Rector

On February 28, we gathered as a community at St Patrick’s Cathedral to officially mark the commencement of the academic year for 2020. When we gathered that evening, as we faithfully have for many years, we had no idea what 2020 would have in store for each of us as individuals and as a community.

2020 is a year that will be etched into our memories forever. Social commentators have described it as the most significant moment in this generation and as a once in a lifetime event. That evening I preached a reflection on living the third guiding principle of the College Mission and Vision Statement: ‘We have but one heart, one soul.’

We strive to nurture a friendly and caring school, enabling students to develop a sense of loyalty, solidarity and service. We provide pastoral care and encourage participation in all aspects of College life. Nourished by the Eucharist, and led by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, we believe that once a student enters the College, he and his family become part of our community for life.

In my homily, as I am sure no one would remember, I challenged the community to live this principle and create a community which reflected the reality in our world with the many challenges we face. I encouraged each of us to be contributors to the Mazenod community, not users and abusers, not bystanders and keyboard warriors; particularly for our Year 12 students as they prepare to become good citizens of the world.

In reflecting on the global situation we live in, I made the following observations which proved to more prophetic than I could have imagined: “At a global level there is conflict and division in almost every region of the world. World politics seems to be dominated by a small-minded approach of building walls and bunkering ourselves in, yet a virus like COVID-19 humbles us and reminds us of our connectedness. When our building industry stops because we can’t source supplies from China, we will come to the realisation of just how connected we are.”

One thing for sure is that we live in a connected world and an invisible microscopic virus has reminded us that rich or poor, one side of a border or the other we are all humans, that life is fragile and finite, that we have limited control, opportunity and choice on how we live that time. So it is important to make the most of it. This is all fairly obvious and we knew this, but have been reminded through the reality of COVID-19.

This year as a community and society we have had to discover within us a new resilience, something which we as a privileged society may have lost through our complacency. I have witnessed the best of the Mazenod Community living the principle of ‘One heart, one soul’ no matter what the challenges of 2020. I admired the way the teachers and College staff adapted and then re-adapted to new challenges to ensure our young men received the best that they possibly could under difficult circumstances. This is something which I have witnessed throughout my time at Mazenod, but has become more evident this year.

As I conclude my sixth and final year as Rector at Mazenod College, with four as Principal, it has been an amazing privilege to serve the Mazenod community, which was instrumental in my personal growth as a young man.

In the last six years I encountered many challenges. I brought with me a nice leather tissue box which I placed in my office, it had never seen so much use by those who came to visit me. At first I was a little worried about the effect I was having on people until I accepted that any role of leadership which involves the journey of young people will be a rollercoaster of tears for all involved. At times these were tears of joy and other times tears of sorrow. Tears in so many ways are the language of the heart and soul.

The word “sacrifice” is not that trendy at the moment but I witnessed people giving of themselves for others. I witnessed the sacrifice of families and parents, sparing no effort to send their sons to Mazenod and support them growing into men. I witnessed the sacrifice made by the staff to ensure every opportunity was afforded to the young men they served, assisting them to grow into fine talented young men. I witnessed boys sacrifice their youth, forced to grow into men through tragedy, and I witnessed students looking out for one another as brothers. I will always have a special place in

Rector’s

Report

my heart for Mazenod College as an Old Boy and now a former staff member and I thank God for the opportunity I had to give something back to a community that shaped me.

In a formal sense, I will remain connected to the College in my role as Provincial, trying to guide the transition process at a Governance level which has been made a little bit more complicated through significant changes at a Diocesan level and the effects of COVID-19 restrictions.

The Oblates look forward to a long future of serving Mazenod College in a new model of leadership in partnership with the Archdiocese of Melbourne. I would like to acknowledge and thank the Chairman of the College Board Mr Peter Le Grand for his unwavering support of the College, in particular the College staff over many years and our longest serving Chairman to date. A great man of faith, always available and willing to support and serve the community in whatever way possible. The College could have no greater champion or advocate than Peter. I thank him for his generous service and the many sacrifices he made as parent, Chairman and now grandparent of the College.

I acknowledge the staff of Mazenod who welcomed me into the College and who make an enormous contribution to making Mazenod College, the place that it is. I would like to thank the College Executive, in particular Mr Tony Coghlan, who embraced a young and green leader and supported me and helped me to grow into the role. I acknowledge and thank the Oblates who I have ministered with over the last six years but in particular Fathers John Sherman, Kevin Davine and Giancarlo Iollo for their commitment and service to the College in this challenging year.

To the class of 2020, I wish you every blessing as you leave Mazenod and join the esteemed ranks of Old Boys of the College. Always be proud of your College and continue to represent us and your family in all that you do as you explore the world beyond Kernot Avenue.

I leave you with the final words of the College anthem, both as my prayer for you and blessing.

With our eyes on tomorrow Its joy or its sorrow We ask God for light To keep faith ever bright Leave nothing undared for the Kingdom of God Leave nothing undared is our pledge Mazenod

May we always be burning flames, not a smouldering wick, in our quest to “Leave Nothing undared for the Kingdom of God.”