The Mazenod Gazette

Principal's Post

Dear Parents,

 

On Friday, 25th February 2022 the College Community gathered at The Provence for our Inaugural Mass, to celebrate the start of the academic year. Our tradition of inducting the College Leaders on this auspicious occasion continues and the following students were introduced to the congregation.

 

Thanks to the Faith and Liturgy Team who coordinated a moving celebration of the Eucharist. I would like to acknowledge the leadership of the Oblate Priests and the spirit of St Eugene de Mazenod who have led this community with distinction for such a long period of time. We are so lucky to have the Charism of the Oblates permeate the school day. It is a great comfort to me personally to have the support of Provincial of the Province of Australia Fr Christian Fini, Rector Fr Harry Dyer, Chaplain Fr Kevin Davine, Fr Eric Alleaume, Fr Casimir Arul, Fr Andrew Chen, Fr Nadeem Daniel and Deakin Joshua Nash. I find their message of the Gospels not to be haughty or exalted but grounded, earthy, accessible and real. Like Matthew’s Gospel reading last Friday the Oblates are “Salt of the Earth” who preserve and enkindle a relationship with God. 

 

Our Student Leaders were presented to their peers at the Inaugural Mass. Student Voice is an essential component of College life and has a significant impact on student culture. Student Leaders meet with me once a week. Student Leaders in Years 10, 11 and 12 were acknowledged in the Senior School Assembly today and will form the Senior Student Council and have considerable influence on our Social Justice endeavours, including Mission Action Day and our Whole School Programs including Visible Wellbeing, Respectful Relationships and Sustainability. All our Leaders have been introduced and featured in last week’s newsletter. Below is an extract from my address to the Mazenod College community.

 

"Thank you to all the young men who we serve. I don’t want Mazenod to be a place where the teachers teach, and the pupils are taught. This may require a shift to move from traditional ‘power over’ responses to engaging with each other to a ‘power with’ position that flows from the principles of common ground. These principles of common ground are an acknowledgement of people’s differing perceptions and feelings in finding the space to work together to resolve differences. The consequences of operating on common ground with a set of principles are that adults and students are both accountable for their behaviour. 

Today’s Gospel asks us to be the “Light of the World”. This “glow” means the light within you is how you allow yourself to be led by the Holy Spirit. Jesus is asking us to let His light shine within us. To be the light in times of darkness:

  • To offer hope and encouragement when it is needed most.
  • To offer kindness and compassion.
  • To offer patience when you’re met with impatience.
  • To pick each other up, dust each other off, give each other a hand, so that we can regain our light and glow.

Thank you for the great honour and privilege of being a part of the Mazenod family. I am looking forward to continuing to know the community. I would particularly like to acknowledge and congratulate Mr Coghlan for the way in which he has led Mazenod College in an exemplary manner for such a long period of time. His support of me coming into the role of Principal has been invaluable and very much appreciated". 

 

Last Thursday our Athletics Team competed in the ACC Athletics Championship. Our squad did a great job against some formidable competition. In Division 2 we welcomed back St Patrick’s College who were the inaugural winners of the ACC Athletics Championship all the way back in 1911. In a competitive Division 2, these were the final standings: 1. St Bernard’s performance won them the Division 2 Cup, scoring 404 points, ahead of St Joseph’s Ferntree Gully (377) and St Patrick’s (368). Mazenod held onto fourth place (342.5), St Mary’s (274.5), Emmanuel (226) and Simonds (127) finished off the placing. We would like to congratulate St Bernard’s College the Division 2 Champions and the Division 1 Champions, St Joseph’s Geelong. On the day the team achieved a number of first places, seconds and thirds.  We would also like to acknowledge Year 12 students, for their years of dedication to the sport and the team.

 

All the best,

 

 

 

Dr Paul Shannon

Principal