From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

Pastoral Action Alongside Doctrine

The Catholic Church which lies at the foundation of schools like Marist College Ashgrove, is often described as ‘out of touch’. Society is challenging the church to be relevant to all people today. Pope Francis is addressing this very issue. Cardinal Robert W McElroy (America: The Jesuit Review - March 2 2023) describes and explains some of Pope Francis’ writings and speeches, including the assertion that the Church’s identity, teaching and actions must be rooted in the life situations that men and women actually experience in the world today. In a world that has presented many challenges to the modern Church, Pope Francis has responded with a theology of pastoral action. This pastoral action that Pope Francis speaks about is encouraging and all-encompassing for all people.

In essence, he describes three fundamental aspects of this pastoral action which we as Christians are actioned to live -

Jesus always embraced the person first, then healed them. After this, he importantly called each person to reform. Each of these elements and the order of these elements is important. Christ firstly overpowers mercy and the limitless love of God upon the person. He then moves to heal that particular form of suffering that this person is experiencing. Finally, he calls the person specifically to change in their personal life. The clear recognition of sin and the call to change one’s life to conform fully with the Gospel is essential to Christian conversion and true happiness in this world and the next. But this call must be expressed with tenderness and a compassionate welcome to the church that patiently ministers over time, as Christ did.
The Church must be committed to true accompaniment. The aim is to come and see others as God sees them, incredibly precious souls, individual in nature and identity, yet equally treasured by God.
We are called to true holiness through being disciples. Discipleship means striving to deepen our faith and our relationship with God, to enflesh the Beatitudes, to build up the kingdom of God’s grace, to be a good Samaritan and embrace all efforts to be closer to God.

Pope Francis speaks of the pastoral Church as a field hospital where we are wounded by sin and all equally in need of God’s grace and healing. Our conscience is to which we will be ultimately responsible and by which we will be judged. Pope Francis states that the Church’s role is to form consciences, not replace them. He has been quoted to say, “Who am I to judge?”

Pope Francis also speaks of these pastoral actions and doctrine of the Church as needing to exist together equally. This pastoral outlook demands that all of the branches of theology attend to the concrete reality of human life and human suffering in a much more substantial way informing doctrine. It states that the lived experience of human sinfulness and human conversion are vital to understanding the central attribute of God in relation to us, which is mercy.

We pray that all our boys and united as a Marist family, can authentically live such a relevant vision of pastoral faith and grace alongside the doctrine of the Church today. Amen.

Examination Block Continues

I continue to encourage all boys in Years 8, 9, 10 and 12 to maintain their diligent studies and preparation for their examinations which are occurring this week. The full exam timetable can be found on the parent portal and was distributed by email. Years 5, 6, 7 and 11 will continue their internal assessments during this time. Reporting is now progressive and will be released by assessment task. This provides the opportunity for task-specific feedback to be published to both the student and the parents in a timely manner. Students access the feedback through the student café, while parents can log onto the parent lounge for access. For all parents, this will be followed by parent-teacher interviews. I thank all our expert and professional teachers who are preparing and marking the boys’ assessments at this important time of the term.

Parent-Teacher Interviews

The Term 2 parent-teacher interviews will be held between 11:00am and 5:00pm on Monday 17 April. Face to Face interviews are the first interviews for the year and will be held in the Champagnat Centre for Years 7-12 and in the classrooms of your teacher in Years 5 and 6. Online interviews will occur on Thursday 27 April from 3:40pm – 8:00pm. You can make appointments on the parent portal with all bookings closing on Monday 27 March. I thank Roxanne Rosenberg, Alecia Lee and Madeline Tong who are organising these interviews for all parents and boys. All boys are encouraged to attend the interviews with their parents.

Annual Year 5 Camp

All Year 5 students will be undertaking their camp from Monday to Wednesday 27-29 March (Week 10). The camp will be held at Tallebudgera. During the camp, the boys will undertake the following activities: rock climbing, body boarding, archery, high ropes, and beach games. The aim of the camp is for the boys to meet other students, build relationships, find out more about Marist and its special charism, traditions, and spirit and to have an enjoyable outdoor experience of activities. I thank the following staff who have prepared and will accompany the boys on this camp - Anthony Graham, Dan Price, Prue Maclean, Georgie Felix, Cathryn Geraghty, James Trebbin, Michael Connolly, Jen Little, Sasha Preston, Genevieve Long, Mena McLean, Anna Nasr and Charles Brauer

Enjoy, boys.

Year 5 Musical 2023

Best wishes to our Year 5 boys who will be all performing in a musical this Thursday evening. The boys will be performing the musical ‘Joust’ which is about a world where all weapons were replaced by musical instruments! ‘Joust’ highlights the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. This 35-minute medieval marvel, complete with jousting knights, delightful damsels, and court jesters, is fast moving and enjoyable. Two showings of the musical will commence at 5:00pm and 6:00pm in the Draney Theatre. I thank the following staff who have prepared and will be accompanying the boys on Thursday evening, namely: Andrew Butt, Janelle Lee Long, Enrico Le Mura, Rhiannon Fenn, Megan Harmston, Melanie Stewart and Vanessa Mitchell. We look forward to the Year 5 musical on Thursday evening.

AIC Cricket Premiers

Congratulations to our 1st XI Cricket team who achieved Premiers status after their final round victory on Saturday. The boys have had a wonderful season following a close third in the Marist Cricket Carnival in Canberra during the Christmas Holidays. Some of the highlights of the season included:

Excellent comradery, teamwork and sportsmanship
First round win off the last ball against Villanova, with Frank Piper hitting the winning runs
Will Nickelson: 2 x 100s and 2 x 50s. 429 runs at an average of 107
Louis Morris: 18 wickets at an average of 5.61. Best bowling 5/7 and Joey Laner – 5/8

I thank their coaches, Mr Michael Abbott (Pastoral Leader – Slattery) and Tom Gibson. My thanks also to the convenor of Cricket - Mr Mitch Reid. Well done, Marist!

AIC AFL Premiers

Well done to our 1st XVIII AFL team who after a sterling win on Friday evening achieved joint premiers status in the AIC schools competition, with St Laurence’s College. This was our first premiership in AFL since its inception in 2019. Highlights of the boys season included:

training at the Brisbane Lions facility at Brighton Homes Arena
producing an outstanding four quarters to defeat St Laurence's College
seeing the comradery, the development of the spirit, commitment and selflessness of the entire team across the season and outstanding sportsmanship.

Well done gentleman and to your coaches Mr Matt Beattie, Mr Brett Gillett (Pastoral Leader – Gilroy) and Mr Andre Mackay.

Rugby and Football Trials

Best wishes to all boys at the college who commence their rugby and football trials this Saturday 25 March. Boys can sign up to rugby and football in the Student Café. The conveyor of Rugby is Mr Richard Graham and Football, Mr Darek Lennon. We hope to have as many boys as possible involved throughout this season. Parents are always welcome to positively support the boys each Saturday.

Marist Carnival – Basketball

Best wishes to the Marist College Ashgrove Open Basketball Squad who will participate in the 2023 Marist Basketball Carnival in Adelaide. The boys will participate from 27-31 March with the host Marist school being Sacred Heart College in Adelaide. The competition will begin with a welcome mass and conclude with a presentation dinner. We wish all boys the best of luck and to their coaches Mr John Lambourne, Mr James Lidstone and Mr Matt Richards. Enjoy, gentlemen.

Primary Swimming Carnival

My best wishes are extended to all boys in Years 6 and 7 who will be competing in the Marist College Ashgrove Primary Swimming Carnival this Friday 24 March. The venue is the Marist College Ashgrove Pool with the carnival occurring between 9:00am – 2:45pm. Races will include the 50M Freestyle and Breaststroke, along with novelty races aimed at encouraging participation and engagement. I thank our Head of Primary Sport – Mr John Lambourne, and all Primary staff who will be facilitating and supervising at this carnival. Enjoy, gentlemen.

Champagnat Sports Lunch

On Friday 9 June 2023, the Champagnat Trust Sports Lunch celebrates its 19th year. We look forward to bringing the Community of past and present parents, Old Boys, and the extended Marist Family together in the aim of raising funds for the Champagnat Trust Bursary Program. Named in honour of the Founder of the Marist Brothers, the Champagnat Trust was established in 2005 to assist boys from families facing financial hardship to attend the College. The lunch is an all-inclusive premium ticketed event. Tickets include a two-course lunch and five-hour beverage package. This year the event will be hosted by Lawrence Mooney and guests will have the pleasure of hearing from a panel of sporting superstars as well as a special guest. A live auction and raffle items provide guests with the opportunity to support this wonderful cause. Tickets can be purchased here. Please contact the events team at events@marash.qld.edu.au if you would like to help support the event in any way. In anticipation, thank you for supporting future students at Marist

May our loving God with Mary our good mother and St Marcellin Champagnat walk with all members of the Marist College Ashgrove Family.