Mission News

Inaugural Mass for Year 12 2021

The Inaugural Mass is an opportunity for the College community to launch the academic year, for the Year 12 student leaders to be acknowledged, and in 2021, to welcome and commission our new Head of College, Mr Michael Newman. 

Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, this year’s mass will be restricted to the Year 12 students and two adult guests per student. 

MCA Vinnies - St Vincent de Paul Student Chapter

Last week over 80 students from Years 7–12 signed up to be part of the group. Meetings will be held every fortnight on Tuesday during first break. Meeting times will be advertised in the Daily Notices. Students in Years 7–12 are welcome to join. We will begin College community BBQs on Friday mornings as an initiative of this group from this week 12 February. 

Shrove Tuesday Pancakes - Tuesday 16 February First Break

Next Tuesday 16 February, as an initiative of the student St Vincent de Paul group, we will be selling pancakes in recognition of Shrove Tuesday and as a way to begin our Lenten appeal. 

The pancakes will come in stacks of two for $3.00 and be available in first break at the CLE Outdoor Classroom area. The tuckshop monitor system and cash sales will be available. 

The pancakes are not designed to be a lunch so it is advisable to bring lunch on that day as well. 

Community Mass and Reconciliation

Community Mass - Wednesday 8:00am

Reconciliation - Tuesday 8:00am 

Students, parents, staff and other members of the College community are welcome to join us at Mass on Wednesday morning at 8:00am in the Chapel. Fr Tini is also available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation every Tuesday morning at 8:00am. 

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

• We remember in our prayers Mr Michael Druce and pray for his recovery.
• We pray for the repose of the soul of Christian Wightman’s (Year 12) Grandfather.

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

We fly to Your protection,

O Holy Mother of God;

Despise not our prayers 

in our necessities,

but deliver us from all dangers 

O Glorious and Blessed Virgin. 

MATES Ministry

BBQ with the Homeless

Our thanks to the many students, staff and families that have expressed interest in and support for the BBQ with the Homeless of which the College is so proud. The BBQ having run since 2004 had an imposed time off through 2020. We are currently working through our COVID safe plan and with the various relevant agencies to establish a safe community outreach. We will let you know when this becomes available. 

A short introduction to our Student Leaders for 2021 

College Vice-Captain Mission: Will Walker

What I hope to achieve: A legacy which shows that 2021 was the year to bounce back from Covid-19 with great success.

College Vice-Captain Academic: Ziggy Day

What I hope to achieve: A legacy that leaders can make a mark. And that I was a good bloke, that others felt comfortable approaching me to have a chat.

Game Changers Youth Ministry Program

Register Now for Game Changers!

Game Changers is a National Catholic youth ministry program for students in Marist Schools.  Highlighted by a strong sense of family spirit and community, regular meetings, faith formation experiences and service opportunities, students are invited to become game changers and leaders through their participation in the program.

Registration is now open for students in Years 7, 8, 10 and 11. The cost per student to participate in the program is $100.00. Students are invited to try the program out free of charge in Term 1. For more information and to register, please visit the Mission Office or contact Mr Burns (burnsa@marash.qld.edu.au).

Chaplain’s Corner

Introduction to Lent

Tradition tells us that Lent has three distinguishing marks: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Prayer is surely the best place to begin because it’s the one that unites them all. Fasting and almsgiving are themselves just forms of prayer.

Prayer: There are two classic definitions of prayer. The one in most catechisms comes from St. John of Damascus (8th century): “Prayer is the raising of the mind and heart to God.” The other comes from St. Clement of Alexandria (3rd century). He defined prayer as “conversation with God.” In prayer we talk to God, and He talks to us.

Fasting: When we fast, we follow the holy example – Moses, Elijah and Anna the prophetess. They all wanted to see God, and they considered fasting a basic prerequisite. We, too, wish to enter God’s presence, so we fast. Jesus fasted. And since He needed no purification, He surely did this only to set an example for us. Fasting is something spiritual and far more positive.

Why do we fast? Our anonymous businessman put it well: “It’s medicine for my biggest problem – selfishness and lack of self-control. To force me to curb my appetites, to not satisfy my desires – even for a short period of time – this is a good thing. To offer up the little sacrifice to God, for my family, for people who are hungry through no choice of their own, this I think is also good.”

Almsgiving: “Prayer and fasting are good but better than either is almsgiving accompanying by righteousness (Tob.12: 8-9). Almsgiving is a form of prayer because it is “giving to God”. It is a form of fasting because it demands sacrificial giving – not just giving something, but giving up something till it hurts.

Lent is a special season, but God wants these forty days to have a lasting effect on our lives. 

Mary, our good Mother, pray for us.

St. Marcellin Champagnat, pray for us.

St. Mary of the Cross, pray for us.

And may we always remember to pray for one another.