Faith and Mission

Dear St Eugene, patron saint of wounded families,

Come to the aid of our families. Allow to permeate in each member an amiable care and affection for each other. Soften the effects of any quarrels, keep away disregard, dishonesty and bitterness. Refresh us from our brokenness, soothe the pain from the past, and instill in each of us ready forgiveness and inner peace.

You know well the difficulties and trials of a wounded family through the divorce of your parents, and deep family tensions. May all who suffer these family hardships seek your intercession to discern more clearly how the Light of Jesus Christ can help them in the midst of their darkness and despair.

Jesus and Mary, we surrender our families to you.

Amen.

College Visit by Fr Sholto Douglas OMI

This week we had a visit by Fr Sholto Douglas OMI, who spoke to many of the classes about his work in Zimbabwe. Fr Sholto is an Australian Oblate who is currently serving in the Oblate mission in Zimbabwe and has been appointed to the Regional Council for the newly amalgamated Southern African Province of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. It is timely, as we are preparing for Mazenod Mission Day, that Fr Sholto took the time to talk to our students during his stay.

Flower Roster Volunteers

Morning Mass 

Week day Masses begin at 8:00am in the College Chapel. However, Wednesday morning Mass begins at 8:10am. These Masses are assigned to a group of students who are involved in their preparation and focus on a particular theme or feast day. Below is a table outlining this term’s Wednesday masses to which everyone from the Mazenod community is extended a warm invitation to attend.

Term 2: Wednesday Masses

Sheep are Followers

(Matthew 9: 35 - 10: 9 - 23)

“We are his people, the sheep of his flock”. How picturesque - all those cute critters grazing obediently, and I know I’m supposed to want that, but in my heart I’m thinking, “No thanks”. Sheep are followers. I’m a terrible sheep. I don’t want to follow. I want to control. For example, I want to control my schedule so that I never have to wake up while it’s still dark. I want to turn on the radio as I’m getting ready and never hear a pledge drive. I want all the traffic lights in town to turn green as I drive up to them. 

But the problem is deeper, and my own life reveals that, especially as I ponder the big things I’d like to control. I want my family to give me my way in everything. I don’t want my friends to get sick, or at least to get well when I pray for them, especially the one I keep praying for who keeps getting sicker. I don’t want to worry about finances, kids, the environment. I want everyone to practice compassion instead of escalating conflict to violence.

Uh-oh. The real issue here, I see, isn’t that sheep are followers. The real issue is that sheep are not in control. Giving up control isn’t a goal we can work toward – it’s a statement about reality. We can’t give up control because we don’t have it in the first place! Yes, we must pray and work – clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and imprisoned. But we must also acknowledge that we don’t control the outcome, and we can practice gratitude to the one who made us, whose kindness endures forever, who has placed us in this amazing flock and invited us to serve with joyful song.

Damian Wallis

Director of Faith and Mission