Mission News

College Anzac Service

There are 28 Marist students with at least one parent currently serving in the Australian Defence Force. Three boys have both parents currently serving. Many of the boys from current ADF families played a role in our College Anzac service held on Friday 23 April, some as readers, others in the procession. Staff Members Doug Perrers, Andrew King and Richard Aplin, ADF veterans, were in attendance. 

The Processional Cross and the Paschal Candle were the focal points on the stage. As part of our sacred space we had displayed a ceremonial sword that belonged to Bill Lang of the 6th Light Horse Regiment but who was killed at Lone Pine, Gallipoli. The sword was passed on to Joe Lang OBE, MC, who served in both World Wars 1 and 2 and who was the grandfather of Staff Member, Mr Doug Perrers. Alongside the sword was the Australian Army slouch hat belonging to Mr Perrers, a veteran with 36 years’ service in the ADF. In these two items, brought to the attention of the gathered assembly, we touch on the very origins of Anzac and its contemporary expression of sacrifice and service, reminders of all those men and women who died in service of our country and its values. 

The Occasional Address was delivered by Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Humphreys (Ret’d), 20 year veteran of the Australian Army, a flight instructor who served in the United States, East Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan and in peace-keeping missions in Papua New Guinea. Kevin, the father of Old Boy Dean (2018) and Year 11 student Brent, currently flies Search and Rescue helicopters. He is the Mental Health Ambassador for AIRBUS Australia Pacific, Community Ambassador for Mates4Mates and founder of Cor Infinitus. Information about this important and topical issue can be seen below. Kevin’s very appropriately focused theme was ‘Courage - both physical and moral’. 

The 2021 Anzac service included prayers for peace, readings from Ecclesiasticus (44: 1-2; 10-15) and John (12: 23-28), and prayers of intercession in which we prayed for deceased Old Boys Max Clegg and John Gerrard killed in World War 2, Augusto Xavier killed in Vietnam and Rick Milosevic killed in Afghanistan. The Choir sang beautifully, In Flanders Fields, and music students Sam Mead (singing the New Zealand National Anthem), Jacob Anderson (Australian National Anthem) and Jeremy Vanderbyl (the Last Post and Reveille) performed with excellence following the Recitation of the Ode and the Minute’s Silence. The wreath was placed at the foot of the Processional Cross, on behalf of the College Community, by Head of College, Mr Michael Newman. Before we sang together our College dedication to Our Good Mother, the Sub Tuum, Fr Alatini, College Chaplain led us in the following prayer: 

God of peace, God of Life, may we learn from the suffering of our past and strive to live by the values of Your Kingdom, the Beatitude values of love, peace and forgiveness that lead us all to true freedom. We ask this through Jesus who shows us the way of peace. Amen. 

COR INFINITUS (Infinite Courage) Initiative

Cor Infinitus (Infinite Courage) is a national initiative providing dignity and respect to those that have served Australia and taken their own life, in order to give their families and loved ones the same dignity and respect as well as a tangible place of solemn reflection.

The memorial does not represent any individual person, era or circumstance. Rather, it is totally inclusive, anonymous and owned by all families of those lost.

The memorial’s purpose is to help families mourn, grieve, hope and heal. It is not intended to glorify the person’s final action. It is designed to play a part in suicide prevention by combatting the shame and stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide.

The messages that form part of the memorial are real words from real people impacted by suicide. They are designed to help someone step back from the edge, seek help and seek life. Our aim is to create a memorial in every city and town around the country by 2025. 

For more information, make a donation or purchase a lapel pin designed to promote conversations around mental illness and suicide please access the website at www.corinfinitus.org or email assistance@corinfinitus.org.

More Information

Community Prayers

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

We pray for the repose of the souls of: 

• Timothy McGahan (Old Boy) 
• Angus Colquhoun Burns (father of staff member Adam Burns) 

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

Game Changers in Term 2

Game Changers re-commences meetings from Thursday 29 April, and will continue to happen fortnightly for each group.

Term 2 features several Regional Game Changers experiences, including the Year 10 Regional Retreat which has been re-scheduled. These are an exciting aspect of the program that draw together Game Changers groups from various Marist schools around Brisbane. They provide students with an opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences of how to best embody the Marist values and tradition through their unique and different perspectives. These events are only open to Game Changers students.

• Year 10 Regional Retreat – Thursday 27 May, 9:00am – 1:45pm, Cyprian Pavilion
• Year 7 Regional Retreat – Monday 14 June, 9:00am – 1:45pm, Marist Centre Brisbane
• Year 11 Twilight Retreat – Thursday 17 June, 6:00pm – 8:00pm, Marist Centre Brisbane

Any parents or students interested in the above opportunities or in joining the program can contact Mr Burns (burnsa@marash.qld.edu.au).