Mission News

Prayers

We hold in prayer members of our community who have died recently or whose anniversaries occur at this time. We also pray for those who are receiving treatment for illness or who are struggling at this time. We pray the strength of God’s healing spirit will be with them and with all who are journeying through grief and loss. Amen.

Community Mass

Regular Masses continue on Monday 1st Break, Wednesday 8:00am and Friday 1st Break. All Welcome. This week Wednesday we welcome Gilroy students, staff and families for their House Mass.

Gospel

Excerpt from Gospel according to Luke, 18th Sunday in Ordinary time (Luke 12:13-21 (JB))

'There was once a rich man who, having a good harvest from his land, thought to himself, "What am I to, do? I have not enough room to store my crops." Then he said, "This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them, and I will say, to my soul: 'My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time." But God said to him, "Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?" So it is when a man stores up treasure for himself in place of making himself rich in the sight of God.'

In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus responds to a man’s request to settle a financial dispute between brothers—not by intervening, but by warning against greed. He tells a story about a rich man who, after a bountiful harvest, decides to build bigger barns to store his wealth and relax for years to come. But that night, his life is demanded of him, and everything he stored up becomes meaningless.

The core message resonates loudly: life is not measured by possessions. Jesus challenges the idea that security and success come from accumulating material goods. The rich man’s fatal error wasn't his wealth—but his belief that it could guarantee him rest, peace, and significance. He didn’t account for the fragility of life or the deeper call to be rich toward God.

How is this relevant for us today? I suppose you could retitle this Parable “The Rich Fool in a Digital Age” We live in a world that often equates success with accumulation—more money, more followers, more possessions, more status. The rich fool's mindset is alive and well, just dressed in sleeker packaging. We build "bigger barns" in the form of bank accounts, bigger houses, social media portfolios, and retirement plans—none of which are inherently bad, but they can quietly become idols that distract us from deeper purpose.

• Instant gratification can make us lose sight of eternity. We chase what feels rewarding now without considering whether it holds lasting value.
• Security through possessions feels comforting—but Jesus reminds us it's temporary. True peace can't be bought or stored; it's found in relationship with God.
• Ignoring the bigger story—like the rich man, we might plan for years ahead but forget that life can change in a moment. What's urgent isn't always what's most important.

And so we pray;

+ Lord, teach us to count what truly matters. In a world hungry for more, help us hunger for You. 

Free us from chasing what doesn’t last and guide us to invest in eternal things—love, mercy, and grace. 

In a world that tempts us to build bigger, teach us to build deeper. Strip away our illusions of control and turn our hearts toward what lasts. May we not store up treasures for ourselves but share our lives in ways that honour You. 

Remind us daily that our worth isn't in what we own, but in who we belong to.

Mary our good mother – pray for us

St Marcellin Champagnat – pray for us

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop – pray for us

And may we always remember – to pray for one another

Amen.+

Environment Group Free Dress Day

Thank you to everyone who dressed up and got into the spirit of last Friday’s Environment Free Dress Day in support of the wonderful work of Stationery Aid. In keeping with the theme “Fluoro like a highlighter”, there was plenty of bright yellow, pink and orange to illuminate the school. Many thanks to Ms Badini, Ms Kenny and the Environment group students for your initiative in organising this great event. To check out photos and read more, please visit the Environment Group page on this week’s newsletter. To further support Stationery Aid to achieve their goal to help families in need, you are warmly invited to attend their major fundraiser being held later this month – see details below, including ticket pricing.

A reminder that Year 5 &6 will have a separate Free Dress Fundraiser for Stationery Aid later this term. 

Luminous Lantern Parade

On Friday evening a group of 15 Marist students, joined by staff members Sharon Davidson, Aaron Manson, Sue Going and Clare Locke, attended the Luminous Lantern Parade at South Bank. 

Our students represented Marist beautifully and happily took on responsibility for carrying extra lanterns to help out other community groups who were short on numbers (likely due to the threat of rain on Friday). There was a festive atmosphere amongst the walking groups with different cultural, religious and community groups represented in a colour, vibrant way. Families watched as the parade made its way along the river bank. Our students seemed enjoyed the attention! A particular mention goes to Francis, Ted, Lachie and Cooper, who carried the giant lizard lantern for the Vinnies group. And special thanks to Sharon Davidson who created our blue lanterns for the students to carry.

Held annually, the Luminous Lantern Parade is a way people in Brisbane can visibly celebrate and welcome the diversity that makes up our city and suburbs. We’re so proud our students could participate in this wonderful community event – one which is not about politics, but about welcome,  and celebration.

Good Luck Mikael 

Good Luck to our wonderful Youth Minister, Mikael Pitot as he takes on his final teacher prac at the Good Samaritan Catholic College in Bli Bli! We are so blessed to have Mikael as part of the Mission Team and will be counting down the hours until his return (just in time for Sony Camp)! 

Stationery Aid Fundraising Event

Stationery Aid’s major fundraising event will be held on Friday 29 August and all are invited!

The evening will be a great celebration of salvaged student art and stories, and repurposed functional art from Stationery Aid’s charity partners. It also marks 5 years since Stationery Aid started.

Artist David Hinchliffe https://www.davidhinchliffe.com.au/  is the special guest speaker with Anna Reynolds, Chair of Brisbane Festival and Brisbane Portrait Prize as MC for the evening.

The aim is to raise $82,500 by the end of the year to support 1,500 disadvantaged students with full student booklists to start 2026 school year (and resources for one year of learning). To help Stationery Aid achieve this important goal, we encourage our wonderful Marist community to get behind this event.  

Stationery Aid Friday mornings

Join us in Room 801 on Friday mornings between 7:30am - 8:30am as we continue giving stationery a second life! Thank you to Grace Ryan and her PG101 group for volunteering their time last Friday. 

A reminder that donations of good quality unwanted stationery is always welcome and can be placed in the blue bin outside the Mission Office. 

To find out more and to check the list for what can be donated, please visit: https://stationeryaid.org/