Mission News

Prayers

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

A Vision for Our World

God, give us a vision of the world of the type

your love would wish it to be.

A world where the weak will be protected rather than exploited,

and where there will be neither hunger nor violence.

A world where the gifts and the wealth of the earth will be shared

and everyone may enjoy them.

A world where different nations, races and cultures may live together

in mutual tolerance and respect.

A world where peace is based on justice

and justice takes the shape of practical love.

Give us, Lord, courage and imagination to construct this world

in your name and be your voice and a voice with the poor.

Amen.

From the Head of Religious Education 

As the quote attributed to St Anselm goes, theology is ‘faith seeking understanding,’ or fides quaerens intellectum in Latin. This highlights the need to engage with faith intellectually as well as emotionally, to investigate the nature of belief as it exists in the reality of our lives. In the junior years in RE, we follow the Archdiocese of Brisbane Religious Education Curriculum. This allows students to develop high-level critical thinking skills. Year 9 teacher Ms Alana Armitage writes about the Year 9 Term 1 Unit, Abrahamic Traditions and Sacred Texts Today:

“This term, in Year 9 Religion, students have been developing their skills of biblical criticism. We have learnt about the Pentateuch, which is the first five books of the Old Testament, and who authored the Pentateuch through the Four Source theory. Students have used the Three Worlds of the Text to analyse a range of biblical texts including a core text, the Flood Myth in Genesis 6:10-22. We have also explored form and narrative biblical criticism, the three-stage pattern of parables, and the three-fold structure of miracles. 

Students have evaluated and drawn conclusions about the significance of foundational beliefs in the lives of believers including the incarnation, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus by exploring the online Understanding Faith resource as well as analysing relevant scriptural passages.

Students are currently learning about the divergent understandings of God in the monotheistic religions of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Year 9 Religion students recently participated in an Academic Reading lesson conducted by a teacher-librarian to develop their understanding of Judaism. We will be completing our studies of Islam this week. A recent formative assessment on Stile consisting of 25 x multiple choice questions gave students feedback on their current understanding of topics covered this term. Students are in the midst of revising for their 80-minute summative exam on Monday 21 March at 9:00am in the Gym.”

Blessing and Investiture of Year 12 Students and Year 6 Leaders 

On Thursday 10 March we had a prayer of blessing for our Year 12 student cohort and the investiture of the student leaders in both Year 12 and Year 6. It was a moving way for the students to be recognised for the role they play in the College. Archbishop Mark Coleridge BA sent a video message to the students for the liturgy. 

The Seniors of 2022 wrote a Mission Statement for the Year and pledged their dedication to the College. 

The Mission of the Seniors of 2022 is to ensure that we are present to others in all aspects of College life.

We choose to enact this in all facets of life; through our efforts in:

• Our academic rigour
• Our active participation 
• Our good sportsmanship
• And in our service and support of others

As Seniors, we choose to do this by knowing, by loving, by creating a culture of presence. 

I now invite the Seniors to stand and pledge with me our dedication to the College for this 2022 year. 

We, the Senior Class of Marist College Ashgrove are honoured to lead our College; we pledge to:

To show respect for all in the school community

To lead the College strongly and wholeheartedly

To bring the student body together as one, through encouraging students to participate in all aspects of College life.

To “act courageously” and generously, and inspired by the spirit of St Marcellin, to lead by example.

To seek, find and celebrate the Presence of God in ourselves, in our world and in all we meet. 

In all this we ask your help Lord Jesus, and the help of our Good Mother Mary, to be faithful to this pledge.

Associated Independent Colleges (AIC) Ecumenical Service 

On Monday 14 March the College was represented at the AIC Ecumenical Service hosted by Padua College for 2022.  The Service was attended by the Head of College, student leaders, and staff representing the AIC schools in Queensland:  Iona College; Marist College Ashgrove; Padua College; St Edmund’s College; St Laurence’s College; St Patrick’s College; St Peter’s Lutheran College; Ambrose Tracey and Villanova College. Our thanks to Padua for a moving liturgy and to our student leaders for their representation of the College. 

Marist Youth Ministry Connect Night 

Four MCA students attended the recent Marist Youth Ministry Connect Night. This evening gathered 45 students from Marist schools across Brisbane, providing Marist students the opportunity to link into the broader Marist family. The evening took a closer look at the 2022 Marist theme: Known and Loved, in light of recent global and local events. Students were invited to come together as a Marist community in prayer for the needs of those they know and love.

Lenten Fundraising Day Thank you 

A vote of thanks to all members of the community that supported the Lenten Fundraising day held on Friday 11 March. A day like this, of food and games, led by the Mission Captains and ably supported by the student body, Heads of House, Mission Team and the unfailingly optimistic Services and Facilities staff showcases what we as a community can do when we are working together for others. Money raised from this day goes toward our Lenten Appeal. 

Updated College Community Mass Schedule

Term 1 2022