Mission News

Prayers

We pray for those in our community who are sick and those who are caring for unwell loved ones. May the gentle breath of the Spirit give rest and comfort to all in need.

Community Masses

Rush House will celebrate their House Mass for term 2 this coming Wednesday 17 June at 8am. We invite the students and Families of Rush House to attend. All students are very welcome. Friday Mass will be held during 1st break.

Gospel Reflection

Matthew 9:36-10:8

‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.'

Matthew 9:36 – 10:8 

Sunday’s Gospel is a message of commission. The Church has finished celebrating the great liturgical cycle of Easter. Lasting from Ash-Wednesday to the Solemn feast of Corpus Christi. Now ‘ordinary time’ – the green liturgical season – resumes, and the Gospel writer reminds us that we called to move from focusing on what Christ has done for us on the cross to how we can continue his mission today.

In the story Jesus is described as wandering from town to village, teaching and proclaiming the good news. When he sees the crowds, he is deeply moved telling the disciples “They are like sheep without a shepherd”. He says the labourers are few, but the harvest is plentiful and urges them to pray for converts who can help them in the mission. Israel is offered the message first – but this anticipates the post-resurrection reality at the end of Matthew’s Gospel when Jesus extends salvation to every race. The passage ends with a warning – living for Christ and spreading his message is hard, buts it's what we are called to do.

The image of the harvest suggests that God stirs the hearts of people and that most of us need a helping director to the source of this Grace. Traditionally this verse is used to inspire religious vocation – which it should do! But more broadly, it can be seen as an encouragement to all lay-Christians to ‘run the good race’, as St. Paul says, and live an authentic witness to the faith. For example, teachers can labour in God’s harvest by helping students grow spiritually, morally, and intellectually. We may not always see the fruits of this work, but a seed can be planted, that sits dormant in someone’s life and only fruits years, sometimes decades later.

The inspiring story of Pope Leo blessing the completed final spire of Sagrada Familia in Spain last week is another example heroic Christian work. Like the labourers in the story, many of the clergy and lay people who made this 150-yearlong construction possible acted with something greater than themselves in mind, knowing they would never see it to completion. 

Pope Leo called Sagrada Familia a ‘catechesis made of stone, colour and light’. As we go about our own lives, we should be mindful that the words we speak over others may only influence them decades later. Are we speaking words that will uplift and build up the kingdom? 

Super Saturday Meat Trays and Popcorn Presence

Super Saturday was a day for community celebration with wonderful sport – and sportsmanship – on display. The Mission team took the opportunity to raffle two meat-trays in the morning and afternoon, raising approx. $2,000 on the day for our 2026 Sony Foundation Camp. 

Thanks again to Raffle sponsors Meat At Billys and Thrive Law Co for the mouthwatering meat trays on offer over the past few weeks!! 

The popcorn machine was also hard at work, providing free popcorn and positive vibes for students, families and visitors in the sunny-rainy weather that set the scene for the final 1stXV Rugby game of the season. A special thanks goes to Year 7 student Sam Tully for his invaluable assistance at the popcorn machine!

If you would like to donate to this year’s Marist Sony Foundation Camp, please click HERE. All donations of $2.00 or more are tax deductible.

Last week’s lucky meat tray winners! 

Paddington Community Centre

Last week, Year 7 students from Harold House visited the Paddington Community Centre, enjoying conversation and games with the elderly patrons. It was a happy visit that ended with the boys singing the Sub Tuum with arms linked. It’s always wonderful visiting the Paddington Community Centre, and the joy and spark our students bring to the elderly people is always such a delight to witness.

Marist Brothers visit

Some of our Year 8 students from Gilroy House enjoyed a social visit with the Marist Brothers last week. After being challenged with a general knowledge quiz, the boys enjoyed morning tea and a chat with the brothers. We were delighted to meet Br Calvin who has been visiting Brisbane from Bougainville.