From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

Rather, Life and Light

In 1999, I was privileged to attend the canonisation of St Marcellin Champagnat at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Champagnat, the French priest who founded the Marist Brothers, was declared a saint by Pope John Paul II. Some 40 000 pilgrims attended the ceremony where Fr Champagnat was canonised with two other inspirational saints - John Calabria and Agostinia Pietrantoni. The pilgrims walked the streets of Rome for days leading up to this exciting canonisation. There was so much life, excitement, joy and anticipation on the streets of Rome. It was certainly an uplifting time. It is amazing how the life and death of someone has led to so much life among his followers who continue the mission of educating young people about the love of God.

On this trip, I enjoyed the company of a kind, fun-loving and compassionate man by the name of Alan Deans. Alan, who was 45 at the time, had been diagnosed with brain cancer but after praying to Champagnat, was miraculously given a clean bill of health from doctors who saw his recovery as truly remarkable. Alan sincerely believed, that through the intercession of St Marcellin Champagnat, he had been cured from cancer. To become a saint, the Church requires evidence from doctors of miracles of healing. Although Alan’s was not one of the miracles used on this occasion, he believed his healing was certainly a Champagnat miracle. The spring in his step, the joy Alan enjoyed in his life and his gift of kindness towards others after this near-death experience, was not only astonishing but wonderful to witness.

This Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season – the 40 days leading to Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. On Ash Wednesday, each boy will have ashes placed on their forehead, in the sign of the cross, to remind them of the Easter season and the message that from death comes new life. The symbol of ashes represents death and the symbol of a cross represents new life. Our faith proclaims that at our death we are promised eternal reward or new life in heaven with God. This theme of death to new life not only reflects the actual end of our mortal life but is the hope for each day of our lives. We are called each day to die to our desires, wants and selfishness and to instead live by giving to another, by being selfless, by living in joy and light and in turn, bringing life to others - just as people witnessed in St Marcelin Champagnat and Alan Dean's lives.

This Ash Wednesday, we pray that all members of the Marist Ashgrove family will live full and rich lives in Christ, focusing on others rather than ourselves, providing selfless light and love wherever we go. Amen.

Ash Wednesday Liturgy

This Wednesday 22 February, Marist College Ashgrove recognises the commencement of the season of Lent with an Ash Wednesday Liturgy. At this ceremony, each boy will have ashes placed on their forehead and will hear the words, “turn away from sin and follow the Gospels.” This symbol and these words are a reminder to the boys of the Lenten / Easter message. During this Lenten season, let us take time to reflect, say sorry for our wrongdoings, practice self-denial and a sense of giving. In this spirit of self-denial and repentance, the College will abstain from meat products being sold in the tuckshop on Ash Wednesday and fish products can be purchased each Friday. I thank Fr Alatini (College Chaplain), Anna Nasr and the Missions team for organising and conducting this liturgy for the College.

Lenten Fundraising

There is also an opportunity throughout the season of Lent to personally go without spending money on oneself but rather to give this money to someone more in need. At Marist, our Lenten money raised will go towards Marist Solidarity, which assists the poor in many countries throughout the world, including: East Timor, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Bougainville, Cambodia, Fiji, India, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, The Philippines, Timor-Leste, Vanuatu and Vietnam. The College’s free dress day is a major fundraiser for Lent with food and game stalls planned for Friday 24 February. In anticipation of your generous assistance towards this charitable work, thank you. My thanks are extended to Ms Anna Nasr (Head of Mission) Mena Mclean (Campus Minister) and Fr Alatini (College Chaplain) for supporting and leading these student lead initiatives. Thanks also to the service and kitchen teams and Head of Houses who are assisting.

Marist College Ashgrove Formal

Best wishes to our Year 12 boys who will be partaking in the Marist College Ashgrove Formal on Saturday 4 March at the Brisbane City Hall. I trust that this evening will be a special one to remember for all families and the boys’ partners. The evening will commence with photos from 5:45pm and conclude by 11:00pm. A reminder that this is a College event and normal College rules are our expectation.

The safety of all boys and their partners is always prevalent in my mind on an occasion like this. Brisbane City Hall will be providing security to ensure that the rules and regulations regarding the Responsible Service of Alcohol are followed. This means that no alcohol is to be served or brought onto the premises regardless of whether a student or his partner is 18 years of age or older. Should students be caught with alcohol, or behaving in a manner that indicates intoxication, they will be removed from the function and expect the usual College consequences.

I remind all boys and parents, as this is a school event, the following expectations regarding any after-formal events that may be planned:

Respectful relationships are a clear expectation.
As always Marist College Ashgrove boys and their partners are reminded that, under no circumstances, are they to bring the College name into disrepute. It is assumed all invitees behave in an appropriate manner before, during and after the formal celebrations.
Whilst it is the responsibility of parents to decide what is in the best interests of their sons beyond school hours and/or College associated events, please be aware of the following with regards to pre and post-formal parties: NO pre or post-formal or ‘gathering’ is supported by Marist College Ashgrove. The College, therefore, does not in any way accept responsibility for functions prior to or following formals. The name of the College must not appear on invitations, nor be used to imply functions are in any way sanctioned by the College. Parents who choose to organise and provide such a non-sanctioned gathering, bear the responsibility associated with the function and accountability for unwelcome attendees or outcomes. If your decision, as parents, is to hold a party for your son, I suggest you become familiar with and informed through using the Australian Drug Foundation website on hosting parties: www.adf.org.au
Parents are reminded that under the Liquor Act (1992), section 156A (1): an adult must not supply liquor to a minor at a private place unless the adult is a responsible adult for the minor. You could face court and be fined a maximum penalty of $11,500.00
The boys have been made aware of this information during a Year 12 assembly prior.

I trust that the 2023 Marist College Ashgrove Formal is a positive and appreciated experience for boys and all families. I particularly thank Mr Peter Serone (Head of Students), his Personal Assistant - Mrs Kelly Byrnes and the Events team for their organisation of this event. Further, I am grateful to the members of the College Leadership Team, Heads of House and other staff who have generously given their time to prepare the boys and supervise on the night.

Staff Spirituality Day

On Monday 27 February, Marist will be holding a Staff Spirituality Day. This is a student-free day. The aim of this day is to ensure all staff at the College are accredited and well-educated to teach Religious Education or in a Catholic School. Our presentation this year will be from Fr Richard Leonard SJ. Richard who is an author of 10 books, a film critic (Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Hong Kong, Warsaw, Montreal, Melbourne, Brisbane), features regularly in publications like – Eureka Street, US Catholics and The Tablet. He is a regular guest on the ABC. Fr Richard Leonard is a Darling Downs product, completing his schooling at St Mary’s College in Toowoomba. We are blessed to have Fr Richard join us at the College next Monday to explore the topic – Catholic Identity: Jesus, Choosing and Mission. I thank families for allowing all staff to be educated and renewed in their important spiritual work and to enable the high standards of Religious Education to continue at Marist College Ashgrove.

ELEVATE

Best wishes to our Year 7 boys who will have a presentation from Elevate this Thursday 23 February. This will be followed by our Year 8 and 10 boys on Friday 24 February. These presentations assist all boys to develop their skills to study. This program is practical and provides the boys with real examples to enable them with their future studies. My thanks are extended to the Academic team who work hard to make programs like this one available to the boys.

Year 7 Parent Function

My thanks are extended to the Parents and Friends Association who will be holding a parent function on Friday 24 February for all parents of Year 7 boys. This is a social occasion over drinks and light snacks with the great opportunity to share experiences and stories, and to meet other Year 7 parents. During the evening, there will be a short presentation by the President of the Parents and Friends Association - Donna Lynn, Year 7 Welfare Co-ordinator - Craig Milligan and myself. My thanks are extended to Jane Willcocks and the Amity group for the organisation of this event. I look forward to meeting parents on Friday evening.

May our loving God with Mary our good mother and St Marcellin Champagnat walk with all members of the Marist College Ashgrove Family.