Mission News

Mr Luke McMahon

Feast of St Marcellin Champagnat 6 June 2021 

The College celebrated the Founder’s feast day on Friday 4 June with Eucharist in the Champagnat Centre, followed by a shared lunch and an afternoon of games and activities, a highlight of the afternoon games for the staff was winning the student/staff touch football game. 

 

The celebration of the feast day is an important way for us to remember what is important in our lives as Marists. Each year during the Mass we have the honour of acknowledging a community member, a staff member and a Year 12 student who in the way they live and act remind us of the qualities and characteristics of St Marcellin Champagnat – who modelled his own life on the life of Jesus. Champagnat’s mission was wanting always to make Jesus known and loved. 

 

This year we were pleased to acknowledge Mrs Patricia Thomasson; Mr Stephen Littleton and Year 12 student Lachlan Britcliffe. Following are the citations written by Mr Luke McMahon on behalf of the community. 

 

Our first Champagnat Award is made to a person who has been committed to the broader life of our College community.

 

In speaking of our recipient, we are really describing someone who has a commitment to Marist and all it represents, but not only here at Ashgrove. We are speaking of someone very committed to the Catholic faith and the building up of the Catholic community. 

One of the Brothers described our awardee as a good Catholic person, a capable person and a close friend of the Marist Brothers. Our awardee is renowned as welcoming, generous and always available to create something positive and worthwhile. 

It seems that our awardee is one of the greatest promoters of our College far and wide, especially praiseworthy of our Boarding school. And all done from a distance, though not today. 

 

We are very pleased to present the Champagnat Award to the mother of not one, but two Marist College Captains, Mrs Patricia Thomasson.

 

Our second Champagnat Award is made to a staff member. 

The early Brothers at the time of St Marcellin were inducted into the art of teaching with a document titled The Teacher’s Guide, a quite detailed explanation and description of how best to teach according to the Marist way. A central concept in the Teacher’s Guide was a French word “douceur”, a not easily translatable word but meaning a sense of gentleness, kindliness, patience, softness of touch and deep respect for others.

 

For Marcellin, a Marist educator should demonstrate these personal qualities, because it was these attitudes and behaviours which were most effective in drawing students to be their best selves and which best exemplified a Christian and specifically a Marist way of encouraging young people. Such an approach could be said to typify the “family spirit” which Marcellin was so focussed upon cultivating and nurturing in schools that took Mary, the Mother of God as their model. Our Staff recipient is a very fine exponent of this word “douceur”. Gentle, kind, patient, respectful, expert in teaching and exemplary in leading – this is our Staff recipient. 

 

In emphasising to that first generation of Brothers the importance of their example to the young people whom they taught, Fr Champagnat encouraged them to see their lives as teachers as being a kind of living catechism or gospel worker, that they would be a living Gospel in whom each student can read how to imitate Jesus Christ and be a true Christian. In a word, says Fr Champagnat, “You should live in such a way that you will be saying to those whom you teach what St Paul said to the Corinthians: “Take me for your model, as I take Christ”. 

 

This sense of teaching as a Christian vocation, together with exemplary living out of the three Marist virtues of simplicity, modesty and humility, are what make our Staff recipient such an example. 

 

Those of you who are taught by this teacher, or are in the Pastoral Group, or who are helped out of class time, together with those Staff who work alongside or are led by this teacher know what a gift Mr Stephen Littleton is to our College community.

 

Our third Champagnat Award is made to a Year 12 student. 

Of Marcellin’s characteristics, surely faithful, hardworking, generous and respectful speak most about our Year 12 recipient. 

 

Not one, but two Pastoral Leaders and other staff and boys have made comment about this young man’s generous service to a whole range of groups within the College. 

This student says yes to virtually any request and in an area where the work done is time-consuming and detailed. For all these generous efforts our Year 12 recipient impresses by his humble, quiet and under-stated approach to all he does. No personal agenda is advanced, rather it is this young man’s respectful nature which leads others, boys and staff alike, to have the utmost respect and regard for him. 

 

Our recipient’s Pastoral Group teacher sees him make genuine efforts to engage with a range of boys, including younger students, in free-flowing conversations. He takes an interest in others, such that people feel they can trust this young man and in turn be trusted by him. Such is the quality of his work and the depth of his skill that this young man is in constant demand by groups across the College. Indeed after this year his shoes will be very difficult to fill. Filming and editing are his forte, lighting and sound technology his gift. We ought not think that all this generous and dedicated service of others is some sort of escape from responsibilities as a student either. 

 

This Year 12 student is a straight A student in his academic work. He sets us all an example that it is possible to attend to one’s own personal demands and responsibilities yet still be available to be of service to others. 

 

There are many boys in our school who act likewise and we are all the better for it. The Champagnat Award 2021 is made to Year 12 student, Lachlan Britcliffe.

 

We were also able to acknowledge staff who have served for extended periods in Marist schools. At our Mass on Friday we acknowledged and thank them for the work they do:

Matthew Jones (10 years), Les Brown (20 years), Ben Maddox (20 years), Elena Sparrow (25 years), Peter Jackson (25 years) and Jo Miller (25 years).

Champagnat Day Mass
Champagnat Day Mass
Champagnat Day Mass
Champagnat Day Mass
Champagnat Day Mass
Champagnat Day Mass
Champagnat Day Mass
Champagnat Day Mass

Winter Shopping with Downs and West Community Support

Cold weather is coming and we have the answer to keeping warm on those windy, cold days - Downs & West Community Support charity stall! 

 

Yes, we are back again on Tuesday 22 June to Friday 25 June at Brookside with a variety of beautiful handcrafted winter woollies including items for sale for children and babies. Our crocheted rugs are amazing. 

 

All proceeds go to supporting individuals & farming families in Southern Queensland struggling through the impact of drought, flood, fires and COVID-19.

 

The stall will be at the BROOKSIDE SHOPPING CENTRE, Mitchelton and will be located outside Terry White Chemist and TK Maxx from 8:30am to around 2:30pm except on Friday 25 when we close at 1:30pm. 

 

For any further information please contact John Hollamby on 0418 244 523.

Prayers

We pray with joy and gratitude:

  • For Corey Lucas and his partner Naomi who welcomed baby Isla last week

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

  • Riley Grace (OB 2020) injured in an accident
  • For Sharon Gillett and the Gillett family

We pray for those called home to heaven, especially

  • Lisa Coleman’s sister-in-law Bree

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

Retreat RSVPs

Reminder for Year 12 students and parents RETREAT RSVP’S ARE DUE Monday 14 June

 

If you have not already done so, please provide consent for your son to attend the Year 12 Retreat via Parent Lounge and ensure that you update and verify your son’s medical details and request any special dietary requirements by Monday 14 June. 

 

Go to Parent Lounge select “Events and Payments” then “Year 12 Retreat 2021”

Should you have any difficulties logging in to Parent Lounge, please contact our Help Desk at computerservice@marash.qld.edu.au or contact Liz Spry in the Mission Office at spryl@marash.qld.edu.au or phone (07) 3858 4582.

St Ignatius Parish Welcomes Everyone to Women’s Night of Spirituality