Rector's Report

Greetings to you all!

The Feast of Pentecost last Sunday ended the season of Eastertide, the 50-day season in the Christian liturgical calendar that celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The liturgical season of the church now enters the period called ‘Ordinary Time’. Ordinary Time is the longest season in the Church’s year comprising thirty-three weeks. The colour of the vestment’s changes to green. This colour tells us much about its significance in the Church’s life. It is the rich colour of growth and new life. Ordinary Time deserves to be lived extraordinarily in the depths of our own hearts, in our families and in our worshipping communities. Ordinary Time celebrates Jesus’ teaching and ministry. It gives us time to reflect on how we live as Christians. It is important for us to immerse ourselves deeply in the spirituality of Ordinary Time because it contains the essence of who we are in the ‘everydayness’ of our Christian lives.

Mazenod College WA 60th Anniversary

Last week I was fortunate enough to participate in some of the Mazenod College Western Australia 60th Anniversary celebrations. The celebrations began with a college assembly on the morning of Thursday 21 May, The Feast of St Eugene de Mazenod. Fr Gerry Conlon OMI, former Mazenod College student boarder and currently a missionary in Kenya, was the guest speaker. This was followed by their annual Mazenod Mission Day. In the evening the Mazenod Oblate community, Fr Micheal Twigg OMI, Rector, Fr Michael McMahan OMI, Chaplain, and Fr Mathew Raj OMI (PP Lesmurdie Parish) hosted an Oblate community meal to celebrate the Oblate commitment to the college over the 60 years.

On Friday evening the college community, friends, together with Oblates, gathered at St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth for the 60th anniversary celebration of the Eucharist. Bishop Nelson Po, recently appointed auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Perth, was the main celebrant with Oblate Provincial, Fr Andrew Chen OMI, homilist for the occasion. Although I returned early from Perth there was the anniversary Gala Ball held at the Pan Pacific, Hotel Perth on the Saturday evening. On Pentecost Sunday 24 May at 9.30am, the Feast Day and anniversary celebrations continued with Mass in the local Oblate parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, Lesmurdie at 9.30am. Congratulations to all who have been part of the 60-year history of Mazenod College.

St Eugene de Mazenod Feast Day – Mazenod College Vic

On Friday 22 May our college community gathered in the Provence Centre at 11.15am for the celebration of the Eucharist for the Feast of St Eugene de Mazenod. The actual date of the feast is May 21, 1861, when Bishop Eugene de Mazenod entered eternal life. Fr Dominic Rozario OMI (college chaplain) was the preacher and Deacon Danistan OMI assisted at the altar for the Eucharistic celebration. To enhance the occasion our students enjoyed a half day holiday whilst our staff came together with the Oblates for important community time with a shared lunch before finishing early. Thanks to all who ensured this was a prayerful and enjoyable celebration. I pray that St Eugene will continue to bless and inspire all of us involved in our Mazenod community.

Annual Mazenod & Panthers Football Match

On Wednesday 20 May Mazenod College hosted the annual Mazenod students versus Mazenod Panthers football match on the college oval. The Mazenod Panthers team caters for all people with a disability regardless of ability, The purpose of the All-Abilities teams is to enable access for people with a disability to the game of Australian Rules football.

The inclusive spirit of Mazenod was very tangible with our students volunteering to participate in this match which is a highlight on our college calendar. Players on both sides displayed their skills with the Panthers clinching victory. Ben (Year 11) was awarded Best on Ground for the College, while Patrick was named Most Courageous for the Panthers (both pictured above). I enjoyed joining Patrick, Peter and Angus as the umpires for the occasion. Thank you to all from Mazenod College whose generosity in assisting in anyway ensured that this was another successful event.

National Reconciliation Week & Aboriginal Our Father

National Reconciliation week for 2026 is from 27 May till 3 June. The theme this year is All In, a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day in all situations. Reconciliation in all its forms will not happen by itself, and it will not happen without all of us. We pray:

You are our Father, you live in Heaven

We talk to you our Father, you are good (repeat)

We believe your word, Father, we are your people

Give us bread today (repeat)

We have done wrong we are sorry

Teach us Father all about your word (repeat)

Others have done wrong to us and

We are sorry for them Father today (repeat)

Stop us from doing wrong Father

Save us from the evil one (repeat)

You are our Father you live in Heaven

We talk to you Father you are good (repeat)