Mission News

Prayers

We pray for all in our community who are unwell or suffering in any way at this time. We remember loved ones who have died and pray they will be at peace with God. We pray all residents of SE Queensland and Northern NSW will remain safe as Cyclone Alfred impacts our coastlines this week.

Community Masses

All are welcome to our Mass throughout the week, Mondays (11:45am), Wednesdays (8:00am) and Fridays (11:45am).

Ash Wednesday

On Wednesday, we mark the beginning of the forty days of Lent with Ash Wednesday. Our 8am Mass in the Chapel and our liturgy (during assembly time) in the Champagnat Centre will both include the distribution of ashes. This begins our Lenten journey towards Easter, a season of renewal and reflection. 

Scripture

Excerpt from 2 March 2025, 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Luke 6:39-45 (JB)

Jesus told a parable to his disciples, 'Can one blind man guide another? Surely both will fall into a pit? The disciple is not superior to his teacher; the fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother's eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, "Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye," when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother's eye.

Reflection

Sunday’s parable from Luke’s Gospel is a familiar story and a timely reminder. It is an invitation for us to address our own faults before focusing (kindly!) on what we perceive to be the faults of others. This is the ideal posture for the beginning of Lent – a time of honest self-reflection and self-awareness. Lent is a pilgrim journey with others, but it is also an interior journey - a journey within. Lent gives us an opportunity (and sets us a challenge) to sort through the ‘debris’ of our lives to meet God at the heart. May God who is within each of us be the light that shines forth.

+ Loving God,

Give us the humility and honesty to face our imperfections

Rather than focus on the faults of others.

Guide us on our Lenten journey

So that we may draw closer to your presence

And to walk in your light

God of mercy, forgive us our shortcomings

And help us to forgive those we are too quick to judge.

In your holy name, we pray.

Mary our good mother – pray for us

St Marcellin Champagnat – pray for us

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop – pray for us

And may we always remember – to pray for one another.

Amen. +

Mission Lenten Fundraising Day – Rescheduled to Monday 31 March

Unfortunately, due to the unprecedented weather event our fundraiser on Friday will now be moved to Week 10/Monday 31 March.

Shrove Tuesday 

Today our students came out in droves during Break 1 to purchase pancakes to participate in Shrove Tuesday. All profits from today and the rescheduled Lenten Fundraiser will be donated to Australian Marist Solidarity (AMS). This year, AMS is directing our support to St Joseph’s School Tenaru in the Solomon Islands, helping to provide essential resources and opportunities for students in need. Thanks to all the students and staff who purchased pancakes today.

Birthing Kits

Marist College Ashgrove will mark International Women's Day by assembling Birthing Kits, an initiative led by Foley House under the direction of Mrs Maddie Henry, Acting Head of House. The college is partnering with Zonta and Birthing Kit Foundation Australia. Year 12 students will assemble the kits in the Period 6 ASH lesson on Thursday 13 March. 

Birthing Kit Foundation Australia's Clean Birth Kits are an invaluable resource in emergency and humanitarian settings, especially for communities in developing countries where the risk of injury and even death to mothers and babies can be high due to infection. The environmentally kits help provide safer births and prevent infection for mothers and newborns. 

Would you like to help?

You are invited to fund a Birthing Kit at a cost of $5. If you would like to contribute, please click HERE

If you are interested in learning more about Birthing Kit Foundation Australia, please see the link to their website below:

Home - Birthing Kit Foundation (bkfa.org.au)

Stationery Aid Fundraiser – Saturday 22 March 

Time: 5:00pm – 7:30pm 

Venue: The Tower Block, Marist College Ashgrove 

Tickets: Stationery Aid Cocktail Art Show

Stationery Aid is holding a fundraising cocktail art event showcasing 4 years of student artwork and stories collected from donations whilst renewing visual art diaries and exercise books. The artwork and stories on exhibition have been saved from landfill and must be seen, not overlooked.

Tickets include canapes and beverages (beer, wine, sparkling and non-alcoholic drinks).

We will be showcasing the creativity, thoughts and most imaginative work from the hearts and minds of our Queensland kids who have not seen beauty in their own creativity.

Also, on display and for sale will be artwork, merchandise and sustainable stationery designed and handmade by a selection of our community partners and volunteers. Raffle tickets for amazing prizes will be available for sale on the evening.

Art, design thinking and creativity are at the core of Stationery Aid's vision for a brighter inclusive world in support of education equality, community well-being and a healthy environment for our future generations to come.

Helping Hands needed on Friday mornings!

Each Friday morning students are encouraged to come along at 7:30am to Room 801 to help out with Stationery Aid! This Term we are sorting through exercise books, removing pages with any writing on them, covering with labels and book covers. It’s great to get together, help out, have a chat and earn some MATES points.

Donating? Good quality unwanted stationery is most welcome and can be placed in the blue bin outside the Mission Office. 

To find out more and to check the list for what can be donated, please visit: https://stationeryaid.org/ 

Mothers’ Retreat and Old Boys’/Dads’ Retreat

Marist Mothers and Marist Old Boys’ and Dads are invited to take time on retreat with facilitators Br Neville Solomon fms and Clare Locke (Campus Minister).

Retreat for Old Boys/Dads: 23rd March – for more details and to register, visit: https://events.humanitix.com/2025-marist-old-boys-retreat

Retreat for Mothers: 30th March – for more details and to register, visit: https://events.humanitix.com/2025-marist-college-ashgrove-mother-s-retreat

Environment Group

Attention Green Thumbs! Environment Group is planning to raise native Australian plants that will feel right at home wherever you are! We then are planning on having two plant sales this year for all members of the Marist community.

To start this project, we would greatly appreciate any donations of native cuttings or pots. Our next few Environment Group meetings will be in the Science Greenhouse where are going to learn a little more about raising natives and then will tend to them over the coming months.

If you are able to assist with our project, please email the coordinator of the Environment Group; Kathryn Badini (badinik@marash.qld.edu.au)

Clean Up Australia Day event

Last Wednesday a dedicated group of students and staff made their way around Marist to clean up rubbish that had made its way along the creek, into garden beds and around the lockers. Each person was well equipped with gloves, grabbers and bags. The afternoon, which ended with a sausage sizzle, was a meaningful way for our community to contribute to Clean Up Australia Day, which was officially held on Sunday 3 March. The smallest actions - beginning with carefully and correctly disposing of rubbish - can say a lot about how we care for our environment and our school. A big thank you to all those who make a difference EVERY day to keeping our school college and the wider community litter-free.