From the Rector

Dear Mazenod Community,

It is with genuine joy and gratitude to God that I return to an Oblate role of service at Mazenod after an absence of 24 years.

In 1997, this community was my first appointment in Australia after time spent in New Zealand. I have subsequently served in Mazenod College Victoria and Iona College as Principal and Rector.

I now return to Mazenod in 2024 as College Rector working in support of our Principal, Mr Simon Harvey, as he leads the College. The Oblates have deeply treasured our involvement and ministry in our schools, and in different eras, the role of Rector has responded to the needs of the times. Living and serving the Lesmurdie and Mazenod community are Fr Michael McMahon OMI, Fr Matthew Raj OMI, Fr Bill Ousley OMI and myself.

In this modern era at Mazenod, it is a role of Oblate pastoral service for the community. It has been a number of years since the College has an Oblate Rector and I cherish the opportunity of learning and serving this great community alongside the staff, parents and students.

St Eugene de Mazenod OMI is the patron saint of families in difficult need and our community should always strive to stand alongside and with families in need. I am looking forward to this great pastoral need and challenge.

I am looking forward to visiting our Boarding families in their homes. When I was in WA last time, I was fortunate enough to visit over 300 WA towns. I am sure a lot has changed in the 25 years since those last visits.

I am a Queenslander who barracks for the Fremantle Dockers and look forward (hopefully in my lifetime) to seeing Freo achieve the ultimate success. I have supported Freo since 1997, so I fully appreciate the pain and challenges that it brings. I also genuinely want Brisbane to do well and essentially support both teams.

I love to play tennis and also walking. I recently completed the 820km+ Camino walk in Spain and anticipate walking as much of WA as I can.

I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible during your son’s educational journey with Mazenod and I thank you most sincerely for entrusting their education and care to our community. Honouring that trust is our highest priority.

I am genuinely grateful to God for becoming the first Old Boy of an Oblate School (Iona College) to become Rector of all three of our schools. I continue to pray that the next Oblate vocations to the priesthood are praying for God’s grace to respond. For Oblates to continue working at Mazenod, we do need to pray that more may consider God’s call.

Please be assured of my prayers for you all and if our Oblate community can be of any service to you, we would be pleased to do so.

Take Care and God Bless

Fr Michael