Mission News

We pray for all in our community who need our support. We especially pray for Mal Grealy and his family on the loss of Mal’s grandfather, Jim Hannant.  We also remember in our prayers Old Boy Gabriel Ruddy who was laid to rest last Friday, aged 55. 

May those who have died be held in God’s embrace and those who mourn them be comforted.

Wednesday Mass

This Wednesday morning at 8:00am will be the Year 5 Welcome Mass. We are looking forward to celebrating the Eucharist with our youngest students. Family members are welcome to come along, too!

Mass Times

Wednesday Morning - 8:00am

(Community and Year 5 Welcome Mass)

Ash Wednesday Liturgies

The Liturgical season of Lent begins next week on Ash Wednesday 14 February. Students, staff and families are very welcome to attend either of the Ash Wednesday services:

• Wednesday Mass in the Chapel at 8:00am 
• Ash Wednesday liturgy during our period 5 Wednesday assembly (1:00pm).

Lenten fundraiser for AMS

During Lent, Marist Ashgrove raises money for Australian Marist Solidarity. Australian Marist Solidarity (AMS) is the international agency for the aid and development work of the Marist family in Australia throughout Asia and the Pacific Islands. AMS works with the people in this region on a combination of long-term and short-term development projects. These projects aim to develop or support locally sustained education opportunities for the young people in these regions.

This year, AMS is inviting all Marist school communities in Australia to support the 2024 Schools Campaign, entitled: “Light Up the World: Inspired by LaValla Cambodia”. Funds raised by school communities in 2024 will be directed to the LaValla Project in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

LaValla School, which celebrated 25 years of operation in 2023, is the only government-approved school providing a full primary education to young people with physical disabilities. Upon successful completion of Grade 6 at LaValla Primary School, students with the capacity to go further are encouraged to continue their education. The LaValla Village, also situated on the property at Takhmao, was established to provide housing, meals and transport for students to attend the Vocational Skills Program or secondary schooling at Hun Sen High School Takhmao.

Last year Marist Ashgrove donated $38,000 to AMS from our fundraising efforts throughout the year. In fact, MCA is the highest contributing school to Australian Marist Solidarity.

So what will our fundraising look like this year?

Shrove Tuesday

The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday is Shrove Tuesday – commonly referred to as Pancake Tuesday. To jump into this tradition, our Mission leaders will be selling pancakes with maple syrup for $3.00 from the CLE undercroft and the primary building. Please ensure you have funds on your student cards – no cash is accepted.

Primary Can Drive

Our primary students will be making a valuable contribution to our fundraising efforts with the Lenten Can Drive. We invite all our primary students to bring in cans (in packs please!). The class that has the most cans donated will be thrown a pizza party. We encourage you to get into the spirit of this fundraising initiative. A massive thank you to our families for your support!

Friday 16 February - Lenten Fundraising Day

The highlight of the week will be our Lenten Fundraising Day on Friday 16 February. Festivities will involve each House running stalls and games. We’ll have sausages, snow cones, lolly bags, doughnuts, fairy floss, zooper doopers and soft drinks for sale. Students can purchase using their ID cards on the tap machines at all stalls. Again, please ensure you have enough funds available on your student cards as cash will not be accepted.

FREE DRESS DAY

Friday is also a FREE DRESS DAY! A $2 contribution is required to participate. We’ll be collecting donations using the tap card machines during home group.

Gospel

From Sunday 4 February - Mark 1:29:39 (CEV)

As soon as Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went home with Simon and Andrew. When they got there, Jesus was told that Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever. Jesus went to her. He took hold of her hand and helped her up. The fever left her, and she served them a meal.

That evening after sunset, all who were sick or had demons in them were brought to Jesus. In fact, the whole town gathered around the door of the house. Jesus healed all kinds of terrible diseases and forced out a lot of demons. But the demons knew who he was, and he did not let them speak.

Very early the next morning before daylight, Jesus got up and went to a place where he could be alone and pray. Simon and the others started looking for him. And when they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you!”

Jesus replied, “We must go to the nearby towns, so that I can tell the good news to those people. This is why I have come.” Then Jesus went to their synagogues everywhere in Galilee, where he preached and forced out demons.

Gospel Reflection

Jesus’ ministry demands a lot of him. He lifts up the sick and suffering among the townspeople, including Simon’s mother-in-law, to be restored to full and active lives. Yet he also needs to time to rest in quiet places and pray in solitude. Before the sun has risen in the east, Jesus has retreated to a place where has can be closest to God. His time of prayer renews the purpose and zeal of his action and ministry. He will soon move on to other towns to share the Good News.

We all need time to pause from our busy lives. To rest our bodies, still our minds and listen to the deep callings of our hearts. May the time we take for contemplation and quiet restore us and allow each of us to thrive as members of our Marist community.

Reflection

Last Sunday 4 February marked the UN’s International Day of Human Fraternity. The world’s different faith groups are crucial to the goal of human fraternity. Interreligious dialogue has the power to lead to greater understanding and acceptance of the values common to all humanity.

As a Catholic school that witnesses to a Christian faith, Marist Ashgrove embraces religious and cultural diversity. At a school level, we seek to dialogue with the differences in our midst and we believe our community is immeasurably enriched by contributions from people of different faiths and none. Being part of a Marist family does not mean being all the same (uniform), but respecting and growing from difference, with the aim of fraternal solidarity (seeking unity). 

Education has the power to model harmony and peace to a world beset by conflict and intolerance. At the core of Christian teaching is the ethic of “siblings all” – love God, love one another and love your enemies. May we be people of authentic love and deep listening.

We Pray

Dear Lord,

Help us to be people who speak words of love, who do not listen to voices filled with hatred and malice but that we embody your peace, your compassion and your love. We pray for all living in war-torn areas and lift up to you all those who are caught in the midst of violence, conflict and destruction. Shield them from harm and provide them with a safe refuge, give them strength and courage to endure the challenges they face every day.

God, we pray for peace and love to prevail.

Marist Litany

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.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

St Vincent de Paul and the Environment Group

Vinnies and the Environment Group meetings will continue this Thursday during break 1B in Room 801. All students are welcome.

Stationery Aid – Collecting Now! 

The Stationery Aid MATES ministry is held every Friday morning from 7:30am in Room 801. 

Students are welcome to come along and help sort, clean and organize stationery. Come lend a hand and have a chat!

Meanwhile, Stationery Aid donations will be gratefully received. Please use the blue bins provided outside the Mission Office.

For more information about Stationery Aid visit the website:  https://stationeryaid.org/ 

Rosies

Students in Years 11 and 12 who are interested in signing onto the Rosies outreach program for Term 2 are encouraged to register their interest. Students are provided with important training beforehand to ensure they are well-informed about how to enter into this important ministry.

If you’re ready to be a ‘friend on the street’ by sharing a conversation with patrons of Rosies who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or socially isolated, please email mates@marash.qld.edu.au to sign up or visit the Mission Office

Marist Youth Ministry Game Changers 

The Mission team welcome students from Years 7-12 to join this supportive and leadership focused Marist youth ministry program. Please email mates@marash.qld.edu.au or visit the Mission Office if you are interested in this program or have any questions.

All Abilities Cricket Program

Year 11 and 12 students are invited to volunteer to help young people with intellectual disabilities as part of the Valleys All Abilities Cricket Program. No amazing cricket expertise required - fun and participation is the aim!

The program is running Friday afternoons, 4:00pm-5:00pm, from Friday 9 February – Friday 1 March down at the Ashgrove Sports Fields on Yoku Road. 

Students wishing to sign on, please email mates@marash.qld.edu.au or visit the Mission Office.