From the Rector

Greetings!  Welcome to the season of Spring although over the few days of this week you would be hard-pressed to distinguish it from our winter months.

The start of Spring not only brings warmer weather (hopefully) but the start of the AFL Finals Series. This first week will see some teams eliminated and others getting a second chance. It will be an interesting couple of weeks to see which teams can make the Grand Final on September 24.

Oblate Retreat

Since our last newsletter, Fr Kevin and I have returned from our annual retreat. After two years of pandemic uncertainties, we gathered with 34 brother Oblates from around the Australian Oblate Province with Bishop Eugene Hurley who was our retreat preacher. Bishop Hurley helped us to understand varied aspects of our priestly and Oblate journey through inspiring personal stories and reflections on the scriptures. This is also an important time for Oblates to strengthen their community bonds with each other.

The Friday of the retreat was a day dedicated to matters dealing with our Australian Province and China Delegation. These sessions were led by our Provincial Fr Christian Fini OMI. A couple of interesting aspect of our discussions was the current demographics of the Oblates ministering in the Australian Province. I thought I would share some of them with you.

Currently, there are 40 Oblates in the Australian Province. 11 over 80 years and 2 in their 90s – 3 over 70 years – 3 over 60 years – 4 over 50 years – 16 over 40 years – 2 over 30 years. The Australian Province is characterized and thankful for a rich diversity of missionaries with the following origins:   5-Sri Lanka, 1-Nigeria, 1-Congo,  6-India, 1-Italy, 4-Ireland, 2-Pakistan, 2-Poland, 18-Australia. 

Happy Father's Day & Blessing

They Teach. They Motivate. They Mentor. They Protect. They Discipline. They Guide. They are Passionate. They are Resilient. They are Fun.       

I take this opportunity to wish all the dads, guardians and special male carers, a happy and enjoyable day this Sunday. Each year this special day in Australia is celebrated on the first Sunday of September. This is a special opportunity to show our appreciation to all who care for us in a special and loving way. We also remember with love and pray for our dads who are experiencing eternal life in the Kingdom of God. May they rest in peace.

I have included this prayer of blessing which you could pray on Father’s Day over the father figure in your life.

God our Father,

In your wisdom and love you made all things.

We celebrate, not only our dads, but all the men who act as a father figure - grandfathers, stepfathers, uncles, godparents and carers, they are all important in our lives.

We give thanks to you for their love and care, understanding and patience. 

Lord, we ask you to

Bless them in their work,

Bless them in their leisure,

Bless them in their needs,

Bless them in the depths of their hearts.

Bless them in their faith that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers.

Today we also remember those who have died, grant them peace in your Kingdom. 

We remember their Spirit and love within our hearts.

God our Father, grant that we, their sons, and daughters, may be ever thankful for this gift of love in our lives.

We ask this prayer and blessing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

St Eugene de Mazenod – Patron of Families.

Pray for us.

Father's Day Eucharist & Breakfast

On Friday 2 September the College celebrated Father’s Day which witnessed an overflowing College chapel with dads, father figures and sons. Fr Harry and Fr Kevin celebrated the Eucharist. Following the Eucharist, we all gathered in the newly opened College canteen for an enjoyable breakfast together. Thank you to those who were able to attend this important function in the life of our College.

St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal

Mr Joshua Hunter, Social Justice Coordinator, has kindly shared his report on the recent St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal in the College. 

We were overwhelmed by the incredible support of the Mazenod family for our recent Winter Appeal. 

We received a wonderful amount of goods to donate to our local parish charities that serve the neediest and marginalised in our community. 

At our recent Year 10 Reflection Day, the students learned about the issue of homelessness and were challenged to look for Jesus in the faces of the poor and marginalised, and to care for our brothers and sisters in need. Our Year 10s, with these generous donations, put together care packages, and wrote prayers and messages of hope to send out to those in need. Following the appeal, we dropped off over 20 bags of food to St Leonard’s Parish Glen Waverley for their food bank, a van full of clothes and toys to St Vincent de Paul in Springvale and an amazing amount of tea, coffee and toiletries to our Rosies Oblate Street Mission. Every item is going to those who most need them, particularly those in our local community. The charities upon receiving these were blown away by the number of donations and shared with us their deep appreciation and continued need for support, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic and the new needs that have since emerged. 

A huge thank you to all our students, parents and staff who supported this important effort, a wonderful gesture of de Mazenod spirit.

The above acknowledgment card was received from St Vincent de Paul.

Have a Smile!!

Have an enjoyable weekend!

Fr Harry Dyer OMI

Rector