Mission News

Prayers

We pray for those in our community who are unwell and those who have died recently. May those who mourn be comforted and all those who have gone before us be held by God in love.

Community Mass 

Our last Community Mass for the term will be held on Wednesday morning at 8:00am. All are welcome!

Gospel and Reflection

Gospel from 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday 1 September – Mark 7:31-37

Returning from the district of Tyre, Jesus went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, right through the Decapolis region. And they brought him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they asked him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, put his fingers into the man's ears and touched his tongue with spittle. Then looking up to heaven he sighed; and he said to him, 'Ephphatha,' that is, 'Be opened.' And his ears were opened, and the ligament of his tongue was loosened and he spoke clearly. And Jesus ordered them to tell no one about it, but the more he insisted, the more widely they published it. Their admiration was unbounded. 'He has done all things well,' they said 'he makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.'

We all (in varying degrees) rely on our sense of touch, sight, sound, taste and smell to encounter and respond to the world around us. Our sensory experiences are enriched by our capacity to reflect on and communicate those experiences with others. Jesus’ gentle act of healing the deaf man gave the man the gift of more fully participating in his community and in day-to-day life.

Our wonderful Marist and Mt Alvernia students who have volunteered to help at this weekend’s Sony Camp met on Sunday for an induction day to learn about the roles and about the children who they will be caring for during the camp. One of our presenters, Lou Bennett, a physiotherapist and current parent, spoke to the students about how disability can impact a young person’s participation in activities and in the world around them. Acknowledging the challenges of this for the children we will be hosting and the students who will be supporting them, our goal is that Sony will be a time of fun, friendship and full participation. We pray for the success of the camp, for all young people with disability and for those who care for them.

And as we conclude Term 3 this week, we reflect with gratitude on the gift and privilege of working with the young men here at Marist:

+ Lord God,

In this moment of stillness, we pause to express our gratitude for the gift of working with young people. Thank you for the opportunity to inspire and nurture young minds, to be a guiding light in their journey of discovery to walk beside them in their formative years.

We are grateful for the laughter that fills our classrooms, the curiosity that ignites each day, and the joy of witnessing growth in our students. May we always approach our work with patience and kindness, fostering an environment where every child feels valued and empowered.

We are grateful for the wisdom shared by each student, for their unique perspectives that enrich our lives and sometimes confuse us. Help us to continue to cultivate a love for learning, to ignite passions, and to encourage dreams, no matter how big or small.

We are grateful for the support of our colleagues and the trust of parents, who partner with us in this sacred mission. May our collaboration continue to strengthen, creating a community of growth and understanding.

As we step into the classroom or are present around the College each day, grant us the grace to lead with compassion, the strength to face challenges, and the humility to learn from our students and from each other. May we always be a source of encouragement and inspiration, helping to shape not only our boy’s minds but also, more importantly, their hearts.

With gratitude, we embrace this calling, knowing that through education, we have the power to make a difference. 

We reflect on all that we are grateful for in our lives…

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. + 

Sony Foundation Camp

We are very excited to be welcoming our campers this coming weekend!

Last minute call out for any donations of snack items and dress-ups. Please drop off at Tower Reception, Primary Reception or the Mission office. Thank you to all our families for your wonderful support and generosity in helping make our 2024 Sony Foundation Camp a success!

Santa Teresa immersion

This Friday 13 September, eight of our Year 11 students will fly into the heart of Australia to be immersed in the community of Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte). The students will be joined by two staff – Mr Brauer and Ms Smeed and they’re all excited about what will no doubt be an incredible, memorable experience. We look forward to hearing all about the immersion experience and pray that hearts and minds will be opened!

eWaste Permanent Collection and Drive

Year 10s, James Dee, Joel Dargusch and Luke Garvey are a part of the Lord Mayor's Young Environmental Leadership Network. They need to design and implement an environmental strategy for the school and have decided to focus on the issue of e-waste. eWaste is electronic products that are unwanted, not working and nearing or at the end of their “useful life.” The most common eWaste at Marist are broken computer mice, headphones, chargers and laptops etc. Instead of throwing these into general waste, students will soon have the option of properly recycling them. Come Term 4, we will have a permanent eWaste bin in the Science Foyer that they can use at their convenience.

Saturday 12 October we will also be hosting an eWaste Drive in the McMahon Oval car park from 9:00-11:00am. This will be for our local community to properly dispose of any larger items e-waste they might have at home. So now’s the time to start collecting those broken TVs, printers, and other electronic items that you may have been holding on to at home.