely and easily communicate, socialise, shop, bank, research, read the news, share opinions, play games, send emails, laugh and be entertained. We are doing so much but also consuming so much on this small device. It has quite literally become our whole world. There is no doubting the pressure on parents to give their children a phone, so it also becomes their world. Although it opens our world in so many ways, it also connects us to ideals and values that are mostly secular, consumeristic and materialistic. So, with the inundation and constant presence of such values, how do we connect with God?

Pope Francis told a small story which encapsulates the true essence of God in our lives. There was a conversation between an aunt and a small boy. “Do you believe in God?” the young boy asked the aunt. “Yes” she replied. “Well, who is God?” asked the boy. The aunt didn’t reply but simply went up to the boy and gave him a big hug. Then she asked the young boy, “What did you just feel?” The boy replied, “Love.” She replied, “That’s it – that’s God.”

This week, we celebrate Trinity Sunday (John 16:12-15) – The Father, Son and Holy Spirit is celebrated as one essence (consubstantial) where love abundantly flows between this mystery of God – The Father’s love for his son, the son’s immense love for each one of us that he dies on a cross, and the Holy Spirit – the love and essence of God that he has left us through, with and in the world. Fr James McKarns says that “when we pray the sign of the cross reverently, do so affirming our faith in the intimate closeness of a loving God. Touching our fingertips to the head, we acknowledge our father and creator. Then, with our hand over our heart, we remember Jesus’ love for us. Tapping each shoulder, we ask the Holy Spirit to energise and guide our good works.”

God of the journey, we pray for all members of the Marist College family, that the spirit of love flow through all we do, and importantly, in our modern world today, through our actions, reactions and connections with one another. Amen.

Examinations – Assignments – Reports

As we conclude Week 9 at the College, the boys in Years 5-10 continue to work hard on their examinations and assignments. We look forward to their completion, followed by their correction and reporting over the next week by their excellent and professional teachers. All parents in Years 5-10 will receive their son’s report at the commencement of the holidays. I strongly encourage all parents to discuss this Semester 1 Report with your son - his results for effort and achievement and to set clear and concise goals for the upcoming second half of the school year.

1st XI Football Joint Premiers – 1st XV Rugby Union Runners-up

Congratulations to all students and coaches on a very successful Term 2 AIC sporting competition. The 1st XI Football were joint Premiers with St Patrick’s College – both teams remaining undefeated with two draws. Well done to our coaches - Blair Whitlock and Willem Baines. The Marist College Ashgrove 1st XI Football have gone back-to-back Premiers.

The 1st XV Rugby went down narrowly in a very exciting final game to Padua College 24-19. The Marist College Ashgrove 1st XV were placed as runners-up. Thanks to their coaches, Director of Rugby - Richard Graham, and Chris Daykin.

Our undefeated teams in 2025 were as follows: Football - 1st XI, 10B, 10C, 8A, 6A and 5B. Rugby Union - 3rd XV, 4th XV, 5th XV, 7th XV, 9th XV, 10A, 10B, 10C, 8B. Chess- Junior B. Our Premiership winning Aggregate teams were: Football - 1st XI, 2nd XI and 10B and Rugby Union - 3rd XV, 4th XV, 10A, 10B and 8B.

Marist College Ashgrove finished first in the AIC Rugby Aggregate and second in the Football Aggregate. Congratulations students, coaches and supporters on a successful season.

Year 12 Mother-Son Luncheon 2025

The Annual Year 12 Mother-Son Luncheon will be held on Monday 23 June at Victoria Park. This is an opportunity for Marist mothers to be with their sons on one last occasion while at school, and to remember, thank and enjoy each other’s company. Guest speaker on this occasion is Jonte Bush MP – Member for Cooper. We trust this will be another memorable event for all our Year 12 students and their mothers.

St Vincent de Paul Sleepout

The St Vincent de Paul Sleepout will be held at Marist College on Friday 20th June. The reason for this event is to heighten the awareness of the harsh reality of homelessness and open our hearts and minds to this crisis of homelessness and possible resolutions. The boys will share a meal of warm soup and dinner rolls for the night. The night will conclude with a brief liturgy and a time to reflect in the college chapel. The sleeping-out aspect of the night involves the students sleeping outside in the CLE undercroft on just a piece of cardboard. If you are a senior student who is interested in attending the sleepout, please contact the Mission Office by Wednesday 18th June.

My thanks are extended to Rachael Carter, Andrew Gibbs, Kathryn Badini, Clare Locke, Anna Nasr, Sarah Palmer, Grace Ryan, Natalie Sones, Stewart Moore and Mikael Pitot for their organisation and facilitation of this event for the boys.

Thank you, gentlemen, for keeping this unfortunate reality in the forefront of our minds and hearts.

Trials – Tennis, Rugby League and Basketball

The official trials for the upcoming AIC seasons of Tennis, Rugby League and Basketball commence this week. Boys will participate in games and be chosen in teams based partially on these trials. We wish all the boys and their coaches the best of luck with these trials and the upcoming Term 3 seasons. The respective Convenors of each sport are as follows: Tennis – Mr Andrew Ward, Rugby League – Mr Ryan Apps and Basketball – Ms Samantha Davids. Best of luck with these Term 3 sports trials, gentlemen.

Term 2 Sport’s Dinner

The Sport’s Dinner which is being held on Monday 23 June will recognise the Firsts AIC Competitions for Term 2 2025. We recognise and acknowledge the preparation, time and effort given to these respective sports which is significant and admired. At the dinner, we will congratulate our AIC Primary and Secondary Cross Country Champions, Football Premiers and Rugby Union Aggregate winners for 2025. We will also recognise our 1st XV Rugby Union for their runners-up achievement and the Chess who were placed 7th. Thank you to their respective Coaches, and Convenors namely: Derek Lennon- Head of Sport, Richard Graham - Rugby, Tim Humphry - Chess, Blair Whitlock - Football and Matthew Millward - Cross Country.

St Marcellin Centre Progresses to State Architecture Awards

After being recognised with a Commendation in the Brisbane Regional Awards, our stunning St Marcellin Centre is now in with a chance of a prestigious Queensland Architecture Award. Another group of senior architects visited the building on Friday 9th May and arrived in time to see the school in full throttle, showcased by Architect and Old Boy (1985) Paul Hotston. While our learning and teaching-centric designed building might not have the glitz of some of the more lavish entrants in our category – many of which are $30M+ projects – it aligns perfectly with our charism of humility, simplicity, and modesty and that might just make us stand out from the crowd. To be shortlisted is a win in itself – and we may snag the People’s Choice Award on top. If you haven’t already voted, use every email address you have. Encourage your friends and family to vote too. Voting closes 25 June.

Link to Project Page

https://www.architecture.com.au/archives/awards/st-marcellin-centre

End of Term

The final day of Term 2 is Tuesday 24 June. All day boys are expected to attend school on this day unless prior written permission has been obtained. The boarders will have a travel day on this final day as they travel back to the college on the student free day in Term 3. We appreciate parents assuring their son attends school for the full term – thank you.

May our loving God with Mary our good mother and St Marcellin Champagnat walk with all members of the Marist College Ashgrove Family.