Rector's Report
Greetings! I hope this newsletter finds you all well and coping with your son/s who are presently or getting ready to sit their exams. This is not an easy time for them. I never enjoyed exam time, so I do feel for them. Our Oblate community continues to pray for these young men that they will receive the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, understanding and patience.
Over the past week I have lived the reality that life is fragile, and we never know what is in front of us. Of course, this can be a good thing as it would change our whole perspective on living life. On November 2, I was booked in for a double baptism of a great nephew (Ripely) and great niece (Ocie) in Townsville. Prior to this we received the sad news that my sister’s partner had passed away after a very short battle with cancer and so I had to travel earlier than expected to celebrate the funeral on October 29. These set of circumstances remind us of the cycle of life and our need to love and care for one another during the precious time we have with each other.
All Saints and All Souls
In the Catholic tradition, November is traditionally a month of remembrance of the dead. The month began with the Solemnity of All Saints on November 1 which commemorates all the saints in heaven and the example they offer us. This could be an opportunity for you to recall the saints name you chose for your Confirmation and how you are continuing to imitate their life. The following day, November 2, we celebrated All Souls when we especially remembered all our deceased loved ones.
This month offers four opportunities to remember our loved ones: Firstly, and most importantly, is to pray for them either privately or by having a Mass said for their intentions. Secondly, you could visit the grave/s of your deceased loved ones and offer a prayer of thanksgiving for them. Thirdly, I invite you to take the opportunity to join the college community at our morning Eucharist at 8.10am as we pray together for all our deceased loves ones. Fourthly, I invite you to join us on Friday November 8 at 7.00pm in the college chapel when we will pause, pray, and remember the deceased old boys of our college.
Let us Pray
God of Compassion,
We remember with gratitude and love all the people we have known and who you have called home to yourself.
In this month of the holy souls we give thanks for the great cloud of witnesses who have shaped us, inspired us, loved us and forgiven us.
We pray especially for our deceased family members, knowing that they also pray for us.
We hold out to you the millions who are dying because of war, famine, disease and climate change.
We pray for refugees who die in search of safety.
May our sorrow encourage us to work for a more just world where every life is treated with equal dignity. Living and dead, we are all your family. May your perpetual light shine on us all.
St Eugene de Mazenod
Pray for us.
206th Anniversary - First Oblation in Congregation
November 1, 1818, is an important date for the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate as it is the day when our Founder, St. Eugene, and his first companion on this new missionary journey, Father Henry Tempier, made and professed their first oblation (vows). May this anniversary be a time of grace, renewal, communion, and above all, a time to journey with each other as the De Mazenod Family, the people of God.
Adore - De Mazenod Family Advent Program
I would like to draw your attention to the approaching De Mazenod Family Advent Program for 2024 - Adore. This program has been designed so that you can use it privately, in a group or you are most welcome to join other people from our De Mazenod Family online.
The online component will run on four Thursday evenings leading up to Christmas, beginning on the 28th of November with a starting time of 8.00 pm AEDT. Details can be found at the website: demazenodfamily.com.au.
During Advent, we hope this program allows you time and space to forget about the busyness of our daily lives, and to stop and prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord!
This is life!
Yours in Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate
Fr Harry Dyer OMI