Mission News

Prayers

We pray for people in our community who are struggling with ill health and other hardships, and those who have died recently. May those who are caring for others be given strength and support, and may those who are mourning the loss of loved ones be comfort by the life-giving presence of God.

We pray particularly at this time for Year 7 Rush student Jacob Ariza Moreno and his family after the sudden loss of Jacob's father David. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may Your perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.

Community Mass

We look forward to welcoming you to the Chapel this Wednesday at 8:00am and a special invitation is extended to Ridley House students and families as it is your first House Mass of the year. We will also celebrate Mass at Break 1B on Friday. A reminder that Fr Tini offers reconciliation on Tuesday mornings at 8:00am. 

Year 7-12 RE Classes will be participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance) throughout Term 1.

Gospel

From 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Matthew 5:13-16 (NRSV)

Jesus went up the mountain and was joined by his disciples.

Then he began to teach them:

"You are the salt of the earth;

but if salt has lost its taste,

how can its saltiness be restored?

It is no longer good for anything,

but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

"You are the light of the world.

A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.

No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket,

but on the lampstand,

and it gives light to all in the house.

In the same way,

let your light shine before others,

so that they may see your good works

and give glory to your Father in heaven."

Gospel Reflection 

Sunday’s Gospel calls us to be ‘The Salt of the Earth’ and “The Light of the World”– but what does this mean?

This is a deeply Marist metaphor that puts “personal virtue and presence” at the forefront. Jesus does this by exhorting the Christian to “Stay Salty” – Just as salt preserves taste from becoming bland, Christ exhorts his followers to cultivate what made them unique in the ancient world. What was this uniqueness they were asked to preserve? The virtues of the Beatitudes – humbleness, thoughtfulness, compassion, and most importantly a love of our Creator. 

St Marcellin and the teaching brothers worked hard, the best of them cultivated these virtues, and then with clear determination built many of our Schools in a way that really let their ‘light shine in the sight the world’. However, St Marcellin never boasted about this, but implored his followers to maintain a sense of presence that reflected the greater Glory of God. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father – in our own unique ways guide us to virtuous habits and dispositions that will help us ‘stay salty’ in contrast to the often banality of an ego-centered world. When we do something worthwhile, help us to be present in our achievements, not hiding them away, but like Marcellin humbling acknowledging the Source of all Goodness.

Introducing our Youth Ministers

Last week you met Lachie, let’s get to know more about Ben: 

Hi everyone, this year Lachie Vink and I are the new Youth Ministers at Marist! We are both incredibly keen to be able to give back to the community that shaped so much of our lives, from Year 5 in 2018, to graduating just last year in 2025. 

Throughout my role, I look forward to being able to journey with our boys through the Game Changers program, and to be able to help give back to our community in MATES. 

I personally will be most involved with building up the faith life of the college, through the youth group program Game Changers, as well as our Marist Brothers visits, and helping to organise Liturgy and Mass. 

Furthermore, I will be assisting with the organisation of the social justice events through MATES, including the Sony Foundation Camp which I was grateful to be involved with as a student. I’ll be in the office down at the Mission Centre on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday Day 10, feel free swing by for any questions, or email mates@marash.qld.edu.au. Thanks!

Shrove Tuesday – 17 February 

Next Tuesday we will be selling pancakes at the Primary Podium and outside the CLE at Break 1. The pancakes are generous in size and a stack of 2 will set you back $4. Be sure to load up your student ID card as payment will be through the Monitor Machines. All funds raised will go to supporting Australian Marist Solidarity.

Stationery Aid 

Stationery Aid sorting sessions will now take place weekly on Wednesdays during Break 1 in Room 801 (behind the chapel) – Students from any age group are encouraged to attend, so if you have some time tomorrow, we would love to see you.  

Thanks to all the volunteers who last year helped us sort thousands of pencils into individual-coloured tubs. This week we will be sharpening some of the pencils, so they are ready to be reused.

Next week we will start our new challenge – testing and cleaning used highlighters (a favourite of the boys and staff who regularly volunteer!!)  

To find out more about the wonderful things Stationery Aid are doing, visit their website -https://stationeryaid.org/.

Cambodia Immersion 2026

Last Thursday, our 2025 Cambodia immersion students and staff took time to reflect on their immersion experiences during a workshop led by Catholic Mission Immersion facilitator and guide, Linda Attard. The workshop invited the students to remember the encounters and events of each day. Through an activity called ‘Rose, Thorns and Bud’, the boys worked in pairs to identify the high points (rose), the challenges and difficulties (thorns) and what was new that had emerged for them from the experience (bud). It was great to have the parents present by the end of the workshop to hear these reflections. We’re grateful for the way our students participated in this immersion, especially during their stay with St Francis Technical School in Takao. Our students entered into the experience with generosity, energy and good humour, deepening their understanding of their own and the Khmer cultural context in the process. Immersion continues to be a wonderful way to forge intercultural relationships.