Happy Easter

Within the Catholic tradition, Easter is not confined to Easter Sunday but continues for seven weeks. Today is Easter Thursday of Week 1 of Easter. Six more weeks to go!

What is special about the Easter Season is the time given to us to reflect on the meaning of the Resurrection of Jesus and the experience of it in our own lives today. Indeed, for the early Christian communities, the Resurrection was not only a faith event but a real, lived experience.

During our Easter Liturgy at the end of Term 1, our Liturgy and Outreach Committee reenacted the Stations of the Cross. They brought the Jesus’ story into our everyday experiences and allowed us to consider our experiences and the injustices of our time, through the lens of the Christian message: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The message of our liturgy was that if we listen to the Good News of Jesus, we know that death is not the end and that power and hate never win. We can hope in a better tomorrow – a more caring, loving and just world – if we strive to be more caring, more loving and more just today. The Resurrection of Jesus assures that whatever our shortcomings, we too can be changed for the better and, in turn, transform for the better the world in which we live.

In Memory of Pope Francis

So many people around the world are mourning the passing of Pope Francis. As a Franciscan community, we are particularly saddened by the death of a widely respected spiritual leader who took the name of our beloved Saint Francis of Assisi and showed the world the relevance of Franciscan spirituality to the needs of our world today. Pope Francis called us to live the Gospel through our service to people on the margins of society and through the care we give to all of creation. His legacy of compassion, justice and love will continue to be an inspiration for us all.

Pope Franics’ funeral will be held at 6.00pm (AEST) on Saturday 26 April. The following prayer published by Franciscan Schools Australia says much of the life we remember and celebrate:

Loving God,

we thank You for the life of Pope Francis,

for his faithful example of living the joy of the Gospel in real, relevant ways.

He praised God the creator through his life that was full of encounter and compassion. With a loving heart and eyes of faith

he showed us what it means to follow in the footsteps of Jesus,

caring for all people and all of creation.

In this Year of Jubilee, we pray for the courage to continue his mission of love,

by embracing humility, peace and love in our daily lives.

May we be instruments of peace,

inspired by his example to serve others with compassion

so that Christ’s light enflames the world.

Eternal rest grant unto Pope Francis, O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace.

Amen.

Prayer for Peace

Today we held our ANZAC Day Commemorative Service. Our reflection focused on the Beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 5, verses 1-12. These eight short ascriptions or blessings, describe the essence of the “good news of the kingdom” (4:23).

Scripture scholar, Father Michael Fallon, says that: “The focus is on the special joy which we experience when situations that could so easily be destructive are rendered meaningful by our [relationship with God].” Despite our own sufferings – our poverty, our grief, our powerlessness and our hunger – we can know God’s love and extend that love to others.

This is emphasised in Verse 9, when Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Peace is the harmony of the whole of creation, the realisation that we are called to love one another as kin or family, brother and sister. As God is the source of peace, to do God’s will as disciples, we are called to be instruments of Godʼs peace in the world.

In his message for the 58th World Day of Peace on 1st January this year, Pope Francis emphasised his message of hope in this year of Jubilee that “inspires us to seek to establish the liberating justice of God in our world.” He names the “systemic challenges… that cause havoc in our world: the inhumane treatment meted out to migrants, environmental decay, the confusion willfully created by disinformation, the refusal to engage in any form of dialogue and the immense resources spent on the industry of war.”

“True peace,” according to Pope Francis, “can be born only from a heart “disarmed” of anxiety and the fear of war… hearts not set on calculating what is mine and what is yours; hearts that turn selfishness into readiness to reach out to others; hearts that see themselves as indebted to God and thus prepared to forgive the debts that oppress others; hearts that replace anxiety about the future with the hope that every individual can be a resource for the building of a better world.”

Pope Francis, says that “disarming hearts is a job for everyone, great and small, rich and poor alike.” At times, something quite simple will do, such as “a smile, a small gesture of friendship, a kind look, a ready ear, a good deed”. With such gestures, “we progress towards the goal of peace…” “Peace does not only come with the end of wars but with the dawn of a new world, a world in which we realize that we are different, closer and more fraternal than we ever thought possible.”

As Franciscan people, may we embrace the call to be peacemakers in our world. We can do this by embracing the Gospel as Saint Francis did: through our love of God and our love of neighbour. Let us pray that God grants us peace.

ANZAC Day Services

The Kedron-Wavell Sub Branch RSL has extended an invitation to our College community to attend its ANZAC Day services on Thursday 25 April 2025.

5.00am: Assemble for the Dawn Service at War Graves Section, Lutwyche Cemetery, Kitchener Road, Kedron. Students are to meet in front of the cenotaph and check in with Mr Rogusz for roll marking purposes. The Dawn Service begins at 5.30am and concludes around 6.30am.

7.50am: Assemble on the oval near the Chermside Historical Precinct, 61 Kittyhawk Drive, Chermside, for the March. The March begins at 8.00am.

8.30am: The Main Service at Kedron-Wavell Services Club, Kittyhawk Drive, Chermside. Concludes around 10.00am.

While permissions via EdSmart Forms have now closed, students and families are still welcome to participate in any or all of these services. Students are required to wear their College uniform with hat and blazer. Students attending the morning service (8.30am) are encouraged to bring a water bottle.

Please note: The College will not be providing transport for students on this day. If your child is attending the Dawn Service and the March/Main Service, transport must be provided or arranged by your family from the Lutwyche Cemetery, Kitchener Road Kedron to the Kedron-Wavell Services Club, Kittyhawk Drive Chermside.

Project Compassion

I would like to extend a sincere thank you to all members of our College community for your generous support of this year’s Project Compassion Appeal. We have raised an extraordinary $6126.25, the highest total in the past six years.

I extend my thanks especially to our Heads of House, House Captains and Consiglio Representatives for their promotion of this year’s appeal and their planning and facilitation of a range of advocacy and fundraising activities.

Your donations will support the work of Caritas, the Catholic Church’s agency for global development. What this means is the funding of important grassroots development projects in communities in Australia and around the world that will enhance the lives of people in need.

These donations are more than just funds for important development projects; they are tangible expressions of our faith in action and our Franciscan commitment to justice for all people and all of creation.

Please know how much this appreciated.

Vinnies Drive

Our next major fundraiser will coincide with Elizabeth Hayes Week, Tuesday 6 – Friday 9 May. Students are asked to contribute food and grocery items to the Kedron Vinnies Pantry. These items will be distributed to families in need in our local area. Donations can be placed in the baskets in the Carceri. Each basket is clearly labelled by House.

Items required include: cereal, long life milk, tinned fruit, pasta, pasta sauce, rice, instant noodles, coffee, black teabags, tinned vegetables, laundry powder, dishwashing liquid, soap

baked beans and tinned spaghetti, chunky soup, tinned fish, toothpaste, toothbrushes, roll on deodorant.

On behalf of the Saint Vincent de Paul Kedron Conference, thank you for your generous support of our local community.

Sony Foundation Camp

Mount Alvernia College and Marist College Ashgrove will co-host the Sony Foundation Camp from Saturday 20 - Monday 22 September 2025. This three-day residential camp for children who are differently-abled, is provided at no cost to families.

If you know any children aged 10-16 years who may benefit from the camp, please direct them to the following link to complete a Camper Application Form:

https://www.marash.qld.edu.au/sony-foundation-camp-2025/

While we have received a number of applications from families of boys, we would welcome more applications from girls. Please see the flyer included in this week’s newsletter.

In addition, we are looking for sponsors to assist us in making this year’s Sony Foundation Camp even bigger and better. If you own a business or would like to support us in any way, please email sony@marash.qld.edu.au to discuss further.

Spotlight on Junior Study and Academic Mentoring