From the Principal

Dear Parents, Guardians, Students, Staff and Friends of Mazenod College,

“To be missionary, is to step into the life of another” (Fr Andrew Chen OMI, Oblate Provincial in his Homily at our College Mass on the Feast of St Eugene de Mazenod).

In my over 35 years in Catholic schools, including my time as a student, an absolute common highlight each year has been the celebration of the Feast Day of the College Patron Saint. Wednesday the 21st of May this year was no different. It was a joy to celebrate the Feast of St Eugene de Mazenod.

I chose just one short phrase from the lovely Homily of Fr Andrew Chen OMI. It was wonderful to have Fr Andrew with us this week to bless and open our new Boarding Building (Malnia House) and to celebrate the College Mass for the Feast of St Eugene. Fr Andrew was installed as the new Oblate Provincial, from Fr Christian Fini OMI earlier this year, and for him to give of his time to come over from Melbourne for these special occasions, was so gracious and appreciated.

Fr Andrew shared with us a wonderful link between Pope Leo XII, given the connection with the chosen name of our newest Pope when he became Pope Leo XIII. Pope Leo XII approved the Constitution and Rules of the Oblate Order for St Eugene two hundred years ago. Incidentally, we heard from our Rector Fr Michael Twigg OMI, at the House Mass for Albini on Tuesday, the Constitution was in fact translated into Latin for the Pope, by Venerable Charles Albini OMI.

It was the Homily message of mission, that resonated with me, when Fr Andrew made the link between the Missionary Oblates, Mazenod Mission Day which we celebrated on Wednesday following Mass, and our missionary responsibility as members of the Mazenod College community. The Mazenod Mission Day activities and stalls, and the generous giving of our families at this time, for Oblate missions around the world, is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to remember indeed, our role to be missionary, to think of the poor and those less fortunate than ourselves, and “...to step into the life of another”.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our Oblates, staff and students, who contributed to the mission, to the enthusiasm, the generosity and joy, that we shared on Wednesday – another highlight of the Mazenod school year, each year – another Moment of Grace, in fact, so many Moments of Grace in the one day!!

We shared another Moment of Grace on Tuesday afternoon, with the Blessing and Opening of Malnia House, our newest boarding building in the Cebula residence. This project and vision commenced under the principalship of Mr Andrew Watson many years ago and it was terrific that Mr Watson could make the time to be present on Tuesday. It was also wonderful to have Fr Andrew and Fr Michael leading the service and to have the presence of Mrs Retel (Board Chair) and other Board members who were involved in the project from it’s earliest inception, the architects from Saleeba Adams, the builders and team from HS Hyde and Son, our College Director of Boarding Mrs Cream, boarding staff, College staff, boarding students and family.

There were so many special moments in the service. For me it was both the heartfelt video message from Mr and Mrs Tan in Port Hedland representing the Boarding parents, and the significance of the presentation of hometown sand from our boarding students across Western Australia. Thank you to Fr Michael, Mrs Laurito and Mrs Orchard for their creation and orchestration of such a wonderful, warm and genuine opening and blessing service.

Malnia is the birthplace in southern Poland of the boarding house and naming patron Blessed Josef Cebula OMI. For further information on Malnia, and Blessed Josef, access this link which directs you to our College website;

It is hard to believe that we are about to head into Week 5 of Term 2, but there is still much of the year to go, much more to be done and in the words of St Eugene;

“There is still much good to be accomplished” (St Eugene De Mazenod).

God bless.

Simon Harvey

Principal