Principal News

A Prayer for Palm Sunday

Loving God,

Give us joy in our hearts as we shout Hosanna,

welcoming Jesus our King with palms,

celebrating all that we hope for as the Easter 

story unfolds.

Then, as the journey of Jesus turns towards

Good Friday, help us know that you are with us

when celebration turns to sadness.

Give us the faith we need to follow you 

on the way of the cross, which leads to life

Amen

Dear Parents, Students and Friends

By now you would have seen the Compass post of the announcement of my retirement/resignation as Principal of Marian Catholic College. Whilst my official date of retirement is 26 January 2023, I will be taking Long Service Leave from sometime late August 2022.

After fifteen years serving this wonderful community, I believe that it is now time for me to do other things, such as spend more time with family and playing golf! I have many other goals on my bucket list to tick off, but family, golf and supporting my struggling but loved Wests Tigers are always on my mind…

I don’t wish to say more now, as finding words to express my love of the college community and all we have accomplished together come crashing together with emotion, so I just want to leave it at that for the moment as there are many months ahead before I walk away.

On Friday 8 April, the college held our Easter Mass in the main courtyard. It was a beautiful, blessed community celebration of our term's work. Our chaplain, Fr Cyprian mentioned in his “interactive” homily that prayer and fasting are key elements of the Lenten season as we prepare for the Risen Lord. This Sunday the Church commences Holy Week and Fr Cyprian told the story of the mercy and forgiveness through the eyes of the father of the Prodigal Son.

 He urged us to always see Christ in each other and be living examples of mercy and forgiveness. The college wishes Fr Cyprian a safe journey home as he prepares to be reunited with his family in Nigeria after being away from them for ten years. May he continue to be blessed, feel the love of his family and friends and return to us renewed and ready for his work here in Griffith. 

Our building project has seemingly slowed down, we are so close to conclusion in the TAS Block and the Administration Building that it will be very soon we can occupy these impressive spaces. Delays caused by Covid are impacting labour and supplies so we all have to be a little more patient. Won’t be too long now, fingers crossed.

Our new staff travelled with members of the College Leadership Team to the 2022 Commissioning Mass last Tuesday. Our Bishop, Mark Edwards said mass for the staff of the Deanery and members of the CEDWW office were in attendance, including new Director, Dr Andrew Watson. Our new staff are settling into school life well and are very happy here.

 Please keep them and all staff in your prayers. It has been a very stressful term with Covid illness hitting the school and the town very hard. Many teachers took extra classes to ensure we could function as close to normal as possible.

Term Two commences for students on Wednesday April 27. Before then, Griffith City Council hold ANZAC Day commemorations at Memorial Park on the 25th April. College students are invited to march in full winter uniform. We gather in front of the city library at 10am. 

Staff Weddings

We would like to wish the following staff members all the very best as they celebrate the sacrament of marriage over the holidays and during next term.

Will and Leah 30 April

Rebecca and Tom 14 April

Mel and Dean  9 April

and then....

Andrew and Eliza...a little later 7 May 

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday break. Thank you for your support throughout the term.

Happy Easter, the Lord is Risen!

Peace and Best Wishes

Alan Le Brocque

Principal