From the Rector

Reflection: Jesus, like you, I take up my daily cross. I welcome the monotony that often marks my day, family concerns, health issues, discomforts of all kinds, my disappointments, tensions, setbacks, cares. Remind me often that in carrying my cross, I carry Yours with You. And though I bear a sliver only of your cross, Jesus you carry all of mine, except a sliver, in return.

Greetings!

During this season of Lent I thought I would start my message to you all with a short reflection on some aspect of the Stations of the Cross, the final earthly steps of Jesus’ Passion. These stations also reflect aspects of our own journey through life. I pray that these short reflections may help you reflect on your personal lives, especially in relation to your God and each other. 

Our focus this week is on the cross Jesus had to carry. The above prayer reminds us that we all carry a cross of one kind or another. Life is full of twists and turns and they are not always for the better. Life can change at any moment with a visit to the doctor, a loss of a job or the breakup of a relationship. These are just some of the crosses we might have to struggle with from time to time, however, we live in the knowledge that Jesus is there helping us to bare our burdens and that he will never give us a cross that is too heavy. That is why he went to Calvary.

Last Friday the Oblates, and our entire Oblate Family, were reminded of our mortality with the shock passing of Fr Ian Mackintosh OMI. Fr Ian was the third Rector of Mazenod College, Victoria and is the first Mazenod College Oblate Rector to pass into eternal life. 

Fr Ian’s Requiem Mass will be celebrated in our Provence Center on Monday March 1.

Fr Ian will be sadly missed by many. RIP Fr Ian.

Last Monday we welcomed Br Jessington Logu Julious Logu OMI amongst us. Br Jessington is an Oblate student from Sri Lanka who has come to the Australian Province to continue his priestly studies. Br Jessington will be gaining some pastoral experience here in the College on Monday mornings. 

Today (Friday February 26) we celebrated, under COVID regulations, our Mazenod College Inaugural Mass for 2021 in our Provence Centre and live streamed it to our families and friends. It was great to welcome Fr Christian Fini OMI, Oblate Provincial, back to the college as our main celebrant. It was a moving experience for me to preach before the whole college community at my first Inaugural Mass as Rector and when our Provincial celebrated my official induction as the 8th Oblate Rector of the college. Please pray for me as I undertake this new ministry within our Oblate Family here at Mazenod. Unfortunately, none of my family members were able to be present, however, through modern technology, they were able to participate by recording Prayers of Intercession. 

Take care and enjoy the approaching weekend. 

God bless.

Fr Harry Dyer OMI

Rector