From the Rector

Greetings

As I write to you, we have entered the final days of our 2021 academic year for our students who are still currently on Campus. Appropriately, our College year will close for students on Friday morning with a College Mass celebrated in the Provence Centre. On this day we also celebrate, as the De Mazenod Family, our Feast Day, when Bishop Eugene de Mazenod was declared a Saint by the Catholic Church in 1995 by Pope John Paul II.  Reflection resources have been developed to help mark the day. Please visit https://demazenodfamily.com.au.

The closure of the academic year also means that this will be the final newsletter for the year. I hope you have found the various aspects of our newsletters informative as to what is being experienced on a daily basis by your son for his holistic wellbeing and education, even if he, at times, is reluctant to share these with you. Although we are still a few weeks out from the celebration of Christmas, I have endeavoured to make this final newsletter a Christmas edition as we won’t be in touch until January 2022.

Let me take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support and patience with the Executive, Teachers and Professional Staff of the College as we have worked our way through the daily, and often hourly changes, due to the restrictions etc. forced upon us during COVID. This year hasn’t been easy for any of us, but we have managed to come out the other end of 2021 with a smile on our faces and an enthusiasm for 2022. I hope that you will take this holiday period as an opportunity to reconnect with your family and friends and enjoy a well-earned break wherever you feel safe to travel. I look forward to the New Year when we will be able to meet, pray, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company as we work together for the benefit of your son’s ongoing journey of life and faith. 

Gospel reflection

The scripture readings and prayers for the Second Sunday of Advent continue to prepare us spiritually for Christmas (Christ’s first coming) and for Christ’s second coming. 

At this time of the year, there is something special about our city and suburbs. Shop owners and households go to great 

lengths to display Christmas lights that highlight various images of the Christmas Season. The lights shine and sparkle, attracting our attention. In this week’s gospel, we hear about John the Baptist trying to do the same thing; he is trying to get our attention with a wonderful message that will help us, not only take another step in our journey of preparation for this Christmas but another step in our spiritual journey. What is this wonderful message of John? It is not just any message, but the "Good News" for all to hear. He comes with a message of hope that Jesus the Messiah is coming, not just into our world, but into our homes, lives, and our very hearts with his message of joy, peace, and love. Shouldn’t this life-giving message of ‘Good News’ attract our attention? Our attention can be distracted by so many other things during the lead up to Christmas, however, let us not forget to prepare a place in our hearts to welcome Jesus. As I mentioned in last week’s newsletter, the gift of our spiritual life will last forever, all other gifts we receive will have their use-by date. 

A thought for Advent

What distracts my attention away from the ‘Good News’ that offers life to the full? How can I be ‘Good News’ for others during this Christmas season and beyond? Does the ‘light’ of my Christian life attract people’s attention to the God who loves unconditionally?

Advent Calendar

The tradition of the Advent Calendar is believed to have been created in the early 19th century as a way of preparation for Christmas by counting down the 24 days of December ending on Christmas Eve. As this is the final newsletter for the year, and well before Christmas, I thought I would give you some homework for the duration of Advent by including an Advent Calendar. The calendar contains a simple daily task that will help us to reflect, pray and do something so that our lives, and the lives of those around us, will be enriched during this season of preparation. 

Final Profession

It is with great joy that the Australian Oblate Province, together with the Delegation of Vietnam, celebrated the Final Profession of two young Oblates, Br Joshua Nash OMI (Australia) and Br Luan Ha OMI (Vietnam). The Final Profession was celebrated before Oblates, family, friends, and parishioners on Sunday, November 28 in St David’s Oblate Parish, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia (home parish of Br Joshua). The tradition of the Oblates is that the newly Finally Professed to receive an 

Oblate Missionary Cross of a deceased Oblate. This tradition keeps the spirit of the former Oblate alive in our midst and acknowledges his contribution to the overall Oblate Mission. Br Joshua Nash received the Missionary Cross of Fr Ian Mackintosh OMI, the third Rector of Mazenod College, Victoria (1978-1983). Br Luan Ha OMI received the Missionary Cross that had been previously worn by two French Oblates (Delegation of Vietnam comes under the administration of the Province of France), Fr Leon Chirio OMI and then Fr Julien Mansion OMI. The next step in their formation process will be their ordination as Deacons. For Br Joshua Nash OMI this will be celebrated on Friday, December 17 at 7.00pm in St John Vianney’s, Springvale North. The ordaining Bishop will be Bishop Mark Edwards OMI, Bishop of the Wagga Wagga Diocese and a former student and teacher at Mazenod College, Victoria. As an Oblate community let us continue to pray for vocations to the religious life and priesthood.

Mr Tony Coghlan, Principal

As we are all aware, Mr Tony Coghlan’s tenure as Principal of Mazenod College will cease in January 2022. Mr Coghlan was appointed the first lay Principal of Mazenod College in 2018. Mr Coghlan has served the College for over 26 years and has always demonstrated great leadership qualities. The good news is that these qualities of Mr Coghlan will not be lost to our College or the Oblate Colleges throughout Australia as Fr Christina Fini OMI, Australian Oblate Provincial, announced that Tony Coghlan has been appointed on a part-time basis as the founding Executive Officer of the De Mazenod Charism Education Network. Tony will work to establish this new office along with the De Mazenod Family Charism Office to promote the De Mazenod Charism at Board level, amongst staff and through student leadership programs in Oblate-run Colleges and those associated with the Charism. As we acknowledge Mr Tony Coghlan’s contribution to the life of our College I include a few thoughts from previous Rectors of Mazenod College who have worked with Tony Coghlan:-

“A person of vision, dedication, faith and commitment.”

“Exemplifies St Eugene who was known as a man with a heart as big as the world.”

“Tony’s calm, balanced, and fair approach.”

“Tony’s unflappability, good humour and genuine humanity.”

“Professional in the roles he has undertaken with a Spirit of St Eugene.”

“Loyal, supportive, trustworthy and wise counsel.”

Firstly, thank you, Mr Tony Coghlan, Principal, Mr Coghlan, Tony, "Cogs", for all that you are and have been for the College and for fostering the Oblate Charism. We all look forward to working with you in your new capacity within our colleges and the insights that you will bring.

Secondly, many thanks to the teachers and staff at Mazenod for their amazing resilience and commitment during this year.  I have appreciated their kindness as I have settled into the role of Rector during an unsettled academic year.

Finally, I want to express my thanks to all our wonderful students and parents for your continued support of all aspects of our College life. I certainly look forward to more personal interactions with you all in 2022.

I acknowledge my brother Oblates for their care and support and contribution to the life of the College.

We are certainly blessed to have all of the above people as members of the Mazenod family.

Fr Giancarlo ILLO OMI

I also take this opportunity to thank and farewell Fr Giancarlo from our Mulgrave Oblate Community and Mazenod College. Fr Giancarlo has been appointed as Assistant Parish Priest at the Parish of Immaculate Heart of Mary & St Kieran, Moe/Newborough in the Latrobe Valley as from December 14, 2021.

Gift of Hope

Don’t forget about the Oblate Mission Christmas Gift Cards which are an opportunity to spread the joy of Christmas far and wide. When we think about Christmas presents, we become aware that most of us already have what we need and, at times, even more. These cards offer another way to give a meaningful gift that will keep on giving for the entire year and far beyond.  When our families receive one of these cards it becomes an opportunity for them to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Cards for various amounts and missionary endeavours can be purchased from the College front office until December 15th and are tax-deductible. 

Used Stamps

In 2022 I want to work on a project that includes the collection of used stamps. I’ll explain more next newsletter. I am aware we don’t use the normal mail system all that often, however, I ask you to save the stamps you do receive, especially over the Christmas Season. The stamps can be brought to the College next year. Thanks!

Have a Smile! 

                                           Post- Christmas Activities!!

A Holy, Peaceful, Happy and  Safe Christmas  & 2022

to you all!    

Fr Harry & Fr Kevin & Fr Giancarlo & Fr Eric

Fr Harry Dyer OMI

Rector