Rector's Report
Greetings to you all!
As I write to you the sun is shining brightly through my office window which is a welcome change from the gloom of our wintery days. It is also that time of the year when we are, sadly, yet happily, preparing for 2028 with our prospective Year 7 student interviews. As a college we are blessed and grateful for the number of applications we receive from parents and carers for the intake of around 280 students who are requesting a Mazenod Catholic education for their son. We look forward to meeting all these excited young men and their families during their discernment process.
From Tuesday August 4-7 the De Mazenod Family Education Network Conference was hosted by Mazenod Victoria in Melbourne. This yearly conference brings together the principals, rectors and representative staff members from our colleges of Iona Queensland, St Eugene de Mazenod Burpengary, Mazenod Western Australia and Mazenod Victoria. The experience provides a wonderful opportunity to share programmes and resources that have been developed in our respective communities that build on the formation and understanding of the Oblate Charism we all share. This year our college was represented by: Tara Jones, Robert Bonnici, Adrian McClelland, and Grainne Temple.
2026 De Mazenod Family Gathering
Just a reminder of the invitation from the De Mazenod Family to gather with fellow friends of the Oblates from across Australia for a weekend of prayer, formation, community and celebration. The theme for this year’s gathering: One Heart, One Family, One Charism. Whether you've been part of the De Mazenod Family for many years or are just curious you are warmly invited to participate. It would be great to have some representatives from Mazenod College. For further information or to register, visit:
https://omi.com.au/dmf-gathering
When: 22-25 October 2026
Where: St Eugene's Retreat Centre, Newborough, Victoria
Registration: from $100
Feast of the Assumption of Mary
This year’s Feast of the Assumption, August 15, was celebrated with a whole college Eucharist in the Provence Centre on Friday August 14. The Assumption of Mary is one of the four Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church. We proclaim and define it to be a dogma revealed by God that the Immaculate Mother of God, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven.
On this Feast Day we also remembered and celebrated the affirmation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate as a new congregation. 204 years ago in 1822, Fr Eugene de Mazenod, despite having concerns about the survival of his small group of missionaries, received an affirmation, a profound moment of grace, from the Oblate Madonna. Mazenod experienced that the Madonna statue seemed to “smile” and look upon him during prayer which gave him a boost of confidence that this new foundation of missionaries had come from God and that God was assuring him of a solid future.
My sisters and brothers, let us remember that in times of trouble, we can always turn to Mary our mother, just like St. Eugene did and see in her an example of faith and trust.
Memorare Prayer
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,
We fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins my Mother;
to you do we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful;
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions,
but in your mercy hear and answer them.
St Eugene de Mazenod
Pray for us.
Till the next time
Yours in Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate
Fr Harry Dyer OMI