Religious Dimension

Weekend Gospel Luke 6: 27-38

We wonder at times, when we feel so betrayed and when the hurt runs so deep, how it is possible to love those who do cause us harm.  God knew we needed help with this and sent his son Jesus who showed us time and time again.  As God's people, how do we encourage each other to love  and bless others during these challenging times in our lives?

Founder's Day Mass 

On Sunday 20 February we celebrated Founder Day Mass with the Parish and the school communities of St James and St John's, joining together, to honor significant people from our parish. It was pleasing to see Father Dispin lead the mass after returning from visiting his family overseas. Many parishioners attended with their extended families listening to the stories of Marj Coghlan, who has contributed to our community for several years. (See her full story below)

We were reminded of the importance of telling our own story, and listening to our history. Although there are many changes in all communities one thing that doesn't change is God's love for us and the importance of belonging to a community.  I loved listening to Marj's story and I am sure many were grateful for her courage, sharing her story with us. What stayed with me was how the Coghlan family reached out to assist other vulnerable families with food, money, furniture and kitchen supplies regardless of having their own large family to look after.  These included migrants from Vietnam and families affected by bushfires in Strathewen. These actions are still so relevant and needed today.

Marj also shared the fun times in the parish and highlighted how connection is important and reminded me of how we have missed this during our recent lockdowns. The Parish Fete, family get togethers and meals shared with others in the community, help to  form friendships which last a lifetime. A true blessing!

I give thanks to Marj Coghlan for being so brave and sharing her story at mass. Being new to this community myself gave me an appreciation of a community so rich in history and I am sure there is more for me to learn.

Also a big thanks to Connor and Estelle, our Year 5/6 Captain and Vice Captain, for interviewing and sharing Marj's story with the congregation on Sunday.

Important Dates about First Eucharist

Many thanks,

Melinda Buscema (Deputy Principal and REL)

mbuscema@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au

Interview With Marj Coghlan

Marj Coghlan and her family have been a very important part of the St John’s Parish for over 60 years. She has lived in Mitcham for almost 62 years. Marj moved here with her husband Jim and raised their 7 children together in Holly Court Mitcham. In the early days, five of their children had to go to a state school in Heatherdale for prep classes, as Prep only started in 1972 at St John’s.

In the early days, St John’s parish was their social life. They did everything with the parish. There were lots of clubs and groups they were involved in and events for raising money and preparing for the fete. It was a vibrant Parish community to belong to.

Marj Coghlan was a physical education teacher before she got married. Once her children started attending school at St John’s she volunteered to coach the netball teams, along with Marie Garside and Glad MacLaughlin. Together they helped with the inter school sport competitions and then Marj began teaching PE lessons. One day, in the late 70s, the principal at St John’s, Mr Griffin, asked her if she wanted to get paid to teach, so Marj started doing 2 days per week, which gradually increased to 4 days per week. 

There were a lot of nuns teaching at St John’s in the 70’s and all of the teachers were amazing to work with. They had big classes and Marj was teaching PE lessons to over 300 children  per day. She taught at St John’s for many years and even taught for 1 year at St James until eventually she became a Principal at St Brigid's in Greythorn. Three of her children also ended up becoming teachers. Marj loves studying and has many degrees and qualifications. She is still working today, supervising the Naplan markers.

When her children were younger, Father Durkin asked the Parishioners to look after migrants from Vietnam, when they arrived in huge numbers at the local Nunawading Hostel. The Coghlans took a Vietnamese family under their wings. They were a family with 6 kids. They would come around for meals and they would support them with food and money.  The family eventually moved to Heidelberg and Marj rallied the Parishioners to help. The family was completely set up with donated furniture and kitchen supplies.

What is so special about being part of the Parish is that the people are a stand out and they are always ready to commit and help out. We have been very lucky over the years with the priests that supported us and especially with the Parish Fete. Marj used to help on the coffee stand where she made cakes and served tea and coffee to everyone. But then she moved to the Lolly stall as she is a real sweet tooth. Marj would make all of the toffees and sweets with the other Mums. It was a very popular stall.

A special memory for Marj is from 2009 when dozens of parishioners went to Strathewen every Sunday for several weeks to support those affected by the bushfires, and over 150 families in 2014 who supported a refugee family financially for many months, which enabled them to have a home and integrate into our way of life. 

Many people in our Parish over the years have worked above and beyond the call of duty for the House of Books, St Vincent de Paul, looked after the RCIA, our liturgies, 

and the numerous programs dedicated to our spiritual welfare - our chapel, the chapel at Eastland, the Good Friday Procession, Rosary in the home and those who support the ill, the lonely and the bereaved in their homes or aged care residences. 

The unsung heroes who have counted money, run the Mitcham Co-op after Sunday masses, manage our finances, fetes and maintenance, not to mention those who continue to quietly do the mundane but necessary things like cleaning. When our children were at school all of the dads would go on a roster to help clean all the classrooms and toilets. Everybody would always lend a hand.

People have always been so generous in times of need with innovations such as our Casserole Bank and appeals for towels for the House of Welcome. More recently Marj works at the St John’s bookshop, House of Books, and helps at the parish where she can. It was also lovely to discover that she lives just around the corner from Jasmine, our school Captain and they have been selling her raffle tickets for 20 years.

Marj Coghlan loved being part of the Parish in the early days as everyone knew everyone else and everyone got along so well. Everyone was generous and the Parish was their life. Everyone got together for many social events, they did working bees, had dances and had talent review nights. She feels that she has been very lucky to be a part of such a wonderful Parish for over sixty years and today we would like to recognise the many valuable contributions that she has made to the students, families and Parishioners of St John’s.

Connor and Jasmine 

2022 School Captains