Mission News

Prayers

Please keep in your prayers Paul Konrad Berg, the father & father-in-law of staff members Josh (Services) and Sammy (Kitchen) who is very unwell. We ask God's blessing on Paul and all his loved ones as they navigate this most difficult time together. 

May God, who is Love, bring peace and comfort to all those who are suffering at this time, and strength to those who accompany them. Amen.

Community Mass

Father Tini celebrates Mass every Wednesday Morning at 8:00am and Fridays at Break 1B in the College Chapel. Thanks to our Year 6 students and families who joined us last Wednesday morning. 

Gospel Reflection by Daniel Bull 

Matthew 22:15-21 NIV - Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar

Matthew 22 includes some of the most famous stories in the New Testament. After Jesus tells the parable of the wedding banquet (last weeks’ Gospel) we see the Pharisees attempt to trap Jesus by asking questions about paying taxes to Caesar – the head of Roman occupied Judea in 30AD. If Jesus was the long-awaited messiah, surely imply the pharisees, he would oppose the Roman overloads. Jesus sees through the hypocrisy in their tricky question, asks for a coin, and responds, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.”

This answer recognises worldly authority but insists our ultimate allegiance belongs to God and the Mission to make Christ known and loved. Jesus here warns against the politicization of religion as well as the deification of power. His audience needs reminding that Ceasar was not God, and that the Messiah was not a warlord. Instead, Jesus - like a mirror image - shows us a God who is simple, peaceful, and “for us” in his ordinariness. How can we bring Christ into the ordinary moments of school life? 

The Gospel also reminds us that faith doesn't mean we must neglect society. When honouring Ceasar a Christian is charged to recognise civic responsibility without abandoning what Jesus taught, and the example he provided. This shows our temporal responsibilities should always be tinged with the light of Christ. In our civic duties, do we work towards a society that embodies the virtues of the Sermon on the Mount? In our work are we attentive and compassionate, ensuring even those on the margins feel known, valued, and loved? 

Jesus' response can be understood as a deeper invitation to seeing the face of Christ in other people – and for us in schools particularly those students on the margins. If the coin resembles Ceasar, we who are created in the Image of God are called to resemble him and see His face in others – no matter how hidden.

Marist Student Leader’s Summit 

This past weekend, eight of our student leaders joined their peers from fourteen other Marist schools across Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Northern New South Wales for the annual Marist Student Leader’s Summit. This gathering brought young leaders together to explore the core values and characteristics of Marist leadership.

The summit featured a range of activities, including Ice Breakers, Amazing Grace (a leadership-themed version of The Amazing Race) and Marist Leadership sessions led by Justin Golding and the Qld Marist Youth Ministry team. The student leaders also showcased their singing and dancing skills during the Talent Show portion of the Summit Cup. Combined with Trivia results our 2027 Marist Leaders walked away winners (image below holding their trophies) 

Over the three days, the students reflected on the important servant leadership skills they learned and began to shape their vision for leadership in 2027. The boys landed on the theme - Aspire to Inspire, we look forward to seeing how they lead our school community over the next year.

Emmanuel City Mission – Socks and Jocks Drive 

Message from our friends at Emmanuel City Mission 

Our shelves are running low and we need your help. We're urgently calling for new men's and women's socks and underwear in all sizes, for our visitors experiencing homelessness and hardship.

Donations can be dropped to the Marist Mission Office or Tower/Primary Reception! Thank you in advance for your support 

Marist College Christmas Appeal – Weeks 4/5/6

Saturday (17th of October) marked the UN’s International Day for Eradication of Poverty. The reality of poverty is ever present, and yet often invisible in our midst. Poverty is worldwide, and also very close to home. In our own communities, many families struggle to make ends meet, to pay rent, to afford nutritious food, access medical services, or maintain secure employment. As a Marist Catholic community, we stand in solidarity with those impacted by poverty, motivated to serve with humility and love. And so are proud to announce that our annual Marist Christmas Appeal will launch next week and will continue to the end of week 6. This year the appeal will support the works of The St Vincent de Paul Society and Marist180 this Christmas season.

Your donations help St Vincent de Paul address the cost-of-living crisis, bringing comfort and dignity to families facing homelessness and poverty. Marist180 provides vital support to vulnerable young people and families experiencing disadvantage, homelessness and hardship, helping them build brighter futures.

Families are encouraged to make donations online through the MCA Monitor system or through the Humanitix page (link will be shared next week). Please note we are not requesting gift cards this year.