From the Rector

Dear Mazenod Families,

Currently our Oblate Community is in Victoria for our Annual Retreat and I ask you to please keep us all in your prayers. It is a requirement and expectation each year for us to gather and pray for a week’s retreat in order to continue to work on our spiritual lives in order to be more effective ministers. I am writing this post before we begin so that I can be fully present on the retreat. Please be assured of our community prayer for you all.

I was very blessed to journey to Karratha, Dampier, Wickham, Roebourne and Point Samson during the past two weeks visiting some of our families and also promoting the College with Mrs Annamaria Cream, our Head of Boarding. It is truly a blessing to visit the homes of our Boarders in order to try and maximize their feeling of inclusion and belonging at the College. I feel incredibly blessed at seeing the presence of God most alive within our families. Mazenod College is a school for the entire state and every visit helps that feel more real.

Mining life was dominant in the region and this brings unique challenges and joys to raising families. I am so pleased that Mazenod has a respected reputation in these, and many towns across the State. Our accessible fees bring many more families into seeing boarding as a possibility for their sons. This is something of which the College can be truly proud and worthy of maintaining.

I enjoyed the hospitality of Fathers Tai and Dominic who have pastoral responsibility for the Karratha Parish. These two priests were wonderful hosts and I genuinely enjoyed being with them and helping with Masses to give them a break. It is a challenging, yet rewarding ministry for each of them and I thank them most sincerely for their kindness in allowing me to stay with them and sharing in their life.

We also had a number of new families express interest in Mazenod which helps sustain the increasing number of people across the state looking at the boarding option at Mazenod. I also thank each and every day family who support our boarding families in a huge number of ways, including transport and sleep-over arrangements.

Upon returning from this wonderful experience, I was blessed to be able to lead the Father’s Day Liturgy and Mass at St Brigid’s College and also here at Mazenod. It was great to reaffirm the very necessary loving relationships between dads and their children. 

We specifically prayed for those who Father’s Day was challenging, especially around access, separation, distance and those who may have passed away. I tried to keep the messaging brief and hopefully meaningful. It was also great to reflect on the great love that God has for each of the dads and their relationships.

Attending the Best of the Fest Music and Art Gala was a true highlight. From my vantage point I could see the great dedication, rapport, fun, commitment and love of music between the students and staff. Music and Art are essential and fundamental to the life of the College and to witness it so close was indeed a treasured gift. I thank each and everyone involved for sharing their gifts with us all.

 I have also enjoyed taking classes in Year 10, 11 and 12 with the Religious Education Department on a wide range of topics. It is a definitely challenging, yet rewarding way to minister and engage with our students.

There are so many joys of achievement that will be celebrated in this newsletter and even though Fremantle fell agonizingly close, I remain a loyal supporter. Mazenod had strong presence in hockey, football and Australian Rules finals and I thanks everyone involved.

Finally, I am enjoying also the special experience that wildflower season brings and have enjoyed walking in Perth and surrounding wheatbelt towns to absorb the beauty.

WA should be referred to as Wildflower Abundance.

Fr Michael Twigg OMI

Rector of Mazenod College