From the Head of College

Open to Receive Life 

Lent is a time to reflect on how we can be better people. Society would say, that to better yourself as a person, you need to have lots of ‘likes’ on Facebook, follow or be a popular influencer on social media, enjoy all the material gadgets and consumables pedaled to you, have wealth to boast about, be entertained to the point of addiction, look beautiful and move in  the right circles, and always be accepted regardless of the values that you surrender and/or religious beliefs. Is this really the culture that moves us forward, making us better people? I think not, in fact, it hinders us. 

A Lenten Gospel, tells of Jesus meeting a woman at the well (John 4:5-42), a Samaritan and an outcast. She meets Jesus just as she is with all her emotional wounds, regrets and fears of rejection. Due to her gender, social standing and religion, she is not meant to talk with Jesus but regardless, she engages closely with him. There is a relational intrigue and allure between the two and Jesus talks with tenderness and breaks through her defenses. Jesus offers the woman life-giving water. He explains that the water he is offering will satisfy her thirst, i.e., it will nourish her soul, give life through spiritual fulfillment, and above all, quench the thirst of what she, and all of us desire most - love.The woman is transformed by what Jesus offers, and she runs off to tell everyone in the village about the amazing person she has met. The town begs him to stay because they understood that this man could help them better themselves.  

Likewise, in the words of St Augustine – theologian, philosopher and bishop whose many writings shaped Western Christianity and philosophy - “God, who made you, does not want anything of you but yourself.” Jesus makes us better people if only we are open to him like the woman at the well with all her brokenness. Jesus’ living water is the living spirit that nourishes all of us. 

God of the journey may all the young men of Marist and all families be open to the life you offer this Lenten season. Amen. 

Exam Block – Term 1  

The important examinations for Years 11 and 12 commence this Friday 20th - Friday 27th March. Years 7-10 examinations commence Monday 23rd March – Friday 27th March. I wish all boys the best of luck with their studies leading to these Term 1 exams. Please note that the relevant exam timetables can be found at Parent Orbit App. I thank all teachers and administration staff who are preparing and will assess the boys during this time. Goodluck gentlemen.

Marist Debating 2026 

2026 is shaping up to be another strong year for Marist Debating as the College continues its involvement in the Queensland Debating Union (QDU) Competition. 

We enter the season building on last year’s outstanding success with Team 7.1 crowned the Southeast Queensland Champion School Team in 2025 — a tremendous achievement that highlighted the skill, commitment, and teamwork of our young debaters and their coaches. 

The teams representing the College in 2026 are: 

• Year 7 - Teams 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 Coaches: Meagan Round, Clare Locke, Paul Dwyer (with support from Jo Howe) 
• Year 8 - Teams 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3 Coaches: Caroline Smith, Lena Crowley 
• Year 9 - Teams 9.1 and 9.2 Coach: Taylor Broughton 
• Year 10 - Teams 10.1 and 10.2 Coaches: Patrick Denkes; Steve Edwards and Stewart Moore 

• Year 11 - Team 11 Coach: Jo Howe 

   

Round 1 has been completed for most teams. Our Year 11 team recorded a convincing win against Ambrose Tracey College while Year 10.2 (v Yeronga SHS), Year 8.2 (v BBC), and Year 8.3 (v Hillbrook) also achieved strong victories. Our Year 7 students will make their debating debut next week, and we wish them every success as they take to the floor for the first time. Round 2 commences this week for Years 10 and 8, featuring short preparation debates that challenge students to construct clear, persuasive arguments within just one hour — a valuable test of critical thinking, teamwork and composure. 

My best wishes to all students and coaches as they continue to prepare diligently and compete in evening debates across Brisbane. We look forward to another rewarding and competitive season of Marist Debating in 2026. 

AMS Lenten Appeal 

My thanks are extended to all families at the college as they continue to support our Marist Lenten Appeal with fundraising going towards Australian Marist Solidarity (AMS). AMS supports various Marist ministries for young people and education throughout many of our poor neighbouring nations. We thank those students who have made donations at PC each morning via card and Harold House for the Lolly Bags, Rush House for the chocolates and the primary boys for the soft drinks. We thank our Mission Team and Senior leaders who are facilitating these fundraising efforts.  

Year 6 Mass 

The annual Year 6 community mass will be held in the Chapel of Our Lady and St Marcellin, this Wednesday 18th March at 8am. This is an invitation for all boys and families to join us in prayer for the year ahead and their special intensions. My thanks are extended to our College Chaplain Fr Alatini Kolofo'ou sm who will be celebrating this mass for us and all our Year 6 teachers under the guidance of Assistant Head of College Primary - Mr Paul Blinkhoff.  

Queensland Schools Swimming Championships 

Following the AIC Championships last week, our talented swimmers will now compete in the Queensland Schools Swimming Championships. On 22nd March, the following swimmers - Nathan Cullen, Cooper Donaghy, Isaac Gervais, William Hutchinson, Oliver Leigh, Thomas Lindner, Ross Murie, Joseph Niere, Daniel Sadimenko, Ronan Sadimenko, Finn Sheehan will represent the College at the Queensland School Swimming Trials. Success in these trials will enable the boys the opportunity to be selected on the Queensland Team that will compete in Melbourne later in the year. Best wishes to all swimmers and their coaches under the leadership of Head Coach – Mr James Boyce. 

Marist Mother’s Retreat 

The Annual Marist College Ashgrove Mother’s Retreat will be held on Sunday 29th March at the Marist Centre, just inside the Moola Street gates. Br Neville Soloman, past Headmaster of the College and Clare Locke - Campus Minister will be facilitating this retreat, which is always relaxing, reflective, thought provoking and no doubt, energising. I commend this opportunity to all our Marist mothers. Tickets can be obtained from https://events.humanitix.com/2026-marist-college-ashgrove-mothers-retreat. This retreat will be for 3 hours: 10am-1pm.  

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

Upcoming Events

Tuesday 17 March

• NAPLAN Online Test Window - continues
• Harmony Week - continues
• Feast of St Patrick
• Tutoring: Specialist Maths, Maths Methods, Chemistry, Physics Middle Years Maths/Science - 7:45am-8:30am
• Study Hall - Senior Library
• Primary Morning Study
• House Meetings
• Year 10 Outdoor Recreation - Mountain Biking

Wednesday 18 March

• Tutoring - English/Literature Extension, Economics, French, Chemistry, Study of Religion
• Community Mass - College Chapel (all welcome)
• Primary Morning Study
• Year 10 Outdoor Recreation - Mountain Biking
• Harmony Week - "Everyone Belongs" Mural
• College Assembly
• Mission Captains Meeting - Mission Office
• Tutoring - Specialist Maths, Math Methods, Physics, Middle Years Maths

Thursday 19 March

• Feast of St Joseph
• Year 11 Sport and Recreation - Surfing Excursion
• Study Hall - Senior Lib
• Primary Morning Study
• Primary Morning Assembly
• Environment Group Meeting – Break 1B - Room 801
• Harmony Week Trivia in the Draney Theatre
• Tutoring - English, Economics, Chemistry, Study of Religion, Middle Years Maths/Science/English - 3:30pm – 4:30pm
• School of Rock rehearsal – Draney Theatre
• Marist Debating Team – Year 8

Friday 20 March

• West District Swimming Trials
• Year 11 and 12 Exam Block - starts
• Primary Morning Study
• Year 10 PE - Lawn Bowls
• AIC Round 7 v Padua College - AFL 1st XVIII / 2nd XVIII

Saturday 21 March

• AIC Round 7 v Padua College

Sunday 22 March

• Rugby 1sts/2nds Trial v Downlands College
• School of Rock rehearsal – Draney Theatre
• Boarders’ Mass (Chapel)

Monday 23 March

• Years 7, 9, 10 and 12 Exam Block
• Primary Morning Study
• Primary Morning Assembly
• Vinnies Meeting - Break 1

Tuesday 24 March

• Tutoring - Specialist Maths, Maths Methods, Chemistry, Physics Middle Years Maths/Science
• Study Hall - Senior Library
• Primary Morning Study
• House Meetings

Wednesday 25 March

• Year 5 Eureka Gold Rush Excursion
• Tutoring - English/Literature Extension Economics French Chemistry Study of Religion
• Community Mass - College Chapel (all welcome
• Primary Morning Study
• College Assembly
• Mission Captains Meeting - Mission Office
• Tutoring - Specialist Maths, Math Methods, Physics, Middle Years Maths

Thursday 26 March

• Year 5 Eureka Gold Rush Excursion
• Study Hall - Senior Library
• Primary Morning Study
• Primary Morning Assembly
• Vinnies Meeting – Break 1
• Tutoring - English, Economics, Chemistry, Study of Religion, Middle Years Maths/ Science/English

Friday 27 March

• Primary Morning Study

Saturday 28 March

• Rosa Tribute Day
• Football and Rugby Union Internal Trial Day
• Rugby A Teams v St Peters Lutheran College
• Football A Teams v Ambrose Treacy College

Sunday 29 March

• Marist Mother’s Retreat Day
• Marist Boarding Invitational Rugby Carnival
• Boarders’ Mass (Chapel) - 6:00pm