Mission News

Prayers

We pray for the sick and struggling in our community, that they may receive support and that God’s healing spirit may provide strength. We pray for those who have died. May God’s arms be wide open to receive them, and may we trust in the hope of meeting again. 

Community Mass 

A reminder that our Community Masses are celebrated in the College Chapel each Wednesday at 8:00am and Friday at 1st break. It’s great to see the participation of our students at Mass, including some of our sportsmen on Friday. 

Gospel and Reflection

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday 28 July - John 6:1-15 (JB)

Jesus went off to the other side of the Sea of Galilee - or of Tiberias - and a large crowd followed him, impressed by the signs he gave by curing the sick. Jesus climbed the hillside, and sat down there with his disciples. It was shortly before the Jewish feast of Passover.

Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to Philip, 'Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?' He only said this to test Philip; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do. Philip answered, 'Two hundred denarii would only buy enough to give them a small piece each.' One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said, 'There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that between so many?' Jesus said to them, 'Make the people sit down.' There was plenty of grass there, and as many as five thousand men sat down. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks and gave them out to all who were sitting ready; he then did the same with the fish, giving out as much as was wanted. When they had eaten enough he said to the disciples, 'Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing gets wasted.' So they picked them up, and filled twelve hampers with scraps left over from the meal of five barley loaves. The people, seeing this sign that he had given, said, 'This really is the prophet who is to come into the world.' Jesus, who could see they were about to come and take him by force and make him king, escaped back to the hills by himself.

At last week’s assembly, we heard about FareShare and were shown some pretty confronting statistics about food waste and hunger. There’s a hospitality focus in Sunday’s Gospel of Jesus feeding the five thousand. The only person with food, a young boy, generously gives all he has: five loaves and 2 fish. To the disciples, it’s unfixable, but Jesus tells them to have the people sit down on the grass and proceeds to share the food. This is the image of the Good Shepherd caring for his sheep.

There’s enough for everyone and plenty to spare, with Jesus telling the disciples to: “'Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing gets wasted”. 

The actions of the young boy in the Gospel—giving all the food he has—remind us of the ways our students and families are willing to get involved and give what they can. It reminds us that little things count. This week’s Environment Day Dress Up will not only involve supporting FareShare by donating money or rice, but it will help raise awareness about the challenges we are facing, now and into the future, around poverty, food security and more. 

Today more than ever we’re challenged to practice what we preach: to reduce food and packaging waste, to produce our food in sustainable and ethical ways and make sure it is distributed equitably.

So, in our prayer this morning, we reflect with gratitude on what we have been given and the needs of all who deserve their fair share.

+ Generous God,

You give us life and all good things.

May we share what we have been given and not be wasteful.

May we strive for a world where all people can depend on the dignity of a daily meal to sustain their bodies. 

May children especially receive the nourishment they need to grow.

May we always be grateful for the good things we receive.

And may we commit to caring for the earth, our common home, now and into the future.

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 Free Dress Day Supporting FareShare

Food security is just one of many significant issues we need to tackle globally in a cooperative and innovative way. FareShare is a charity that seeks to address both the issue of food waste and hunger by providing healthy meals to those who are going without. So this Friday’s Environment Free Dress Day will focus its fundraising efforts on FareShare, with students asked to donate $2 via the monitor system or contribute a bag of Basmati Rice. Our Environment Group students will come around during PG with Monitor Machines and a trolley to collect any rice donations. Our collective effort can make a big difference.

Marist Connect Night

Marist Youth Ministry will be running a Connect Night on Friday, the 2nd of August, for senior students. These nights aim to bring local Marist School seniors together to connect, exploring themes such as justice, the environment, discipleship or leadership through the Marist Perspective. The night involves many games and activities involving these topics. 

Students are to refer to the email sent on 16th July for details or contact mates@marash.qld.edu.au if you have any questions.

Luminous Lantern Parade

We’re looking forward to attending the annual Luminous Lantern Parade this Saturday 3 August at South Bank. A group of students will join this this celebration of our city’s vibrant cultural and ethnic diversity. If you have any questions about this event, please email mates@marash.qld.edu.au.

St Vincent de Paul and Environment group

The Environment Group will meet this Thursday 25 July - Break 1B in room 801 – all welcome! Vinnies group will meet in Week 5A.

Vinnies Bin-Ball Competition will be held on August 9th. 

The Vinnies group will once again be cooking delicious Bacon & Egg Burgers this Thursday morning before school. Come and grab one for just $4.50.

Stationery Aid 

Our wonderful volunteers continued sorting and cleaning highlighters on Friday, joined by French exchange student, Cyprian. Want to lend a helping hand? Come down to Stationery Aid this Friday morning in Room 801 from 7:30am-8:30am as we continue giving stationery a second life!

To find out more, visit: https://stationeryaid.org/