Mission News

Mr Luke McMahon

Prayers

We pray for all those in our community who are unwell or suffering at this time.

We pray for staff member Yorker Williams who is unwell.

We pray for Michael Hefford who is unwell (Father of James Hefford Year 12)

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

From the Head of Religious Education

Pray with me…

This week’s Gospel tells of Jesus teaching his followers to pray. The Lord’s Prayer is therefore an archetype of prayer, the go-to prayer for many of us. Yet, a few years ago, as I was teaching Year 10 boys at another Marist school about prayer, they expressed an interest in the language used in tradition and in the contemporary prayer experience. They noted that some of them struggled with the ‘Father’ language of the prayer because they did not have experience of the unconditional love of a father. They noted that this language might therefore not be the most helpful form of prayer for some, whilst it is for others. We discussed the restrictive nature of using exclusively masculine language for God in prayer, and the possibilities that broadening our language might open for some in their experience of God. We went through the process together of recontextualising traditional prayers, studying the scripture from which they emerge, sitting with them allowing them to speak to us in today’s context. Then we wrote out the prayer, and, between the lines, wrote in what the prayer is speaking to us today. A recontextualization does not negate the importance of the original, but adds new layers of meaning as we reimagine what its significance is for us today. It is a process of theologising, of bringing the tradition into dialogue with the context, in order to communicate about and with God today. It is an activity I still often do with students I teach – from Year 7 to postgraduates. As I was asking the students to do this activity in 2019, I thought I should model it for them, and so I did it with the archetype of prayer, the Lord’s Prayer. From there, I worked it into a song, which you can listen to on YouTube, Spotify, or iTunes. I invite you to listen, and then take the time to reflect on what this prayer is speaking to you today.

Into Silence

Unknown, unnameable, in our midst.

May music speak your name into silence.

Let us together acknowledge the dignity of all people

each created in your image until the end of time.

When we have more than we need, help us to share with others.

May our faults become gifts of healing.

Let us remember to live in the mystery where we seek wisdom

to live in harmony and recognise ourselves in you.

Unknown, unnameable, in our midst.

May music speak your name into silence.