The Mazenod Gazette

Rector's Report

Greetings to you all! 

As I write to you, I am attending the De Mazenod Family Education Network Conference in Fremantle. Representative staff and Oblates of our other three-colleges come together once a year to celebrate and cultivate our shared Charism. For many years our Oblate Staff Conferences have provided an opportunity for members of our colleges to gather and appreciate the spirit that is common in our schools. 

 

Our conferences enable us to reflect, foster and articulate what is special about the Oblate Charism and provides us an opportunity to maintain the legacy that makes each of our colleges distinctive.

 

Since their foundations, our colleges, have sought to educate young men by helping them discover who they are in the eyes of God through a wholistic curriculum.

  • Iona College, Queensland - 1958

  • Mazenod College, Western Australia - 1966

  • Mazenod College, Victoria – 1967

  • St Eugene de Mazenod, Queensland - 2008

The main aims of the conference are to: 

  • Deepen the knowledge of the Oblate Charism and the Catholic Faith

  • Build a sense of community amongst the Colleges involved in the De Mazenod Charism

  • Leave excited, enthusiastic and passionate about the mission that makes our colleges distinctive.

Feast of the Assumption of Mary

This year’s Feast of the Assumption, August 15, will once again be celebrated with a whole college Eucharist in the Provence Centre.  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 remember and celebrate the affirmation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate as a new congregation. 203 years ago in 1822, Fr Eugene de Mazenod, despite having concerns about the survival of his small group of missionaries, received an affirmation from the Oblate Madonna. Mazenod experienced that the Madonna statue “smiled” on 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. 

 

I extend a warm invitation to all, especially our mums, special female carers, and grandmothers, to this liturgy commencing at 2.00pm.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;

toyou 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.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

August 8 is the celebration for Australia’s first Saint, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Mary MacKillop was born of Scottish descent in Melbourne (15 January 1842 – 8 August 1909). In 1866, Mary Helen MacKillop and her two sisters said ‘Yes’ to Fr. Julian Tenison-Woods invitation to come to Penola, South Australia to open a Catholic school.

Together with Julian Tenison-Woods, she founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart (the Josephites), a congregation of religious sisters that established schools and welfare institutions throughout Australia and New Zealand, with an emphasis on education for the rural poor. Sr Mary Mackillop was declared a Saint by the Catholic Church in St Peter’s Rome on October 17, 2010. Our Learning Diversity Centre here at Mazenod is named the Penola Centre, which was opened on Friday April 5, 2023, in remembrance of Sr Mary MacKillop’s first missionary school for educating poor Catholic children.

Vinnies - Mazenod Winter Appeal

Dear friends of Mazenod. As the winter months settle in we are truly grateful for a warm house to shelter us or warm clothes. As we know there are many people who are struggling during these months and can benefit from a little love and care from us.

 

Mazenod is currently running our annual Winter Appeal to help make a difference in the lives of people in our area. A donation of some essential items can bring hope and dignity to our brothers and sisters. On MazCom you will find a flyer indicating what items each individual year level is asked to donate and where they can be dropped off by your son. 

BREAKING NEWS:

A toddler has called family services on parents after trying to force her to support the Blues!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yours in Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate

Fr Harry Dyer OMI