Mission News

Prayers

We pray for Fr Jim Hargrave who passed away recently and whose life we celebrated at his funeral on Tuesday. We pray for our loved ones who have gone before us and those who anniversaries occur at this time. May they be at eternal rest with God.

Community Masses

Please join us for Mass throughout this week: Monday 1st Break, Wednesday 8am and Friday 1st Break. 

Gospel Reflection

Gospel from 4th Sunday of Easter, 11th May. John 10:27-30 (JB)

Jesus said:

'The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice;

I know them and they follow me.

I give them eternal life;

they will never be lost

and no one will ever steal them from me.

The Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone,

and no one can steal from the Father.

The Father and I are one.'

The pastoral image of the sheep recalls the parable of the lost sheep who the shepherd goes out to find. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who loves and protects his “sheep”. And not only will the lost be found, but here in John’s Gospel, Jesus is saying they will never be lost, nor can they ever be stolen from him. We live forever in the loving embrace of God, not only in the present, but in eternal life and the promise of resurrected life. 

The Church announces Christ who is in and through all things. And of course, the Church as an institution has welcomed Pope Leo XIV, who, as a priest in the Augustinian order, brings the spirituality of St Augustine into his leadership. Pope Leo XIV has shared that his choice of name follows Leo XIII whose Encyclical Rerum Novarum spoke for human dignity and the rights and freedoms of workers. It was this encyclical that brought Catholic Social Teaching into view. The papacy of Leo XIV will face the challenges and questions of human dignity and social justice for our time. A brother of our new American-born pope described the kind of pope his sibling would be thanks to his missionary years in Peru: “He’s be looking out for the disenfranchised, he will be looking out for the poor, he’ll be looking out for those who don’t have a voice.”

And so we pray:

+ Loving Father,

We ask your blessing on Pope Leo XIV

Grant him wisdom and strength for the challenges ahead.

May he inspire unity and faith amongst believers

And inspire hearts and hands to be open to those most in need.

In your holy name we pray.

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

Amen.+

Mother’s Day Mass 

The Mission Team is grateful for the participation of so many Marist students and their mums, grandmothers and other special mother-figures at our annual Mother’s Day Mass. It was a special night of song, symbol and ritual. It’s wonderful to witness the love between mothers and sons and to take the time to honour this special relationship, especially as a Marist school that celebrates Mary as our ‘good mother’.

House Masses and Year 8 RE Class Masses

So far in Term 2 we’ve welcomed both Gilroy and Ephrem students along for their House Masses. These celebrations are a wonderful way to worship together and contribute to a strong House spirit. 

We’ve also welcomed all our Year 8 RE classes to the chapel for Masses throughout weeks 2 and 3 of this term. These Masses have focused on the theme of “Jesus, Justice and Service”. We’re delighted to continue inviting and involving our students in the faith life of the school through liturgy and worship, which calls them not only to prayer, but to go out and be the face and hands of Jesus in the world.

Our Friday Masses continue to involve our sporting teams – it was great to see the 1st XI football team at last Friday’s Mass!

Joshua Dale (Ephrem Academic Captain) reading at the Ephrem House Mass

Ephrem House students gathered on the sanctuary after the Ephrem House Mass.

Our 1st XI Football team at Friday Mass, 9th May.

Year 8 RE Class with Mr Brett Gillett and Fr ‘Alatini

Year 8 RE Class with Mr David Finch

Marist 180 Free Dress Day 23rd May – Loud Shirt Day

23rd May is the Marist 180 Free Dress Day. We’ll be raising funds for Marist 180 - Students will have the option to pay $2, $5 or $10 with all funds raised going to the Marist 180 Noel Appeal. 

To make this day even more fun, we’re encouraging everyone to wear a loud shirt as a way to raise awareness of hearing loss in children. I thank Year 12 student Cameron McPhee for championing this important cause and speaking about it with our students at assembly tomorrow. 

Primary Can Drive Pizza Party

The winners of our Primary Can Drive enjoyed their much-deserved pizza party on Monday. We thank ALL our primary students and their families for their generous donations of soft drink cans which made this year’s drive our BEST EVER!

Genesis Youth Group – starting 3:00pm Sunday 18 May

We’re sharing here the news for all interested Marist students that Genesis Youth is launching this Sunday at St William’s Church in Keperra. 

Genesis Youth will bring young people from across the north west to meet Sunday afternoons for food, fun and faith exploration. Students from a range of schools living in suburbs including and surrounding Samford to Mitchelton are expected to attend, creating an opportunity to meet with friends old and new!

Come along to meet awesome people, ask big questions and have a ton of fun!

Where: The Daley Centre (behind St William’s Grovely Church, 67 Dawson Pde Keperra)

When: Sunday afternoons from 3-5, starting Sunday 18 May at 3pm. 

Who: For Ages 13-17.

Contact: stwilliamsyouthgrovely@gmail.com

Bring your friends, bring your questions – just come as you are!  We can’t wait to see you. 

An initiative of the Parishes of GSM = Grovely-Samford and Mitchelton

Youth Alpha Program

After the launch on Sunday 18 May, we plan to start the Youth Alpha program the following Sunday, 25 May, and continue that for at least eight weeks. See here for a taste of what Alpha is about. 

Stationery Aid Friday Mornings

Stationery Aid is on this Friday in Room 801. Helpers are needed as we continue sorting and cleaning stationery ready for reuse. Currently our focus is on exercise books

A reminder that donations of good quality unwanted stationery is always welcome and can be placed in the blue bin outside the Mission Office. 

To find out more and to check the list for what can be donated, please visit: https://stationeryaid.org/