Mission News

Mr Luke McMahon

Reflection

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Philippians 4:13 

 

Lord, give us faith to live in the world as it is. Help us believe that with your help we can do all that is required of us.  May your kingdom come, and may we help hasten it. Amen

From the Head of Religious Education 

Last Friday, the College held a staff professional development breakfast that Stephen Locke from Brisbane Catholic Education presented. His presentation was on how we seek to understand sacred texts today. From a Catholic perspective, we seek to understand sacred texts by using a process called the Three Worlds of the Text. We teach this methodology across many different grades within the College, beginning in Primary.

 

Stephen began with some examples of how context enables us to make sense of things that we might see or read. He elaborated on a Japanese comic strip his son was reading that showed examples of bullying and an excerpt from Forrest Gump and the Watergate saga with President Nixon. Both of these examples required an understanding of the context to make sense of the material. 

 

Stephen shared several documents via Teams for the groups that enabled some excellent discussions. 

 

Stephen continued his presentation by looking at a piece of scripture known to most people, the Good Samaritan. Stephen began by detailing why Jesus would have used a Samaritan for this parable about caring for your neighbour. Of all of the groups within Israel in that part of the world, the Samaritans would have been the most hated from a Jewish perspective. The story becomes even more important when we think of whom we would see today. He mentioned the Australian Brenton Tarrant, infamous for shooting Muslims in Christchurch. Would you render assistance to him if he was in need? This is what the parable asks us to consider.

 

Time, unfortunately, got the better of our discussions about this parable and how we should interpret it today.

 

Stephen kept the group well informed as we seek to understand better how we can use the Three Worlds of the Text to understand the sacred text better.

 

Our next PD breakfast is on Pope Francis’ Laudato Si towards the end of Term 1.

Community Prayers

We pray for all in our community who are unwell and are suffering at this time. 

 

We remember in our prayers 

  • Mr Michael Druce (staff member)
  • Inez, mother of Jasper Tapara (Year 10) who is in the hospital recovering from surgery

We pray for the repose of the soul of the following from our Marist family. 

  • Paul Girling (Old Boy 1991)

May our loving God, with Mary and Champagnat, walk with all members of the Marist family. Amen

Lenten Fundraising and Free Dress Day Information

Lenten Fundraising through the College community began on Ash Wednesday and for the weeks of Lent, boys, families and staff are encouraged to contribute funds to the Lenten collection. Our collection supports three agencies:

  • Australian Marist Solidarity (AMS)
  • Caritas Australia
  • Catholic Mission

This is done in several ways through the College:

  • House based collections
  • Easter egg raffle (Primary school),
  • Free dress day (12 March)
  • Fundraising day – organised by the House Mission Captains
  • Year 7 and 8 Dance – organised by Rush House
  • via MCA monitor link - http://bit.ly/MCAlenten

Through the generous and compassionate concern of all those associated with our College community, we can make a real difference in the lives of those who need our support. 

Mass and Reconciliation

Community Mass - Wednesday 8:00 am

Reconciliation - Tuesday 8:00 am 

Students and staff are welcome to Mass on Wednesday morning at 8:00 am in the College Chapel. Fr Tini is also available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation every Tuesday morning at 8:00 am. This Wednesday 3 March we invite all members of the College St Vincent de Paul group to attend 8:00 am Mass. 

Game Changers Regional Retreat Report

The Year 11 Hermitage Game Changers Group joined the Trinity College Beenleigh students for a Regional Retreat Day. The students and staff looked at their own growth and development as leaders and as people, before they brainstormed ways to make a difference.