From the Rector

Greetings! 

This is the last of my newsletters for Term 2. I look forward to writing to you all again on Friday, July 16.

May I take this opportunity to extend my appreciation to the students, teachers, staff, and families for your resilience as we navigated our way through another term punctuated with lockdowns. Enjoy the two-week break and take care.

The end of term also signals the conclusion of my series ‘The Journey from Eugene de Mazenod to St Eugene de Mazenod.’ I hope this series has enabled you to gain an insight into the life, vision, mission, and spirit of St Eugene, a spirit that continues to permeate all aspects of our Mazenod College way of life. Next term I will commence a new series that traces the development of our Australian Oblate Province with the arrival of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate from Ireland to Fremantle, Australia in 1894. 

This year’s theme for Refugee Week (20th-26th June 2021) is, "Unity – the way forward". Hospitality to anyone must begin with hospitable and open hearts, breaking down the walls that fear and prejudice erect. As Christians we need to listen to the message of Jesus in Matthew’s gospel when he says: ‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me’.  We can be judgemental of our brothers and sisters who find themselves in desperate situations without having the opportunity to sit and listen to their story.  Listening to another, in any situation, enables us to gain an insight into why refugees/migrants find themselves exploring new opportunities. I don’t believe for a minute that any one of us would want to be faced with the horrific images we view on our nightly news of people walking homelessly and with no more than a small bag containing their possessions. Many people, including my own parents, although not refugees, migrated to Australia from Scotland for a new way of life. The welcome they received upon arrival made the transition into a new culture easier. Their local faith community was comprised of families from Scotland, England, Ireland, Holland, Italy, Malta, Croatia, Poland, Ukraine etc., but all rallied together to create a new life for all. Refugee Week, or welcoming new people, is not just restricted to a week during the year, it is about each one of us making the most of the opportunities that arise to ensure that we welcome all comers with open and compassionate hearts so we can all live in unity and peace together. 

Prayer for Refugee Week

Almighty and merciful God, whose Son became a refugee and had no place to call his own, look with mercy on those who today are fleeing from danger, who are homeless and hungry.

Bless those who work to bring them relief.

Inspire generosity and compassion in the hearts of all of us.

Guide us and every nation of the world towards that day when all will rejoice in your Kingdom of justice and of peace.

                                    Through Jesus Christ, our Brother and our Lord. Amen.

Yesterday, as you see from this picture, I came good on a challenge put to me by the Year 7 Aussie Rules Football Team. The challenge was that if they won a game, I would shout them pizza. Viewing their results over the previous weeks, I thought it was a safe challenge, however, I underestimated their collective enthusiasm for footy and especially for pizza. Great effort guys!

Have a smile!                                                                                            

                                OR........

Yours in Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate,

Fr Harry Dyer OMI

Rector