From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

Freedom, Mercy and Quality Relationships are at the Heart of our Church

I am amazed by the spirituality or the feeling of the transcendent that young people experience today. At each Year 12 retreat, boys can articulately describe their sense of the spiritual in some moment or event in life. When praying in the classroom or in the College chapel, the boys willingly enter into a quiet space, have a sense of reflection and listen deeply. In Religious Education lessons, boys too, listen intently and are curious when a teacher shares their own faith. At assemblies, I sometimes ask the boys to be quiet and still, to take a moment to listen to their God, and the boys do this together, with a great sense of respect and openness. Although we are living in a more secular world where people say they do not identify as religious, and where our churches are not as full as they once were, our boys still remain innately spiritual and open to the transcendent.

Our Australian Census says that Christianity is in decline. In 1911 – 96% of Australians identified as Christian, in 2004 – 70%, 2011 – 61%, 2018 – 51% and today this percentage is just 43.9%. On the other hand, those who claim to have no religion has increased from 19% in 2006, to 22% in 2011, to 30% in 2016 and today is at 38.9%. So, although the number of Christians has declined and the number of Australians with no religion has increased, it seems that young people still possess a sense of the transcendent and a need for the spiritual.

So, what does Pope Francis suggest our response should be to this worldwide decline in those identifying as Christian? In July, at Quebec, he made these three suggestions:

Find opportunities as Christians to listen, dialogue and encounter in evangelising, reaching people where they are at – not waiting for them to come to us.
The Gospel sets people free – all people are sinners - so preach repentance, forgiveness and mercy but wanting nothing in return.
Embrace everyone in communion – all those who approach in faith are welcome. Listen, dialogue and provide quality relationships.

In summary, all people are welcome to our church. We need to encounter everyone where they are at. All members of the Church are welcome to receive God’s acceptance and love and his mercy and forgiveness. Our church needs listening, dialogue and quality relationships. After all, ‘Catholic’ means universal and all-embracing, so we are all welcome to a compassionate and merciful Catholic Church.

God of love, may all members of the Marist College Ashgrove family proudly be united as church in the spirit of freedom, mercy and quality relationships. Amen.

Father's Day Breakfast

We welcome to the College all our dads for the 2022 Father's Day Breakfast to be held on Tuesday morning the 23rd of August. The breakfast will commence at 7:00am in the McMahon Oval Grandstand. This is a wonderful opportunity for the boys to spend some quality time with their dads and to say thanks as we celebrate Father's Day. A breakfast will be served on arrival, followed by an address from Bishop Tim Norton SVD Auxiliary Bishop for Brisbane Archdiocese. We very much look forward to listening to Bishop Norton, he too an Old Boy of the Marists. All dads will also be in a raffle draw to win a custom-made Wil Valor polo shirt. Tickets can be purchased via the following link - https://events.humanitix.com/2022-father-s-day-breakfast. We look forward to seeing you all to celebrate Father's Day together.

Year 12 Trial Examinations

The Year 12 trial (mock) examinations in preparation of their important external exams will be held from Wednesday 24th August to Thursday 1st September. These trial exams form a vital component in the preparation towards the boys’ external ATAR exams in early Term 4. We wish all the boys the best of luck in these trials and with their further revision and required study. My thanks are extended to Ms Jennifer Smeed (Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching) and the boys’ generous and professional Year 12 teachers. Good luck, gentlemen.

Year 10 Parent Function

On behalf of the P&F Committee, all Year 10 parents are invited to a social event in the Tower Function Room this Friday, 19th August from 6:30pm – 9:00pm. I thank the P&F for providing this opportunity for parents to socialise and enjoy each other’s company and to listen to addresses from the President of the P&F, Jim Gordon and myself.

To book your tickets, please go to: https://events.humanitix.com/2022-year-10-parent-function

I look forward to seeing parents on Friday.

Year 10 Retreat

The Year 10 Retreat will be held on Monday, 22nd August. On this Year 10 retreat, the students are invited to reflect on what hinders them from living life to the full at Marist. This day leads the boys through a number of reflective exercises, sharing honestly with each other and enabling the building of stronger relationships. This Year 10 retreat is facilitated all day Monday and will be held in the Cyprian Pavilion. I thank our brilliant facilitator, Mr Michael Fitzpatrick - the Director from Belum Pty Ltd, the Marist Mission Team and all Year 10 teachers who will be facilitating this retreat.

ICAS Competition

On Monday, 29th of August, nineteen of our high-achieving Year 5 and Year 8 boys will be participating in the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) Mathematics competition.

ICAS is a school competition that inspires, celebrates and challenges some 16 000 schools and 10 million students from across 41 countries including Australia, New Zealand and the world. The competition questions are set in modern, real-world scenarios where school students are assessed on their ability to apply classroom learning to new contexts, using higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills.

Good luck to the boys participating in the competition.

Uniform

All parents should have received a letter regarding our new uniform supplier, Noone. We very much look forward to working in collaboration with Noone to supply high-quality uniforms into the future. This letter contains details of the implementation, roll out and timetable of our new supplier. More specific details will follow over the course of the year.

Japanese Dinner and Trivia Night

On Friday, 19th August the Year 7 Japanese students will attend a Japanese Trivia Night and the Year 12 students will attend a Japanese Dinner at Mt St Michael’s College. The aim of the evening is to allow students studying Japanese to learn and interact with each other and build a sense of community. I thank our Japanese teachers - Kylie Bowman and Sohee Chu, and the Curriculum Leader of Japanese at Mt St Michael’s, Sue Wiseman for facilitating and organising these events for the boys.

Midway Through Term 3 Sporting Season

The Rugby League, Tennis, Basketball and Athletics seasons continue for Term 3. Congratulations to our 1st IV Tennis team who remain undefeated at the midpoint of the season. Athletics training continues with the AIC Athletics Championships in early Term 4 from the 6th – 7th of October. Best wishes, gentlemen for the remainder of the season.

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