Rector's Report

Greetings!  

It was exciting to have another ‘Sold Out’ sign welcoming over 175 ladies on Friday, May 12, as we gathered for our annual Mother’s Day Dinner at Mulgrave Country Club. It was a great night with friendships to enjoy and celebrate, wonderful prizes to be won, and a meal to enjoy. If you couldn’t attend this year, then I encourage you to book early so you join us for a great night out.  Thanks to all who organised this enjoyable annual event on our college calendar.

Pentecost Reflection

This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. Pentecost is known as the unofficial birthday of the Church, not of a building, but of the people, you, and me. The descent of the Holy Spirit on the original Pentecost marked the conclusion of Christ’s earthly mission and the beginning of the Christian Church’s mission, which was entrusted to the disciples and has been gifted down to each one of us. Hopefully, you have been celebrating the Easter season, from Easter Sunday till Pentecost, which means there was no rush to consume those Easter Eggs on Easter Sunday because the Easter season was going to last for 50 Days. The 50 days are up and now is the time to finish off all those last remaining Easter Eggs or treats (if there are any left of course!). 

The month of May - Mary

As we come to the end of May we continue to pray that Mary, our Heavenly Mother, and Patron of the Oblates will bless, protect, and guide our families and all who are connected with our Mazenod College community.

Let us pray: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my saviour; for he has looked upon His servant in her lowliness; all ages to come shall call me blessed. God who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is His name; His mercy is from age to age on those who fear Him. He has shown might with His arm; He has confused the proud in their inmost thoughts. He has deposed the mighty from their thrones and raised the lowly to high places. The hungry He has given every good thing, while the rich He has sent empty away. He has upheld Israel his servant, ever mindful of His mercy; Even as He promised our fathers, promised Abraham and His descendants forever. Amen.

College Prayer Time

Each day around 11.00am the entire college pauses for a time of prayer led by one of our senior student leaders. The prayer leader calls the college community to stand in reverence and quiet as the prayer intentions for that day are announced. The intentions incorporate 3 areas: our Australian Oblate Province, our Asia-Oceania Region, and our Mazenod College Community. There are different intentions for each day of the month. Our college captain, Joshua Wilton is pictured leading one of our prayer sessions over the college PA. 

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate

On Sunday May 21, the Feast of St Eugene de Mazenod the Oblates, friends, and parishioners gathered in St John Vianney Church, Mulgrave for the Perpetual Profession of Br Jesington Logu OMI. Br Jesington is an Oblate student from Sri Lanka who is finishing his priestly studies here in the Australian Province. Br Jesingtons next step on his vocation journey is his diaconate ordination on July 2.

When an Oblate takes his Perpetual Vows, he receives the missionary cross. The cross he receives is from a deceased Oblate and is handed on to keep his missionary spirit alive. After ministering in the Oblate Parish of Moe/Newborough for some months, Brother Jesington OMI chose the missionary cross of Fr John Dunlea OMI.

Father John Dunlea OMI, worked in Oblate parishes around Australia since 1958.

He was born in County Cork, Ireland on 22 August 1932, and ordained to the priesthood in the Oblate Seminary Chapel at Piltown on 15 September 1957. On Monday, 26 September 2011 Fr John passed into eternal life.

Following this ceremony, the Oblates again gathered on Monday, May 22 to witness three Oblate students, one from Sri Lanka and two from Vietnam renewed their temporary vows at St Mary’s Seminary, Camberwell. 

Mazenod Old Collegians Founders Day Lunch and Footy

On Saturday, May 20, at the kind invitation of the president, Craig Todd, Dr Paul Shannon (Mazenod Principal) and I attended the Mazenod Old Collegians Founders Day lunch and footy match at Central Reserve. The Mayor of the City of Monash, Tina Samardzija, was also a welcome visitor. 

Oblate Week

Friday, May 19 to Friday, May 26 we celebrated Oblate Week. This period of celebration commenced with our annual Founders Day Mass in the Provence Centre.  It was a very prayerful celebration as we celebrated the life of St Eugene Mazenod who died on May 21, 1861. We welcomed Fr Christian Fini OMI, Oblate Provincial, Oblate priests and students. After the Mass, our students enjoyed a half day holiday. It was also pleasing to witness our parents being present for the first time since the onset of COVID. During this week we also had a time of prayer each day, between morning recess and lunch, with the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament to encourage the prayer life of our students and staff.  The Perpetual Profession and Renewal of Vows were also part of the celebrations. On Monday, May 22 some of our Oblate students and the acting seminary rector, Fr Daniel Szewc OMI, visited our students in their classrooms answering questions about Oblate vocation and life.

On Wednesday May 24, Kyle Hoad (teacher & volunteer) and Emma Rice (Rosies Coordinator), from Rosies Oblate Street Mission brought the Rosies van to the College and offered a free hot milo at lunch time to the students. This certainly kept Kyle and Emma busy with a queue stretching from outside the chapel back to Kernot Avenue. Rosies is an important outreach of the Oblate Mission here in Melbourne and this was an opportune time to promote this mission within our college. 

Enjoy your weekend!

Yours in Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate

Fr Harry Dyer OMI