Mission News

Prayers

We ask God to be with the members of our community who are suffering with illness or the challenges of caring for loved ones who are unwell. We pray also for those who have passed away, especially Mary Tyrrell, the beloved grandmother of Mission team member Jenna Harding. May Mary and all who have died be received into the abundant and everlasting Grace of God.

Community Mass

All are welcome to attend Mass in the Chapel this Wednesday at 8:00am and Break 1B on Friday. This Wednesday we celebrate the Rush House Mass. We encourage our sports teams to attend on Friday as a prayerful preparation for the weekend competition.

Years7-12 RE classes continue to take part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance) throughout Term 1.

Gospel

Sunday’s Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, after which he was very hungry, and the tempter came and said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to turn into loaves.' But he replied, 

'Scripture says:

Man does not live on bread alone

but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'

The devil then took him to the holy city and made him stand on the parapet of the Temple. 'If you are the Son of God,' he said, 'throw yourself down; for scripture says:

He will put you in his angels' charge,

and they will support you on their hands

in case you hurt your foot against a stone.'

Jesus said to him, 'Scripture also says:

You must not put the Lord your God to the test.'

Next, taking him to a very high mountain, the devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. 'I will give you all these', he said, 'if you fall at my feet and worship me.' Then Jesus replied, 'Be off, Satan! For scripture says:

You must worship the Lord your God,

and serve him alone.'

Then the devil left him, and angels appeared and looked after him.

Gospel Reflection

This week’s reflection is offered by Ben Mead, Youth Minister

This Sunday’s gospel tells the story of Jesus in the desert. Fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, this period gives us the structure of Lent that we see today. Matthew’s Gospel takes us from the introspective message of last Sunday’s passage, which tells us to clean our heart, to the reality of life as Christians aiming to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

This gospel teaches us the way to combat temptation and reinforces the inevitability that life will not be easy, even for the Son of God. Matthew depicts Jesus fighting the temptation of Satan through scripture, never answering from his own mind, but through the words of the prophets before him. Ultimately, Jesus is displaying the words of Proverbs 3:5, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding.’ 

During Lent, you will likely experience hardships and temptations that make it hard to continue whatever sacrifice or change you are trying to make. In these times we must remember to trust in Jesus, battling temptations by leaning on God, and not your own heart. Whilst we are not Jesus, and we won’t be perfect, we can always strive to do better in our faith, and to follow in his example. Lent is not about perfection, but about allowing God place to move through our hardship, and saying to him, ‘I know that I am not perfect, but I know that you are enough for me.’ This Sunday’s gospel, and all of Lent, is a reminder that God has won, and there is nothing that we truly need outside of him.

Ash Wednesday 

Last week we held our Ash Wednesday liturgy in the Champagnat Centre. The students demonstrated reverence as we marked the beginning of our Lenten pilgrimage. 

Marist Mothers Retreat 

Marist Mothers are invited to a gentle, reflective retreat facilitated by Br Neville Solomon fms and Clare Locke (Campus Minister).

To register, visit: https://events.humanitix.com/2026-marist-college-ashgrove-mothers-retreat

Stationery Aid 

A reminder that Stationery Aid sorting sessions now take place weekly on Wednesdays during Break 1 in Room 801 (behind the chapel) – students from any age group are encouraged to attend.  

To find out more about the wonderful things Stationery Aid are doing, visit their website -https://stationeryaid.org/.