From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

From Gaming to God and to Heaven

Young people today love gaming in any form whether it be on Nintendos, PlayStations or an Xbox. The gaming epidemic is real for young people, and these addictive games take up hours of activity and play, which has exploded exponentially since the COVID pandemic. From the moment of waking to late night addictions, gaming has become a worrying obsession for many. Yet, there is also the benefit of social connections for young people.

This week, I read the interesting and inspirational story of Carlo Acutis. Born in London in 1991, Carlo tragically lost his life to leukaemia in 2006 at the age of 15. Like any typical teenage boy, Carlo also loved gaming. However, he also had deep faith that he was passionate about. In a modern and secular world, Carlo went against the grain and found a way to share his faith with a broad audience. Quite simply, he used gaming and conversations with online friends to communicate his faith message. Carlo spent many hours honing his skills as a computer programmer while also remaining committed to prayer and devotion. After completing his first communion, Carlo chose to go to mass as often as possible. He would literally drag his parents to mass with him as they typically only went at Christmas and Easter. Carlo became so inspired by the mass that he would tell his gaming audience, “There are queues to get into concerts, in front of football stadiums, but I don’t see these queues in front of the Blessed Sacrament” – you see, the mass and the Blessed Sacrament became the centre of Carlo’s life. He explained, “The Eucharist is the highway to heaven.”

Carlo’s witness of faith as a child inspired adults to convert and be baptised. He would frequently take food in Tupperware dishes to the homeless living on the streets. At high school, he defended those who were bullied, befriended peers who were experiencing emotional and family difficulties and spoke about the importance of mass, rosary, confession and human dignity. He defended the Church’s teachings even at the expense of his peers ridiculing him. Carlo made his life about others and would say, “Sadness is looking at ourselves, happiness is looking towards God.”

On Sunday, we celebrated Jesus’ ascension into heaven. As Jesus departed this earth, he left a challenge for each of us to enable Christ to live on through our actions and deeds - we are God’s hands, his feet, his eyes and his heart. Having been recognised for two recent miracles, Carlo Acutis is set to become the first millennial saint and is known as “the first gamer saint”. His life was full of good deeds, remarkably at such a young age. His ability to integrate his faith with modern technology, resonates deeply with young Catholics around the globe. His integration of faith and technology serves as a powerful reminder of the potential for technology to be a force for good in the world, particularly in spreading the message of Christ’s love and mercy. Carlo is an example of enabling our hands, feet, eyes and heart to mirror Christ in our modern world.

God of the journey, like Carlo Acutis, may all members of the Marist College Ashgrove family mirror you each day in this our modern world. Amen.

Champagnat Mass 2025

On Friday June 6th, Marist College Ashgrove celebrates St Marcellin Champagnat – the founder of the Marist Brothers in Southern France. Father Champagnat started an order of teachers in 1817 to instruct the poor youth of Southern France, teaching them about God and providing them with basic literacy and numeracy, following the time of the French Revolution. From here, Marist schools spread throughout Europe and around the world, including Australia and of course, here in Ashgrove.

Marist College Ashgrove will celebrate St Marcellin Champagnat with a College Mass to mark this feast day. All families are welcome to attend. Mass will commence at 11.45am in the Champagnat Centre. Following the Mass, we will have a celebratory lunch supplied by the College. The afternoon will include house competitions – a push-up challenge and theatre sports.

We wish all members of the Marist family a happy and special St Marcellin Champagnat Day 2025. A time to celebrate some 600 Marist schools located in some 80 countries across the globe – and of course, our own wonderful college – undertaking much outstanding education and social work for young people around the world.

Happy Champagnat Day!

Respectful Relationships

On Thursday 5th June, all Year 10 boys will take part in a full day presentation by YourChoicez, on the topic of Respectful Relationships, to be held in the Draney Theatre. This is such an important topic for our young men as they navigate a world where standards are changing for the better and expectations more appropriate regarding the respect and equal treatment of all women. This presentation is being provided in alignment with the Respectful Relationships unit being covered in ASH lessons this semester. Please access the parent promo video via the link provided below for more information. YourChoicez Parent Promo. The company's website also provides some great tools for parents such as: How parents can talk to their kids about sex and Parent Child Digital Contract to use when entrusting your son with a mobile device. It is expected that this full day presentation will allow further important conversations at home. It is our hope that we can equip our young men with the tools to make informed decisions regarding Respectful Relationships. My thanks are extended to Gareth Kolkenbeck-Ruh and Tim Walker for their organisation of this important presentation for the students.

AIC Cross Country Championships

My best wishes are extended to the Marist College Ashgrove Cross Country Team who have been training hard for the upcoming championships to be held this Wednesday 4th June at Curlew Park, Shorncliffe. Events begin with Year 5 boys at 9.45am and end with Year 12 at 12.30m. Presentations will commence at 1.15pm. Unfortunately, due to the very wet conditions at present, the course has been altered in 2025 and spectators limited, with only a few dozen senior boys being able to support from each AIC school. Thank you to coaches Matt Millward and Marcus Schrader (Co-ordinator) and Head Coach - Thomas Prole and the training supervisors for all their training, encouragement and hard work. Last year, Marist College Ashgrove won both the Primary and Secondary Cross Country Championships, so we enter this carnival with hopeful expectations. Good luck, gentlemen.

Primary Boys are busy this week

Our primary students will be very busy this week participating in the following events -

our Public Speakers compete in their final round of the Public Speaking Competition this Tuesday night at St Lawrence’s College. Thanks to Mr Dan Price and Ms Robyn Brown for preparing and accompanying the boys. All Year 6 boys have completed a full day retreat with facilitators, Character Builders. During the day the boys focused on the activities of developing teamwork, leadership and positive relationships. Thanks to all the Year 6 teachers and Mr Anthony Graham who organised and accompanied the boys. Best wishes to our five, Year 6 boys who will participate in the Youth Parliament on Thursday. Thanks to Catherine Barnett who has organised and prepared our future politicians for this event. 

Acting Deputy Head of College

Congratulations to Mr Phillip Holding who will be the Acting Deputy Head of College replacing Mr Charles Brauer from 2 June – 31 August. Charles will be enjoying a period of much deserved leave. As a consequence of this appointment, Gareth Kolkenbek-Ruh will be Acting Assistant Head of College – Students, Scott Minogue will be the Acting Pastoral Leader Years 7-12, and Kate Moore the Acting Pastoral Leader – Rush House. We wish all these respective leaders our full support and best wishes during this time of leadership and care for the boys.

Mooting Competition

Best wishes to five, Year 12 Legal Studies students (two teams) who will be competing in the Griffith University Mooting Competition tomorrow. This is a Queensland and New South Wales competition open to students in Year 11 and Year 12 with an interest in law. Mooting is essentially a simulated court proceeding. The students deconstruct a legal case, research the relevant law and present submissions, both written and oral, for their allotted role. This provides students with a practical and engaging opportunity to extend their learning beyond the classroom by deepening their understanding of legal principles, advocacy, critical thinking, and public speaking. My thanks are extended to David O’Brien (Curriculum Leader – Humanities), Melanie Taylor, Tara Franklin and Brenton Cope for preparing and accompanying the boys to this Mooting Competition.

May our loving God with Mary our good mother and St Marcellin Champagnat walk with all members of the Marist College Ashgrove Family.