From the Rector
Greetings! This week I am pleased to write to you from my desk back home at Mazenod College after last week’s full-on few days of discerning and questioning. It was also great to catch up with my fellow brother Oblates whom I haven’t seen for the past 3 years due to COVID. This will be the last newsletter for the term as we commence the Easter holiday break and a well-earned rest from the Term 1 activities and routines. However, as Christians, we are also preparing ourselves for Holy Week, the great three days of Easter (The Sacred Triduum). A teaching strategy is that of repetition. There is something powerful about retelling our Christian story, or any family event, over and over as it reminds us of important events in our faith journey and family life. Our four very different liturgies during Holy Week are particularly powerful and worth retelling. We will be immersed in a mystery that witnesses us: sitting with Jesus and his disciples at dinner, walking with him to Jerusalem, witnessing the horror of the Cross and eventually the power of the empty tomb.
Aylene Robinson: On Friday, April 8, Aylene Robinson finishes at Mazenod after 16 years as Executive Assistant to the Principal and Rector. Although I have only worked with Aylene for the past 18 months I found her to be an invaluable asset to the college and the Oblates. Her pleasant personality and openness to assist where and when she can has been appreciated by myself and all who call into her office. I wish Aylene and her husband Tim, good health as together they pursue their many interests, especially their involvement in community service.
The Missionaries of Charity: It was a special opportunity for our Year 12 students to have a visit from Sister Maximillian, the aunt of Mr Matt Fyfield, who is a Missionary of Charity (founded by Mother Teresa) in Lahore, Pakistan. Sister shared her journey of faith and her missionary work amongst the poorest of the poor in Pakistan since 1993. This visit, I am sure, was an inspiration for our young men.
MAD Concert: On Monday evening April 4 it was great to join a large crowd in the Provence Centre to enjoy the annual Mission Action Day Concert. A sincere thanks to all our students and staff who generously gave their time and shared their musical talents. I also thank all our families and friends who attended in support of our Oblate Missions. Unfortunately, I didn’t win the door prize!
Parent/Teacher Interviews: This week we undertook over 7,000 parent/teacher interviews at our college. This is a great opportunity for parents and teachers to discuss the progress of their son/student. I thank all involved in this process as we come to an end of a very busy term.
Morning Tea: During recess on Monday, April 4, Year 7 Mannix treated us to an enjoyable morning tea. It was a great opportunity to mix with the students and hear about their weekend. This was the last morning tea for the term. Thanks again to the teachers for organising this, the students for their hospitality and the families who supplied the goodies.
Easter Liturgies: I take this opportunity to encourage you all to join with your local faith community in celebrating all, or at least some, of these liturgies that I have highlighted below as they are the essence of our faith in the life of Jesus Christ. It is easy these days to ‘google’ your local parish to find the times and places (as some parishes have more than one church these days) when these liturgies will be celebrated.
PALM SUNDAY (April 10): Palm Sunday commemorates the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem when palm branches were placed in his path, before his arrest on Holy Thursday and his crucifixion on Good Friday. It thus marks the beginning of Holy Week, the final week of Lent.
From Sundown on Holy Thursday to sundown on Easter Sunday the Sacred Triduum will recount for us these last three days of Jesus' life on earth, the events of his Passion and Resurrection.
HOLY THURSDAY (April 14): The evening Mass on Holy Thursday is referred to as The Mass of the Lord's Supper. This is where the Church re-lives the institution of the Eucharist, as well as the institution of the priesthood. The "washing of the feet" signifies our role of service—just as Jesus did with his disciples. The season of Lent ends with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday begins because the Mass of the Lord’s Supper ushers in the sacred three days of the Holy Tridium.
GOOD FRIDAY (April 15): Good Friday is a day of fasting and abstinence. This is the day of the crucifixion, the day Jesus died for all of us. It is called ‘Good Friday’ because it opens the possibility that we will live forever.
EASTER SATURDAY VIGIL (April 16)/EASTER SUNDAY (April 17): A Vigil Mass is held after nightfall in celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. This is called the Easter Vigil: the most glorious and dramatic liturgy for the Church and it is what we've all been waiting for! Our forty days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during Lent was in preparation for this day when our hearts and souls can joyfully celebrate the culmination of the Paschal Mystery: The Resurrection.
Easter Sunday, April 17): This is the day of Jesus’ Resurrection. We celebrate with Easter Eggs. YUM! The egg is an ancient symbol of new life. From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent Jesus' emergence from the tomb and resurrection. Easter Eggs are not meant to be eaten all at once, we should still be enjoying them in response to the great celebration of the Resurrected Jesus during this period called Eastertide. Eastertide is seven full weeks after Easter Sunday concluding on Pentecost Sunday, June 5. As you can see there is no need to be in a rush to consume the Easter goodies. Keep Calm and Keep Eating and Keep Celebrating!
Tomorrow we will finish our term with a ‘Bang’ as we enjoy our traditional Mission Action Day (MAD) to support our Oblate Missions. The day will commence with a College Easter Liturgy in Oblate Hall followed by a walkathon/run around the local streets. Upon returning to the College there will be a variety of foods and activities available to help raise money and awareness of the needs of our brothers and sisters in our Oblate Missions. The day will conclude with the drawing of several raffles in front of hopeful community members. On behalf of the Oblates, I thank our students, staff, and families for your ongoing generous support of our Missions and our College.
A Happy & Holy Easter!
复活节快乐 (Chinese),
Buona Pasqua (Italian),
Felices Pascuas (Spanish),
L-Ghid it-tajjeb (Maltese),
Masaya at banal na pasko (Filippino),
lễ phục sinh hạnh phúc và thánh thiện (Vietnamese),
Wesolych Swiat Wielkanocnych (Polish),
Joyeuse et Sainte Pâques (French),
Feliz y Santa Pascua (Spanish),
Gelukkig en Heilig Pasen (Dutch),
Blagoslovljen I sretan uskrs! (Croatian),
Srečno in sveto veliko noč (Slovenian).
On behalf of our Mulgrave Oblate Community, Fr Kevin, Fr Eric and Brother Joshua, I extend our joyous Easter greetings and blessings to you all. I pray that you and your families will experience the peace, joy and hope of this Holy Season.
If this is you after your Lenten fast then a few of these goodies, pictured below, will help restore the balance!! Just remember, not all at once!
Enjoy your weekend!
Yours in Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate,
Fr Harry Dyer OMI
Rector