MISSION AT THE COLLEGE

College Liturgical Life

Mrs Cathie Clarke - Director of Mission

Spirituality is at the centre of the model of the St Gregory’s Agile Graduate, with reflective being one of the key attributes.

In 2021 as we explore the theme of Breathe the Spirit of Life, the prayer life of St Gregory’s contributes much to this area of development for our young people. Some examples of these in the first Semester are as follows:.

Ash Wednesday Liturgy 2021

The theme of Breathe the Spirit of Life invites us to look at who we are, the lives we are living, and our place in the world. It has implications for each of us as we explore our personal calling and the choices we make on our human journey.

Every class in the school participated in an Ash Wednesday Liturgy led by a student of Year 12. The symbols of the candle, cross and ashes helped us to focus on our prayer, that with all Christians we may be faithful to the call of God and open to the call of the Spirit

Merciful God.

Mums and Sons Liturgies

It is always good to honour our mothers and all the important women in our lives and at St Gregory’s we take the opportunity to do this with our Junior School Mums and our

Year 7 Mums. This year we also prayed a liturgy with our

Year 8 Mums since they had missed out last year.

Throughout the liturgies, we celebrated our Mums as models of God’s unconditional love. We prayed in gratitude for our Mums who respond to God’s call in a positive way like Mary did. Both Year 7 and Year 8 had some special words for their Mums.

Year 7: Advice for Mums

Let me know when I make you proud. Help me to have pride in my own accomplishments.

Let me earn your trust.

Then trust me.

I won’t let you down.

Let me try my wings. If I fail, let me know it’s OK. And encourage me to try again. Let me know you love me. With a hug. Or a pat on the back, or when I need it, with a firm but gentle “no.” Let me be. Let me change Let me grow.

Let me tell you when I’m feeling bad... or angry… Even at you. And let me know even on my worst days, you still like me. Let me dream. Share my joy when my dreams come true. Share my tears when they don’t. Let me feel secure in my home. Help me realize that love is always there … that I can depend on you no matter what. Let me run … let me laugh … let me play. And most of all, let me be your child!

Year 8: I had the Meanest Mother in the World

I have the meanest Mother in the World and I’d like to tell you about her. While other kids eat cocopops for breakfast, or are allowed to skip breakfast altogether, I have to have weetbix, eggs or toast. When others buy whatever they want for lunch, I have to eat a sandwich. As you can guess, my dinner is different too. It’s a bit embarrassing but if there’s not sports training or school event, my Mum makes us sit at the table and eat together. Sport training, you heard right. At least, I’m not alone in my sufferings My siblings have the same mean mother and she makes us all play; dragging us around to venues all over the south west! She says something about teaching us teamwork, healthy lifestyles and discipline. Maybe she just likes driving. My mother insists upon knowing where we are at all times. You’d think we were on a chain gang. She has to know who our friends are and where we’re going. She even insists on meeting the parents if we’re going to an overnight party. Mean! I am nearly ashamed to admit it, but my Mum has consequences when we break her rules. Not once, but every time we have a mind of our own and do as we please. Can you imagine someone actually depriving a child of access to social media just because he was on tic toc when he was supposed to be doing an assessment task for English? Now you can begin to see how mean she really is. Why, oh why, did I have to have a mother who makes me feel different from my friends?

I believe she actually breaks the child-labour law. She makes us work. We have to wash dishes, make beds, learn to cook and all sorts of cruel things. I think she lays awake at night thinking up mean things for us to do to. The worst is yet to come. She always insists upon telling the truth. She believes my teachers more than me when they say I forget things. Other mothers bring their stuff up for them, but my mother insists on me taking responsibility. Other mothers allow their kids to lie in bed sick and miss school. Not mine. And our grades have to be good. When will this talking, demanding and meanness end? I can hear her now. Yes Mum, you’re right, again. It won’t end …. Not until I complete school and maybe attain some higher education at TAFE or uni. Not until I’ve grown into a spiritually centred, agile graduate. Not until I become a faithful, educated, honest adult, and a good man. You know what, Mum tells me that one day I might try to raise my own children and that I’ll stand a little taller and be filled with pride when my children call me mean. I guess I will. Thank you, God, Thank you for giving me the meanest mother in the whole world. background, I am trying to raise my three children. I stand a little taller and I am filled with pride when my children call me mean. Because, you see, I thank God, He gave me the meanest mother in the whole world.

May Rosary

As a Marist school we have a special devotion to Mary, who was called to be the mother of Christ. The month of May is set aside by the Catholic Church for all of us to think about Mary and to try to see Jesus’ life and death through her eyes. One way we can do this is by praying the Rosary. At St Gregory’s many staff and students gathered in the Chapel each Monday during May to pray the Rosary. As we repeat the praying of the Hail Mary, we think about particular times in Mary’s life, especially those times when she was present with Jesus.

Champagnat Mass

The feast of Saint Marcellin Champagnat celebrates the connection we have here at Saint Gregory’s, to the global Marist family. Saint Marcellin started primary schools in the country areas of France over 200 years ago to give an education to children who

would not normally have received that opportunity. Today there are Marist schools and other ministries in over 80 countries around the world. To be Marist is to be a follower of Jesus, and we live this way in the Catholic tradition. Our prayer was that we be enriched by the celebration of Eucharist so that we can continue to breathe the Spirit of life and share the message of Christ with others.

During the Responsorial Psalm as we sang our song of praise asking God to empower us with the Holy Spirit, we welcomed Kindergarten to their first College Mass at St Gregory’s. Each of them was crowned with a symbol of fire, symbolising the Holy Spirit alive in each of them. We prayed that in this community they will be inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit and breathe that same Spirit to others.

We also presented Champagnat certificates and medallions to members of our community who fit the criteria of strong mind and gentle heart.

The recipients of the Champagnat Certificates are -

Kindergarten Makenzie O’Brien Year 1 Alexander Sheedy Year 2 Patrick Ursino Year 3 Evie Simpson Year 4 Lucas Spragg Year 5 Lucy Stewart Year 6 Daniel Poonattu

Year 7 Year 8

Max Anastasio Riley Clifton Connor McGettigan William Degeling Justin Susnjara Hunter Elson Mitchell Williams Sebastian Sia

Year 9 Year 10

William Hackett Toby Drinnan Samuel Labbozzetta Adam Fordham Dominic Neville Macs Rubain Sean Stevenson Samuel Smith

Year 11 Year 12

Lucas Braithwaite Joshua Berhardt Liam Croker Zachary Braithwaite Thomas Fletcher Lachlan McGufficke Andrew Parkin Bayley Suters

Citations for recipients of the 2021 Champagnat Medallions

Alexander Sheedy, Year 1

Alexander is a friendly and caring student who, at a young age already exemplifies many of the Marist qualities. With his gentle and caring nature he always looks out for others and constantly offers assistance and encouragement to those in need. Alexander is a very attentive student who gives his best at all times and strives for excellence. His positive disposition and love of learning is recognised and appreciated by staff and students. Alexander is a reliable and responsible student who demonstrates a wonderful sense of pride in being a member of the College and a great passion for family. He is a good role model for all students in the Junior School.

Daniel Poonattu, Year 6

Daniel demonstrates a strong mind and gentle heart in his interactions with his teachers and peers. He models the five characteristics of Marist as follows:

Daniel is always present in everything he does, he is welcoming to those in his grade and to others in our community. Daniel displays humility in the way he carries himself and how he approaches life at St Greg’s. He is humble in his class work, always seeking and accepting feedback to further challenge himself. Daniel can be counted on to see a need within the class and school and use his initiative to do something about it. Daniel works hard in every aspect of school life. He is confident and generous in his actions towards others. Daniel is a kind and attentive big brother to Nathaniel and to his Kindergarten buddy. Daniel is honest, respectful and can see the beauty and abilities of others. Daniel is a natural leader who other students look up to. His actions are a reflection of him following in the footsteps of Jesus.

William Carter, Year 7

William is determined, committed and dedicated to all he pursues. He is reliable, well-mannered and expresses the Champagnat qualities of a strong mind and gentle heart on a daily basis through his hard work and humility. Through his actions and relationships with staff and peers, William has been described as a young man willing to take on any challenge. William always goes above and beyond and expects only the best from himself. The love of work shown by William is evident in everything from Art to English, his relationship with his peers, commitment to sports or his gift for public speaking.

In summary, William is a happy, cheerful young man who is a great role model for all around him who seek to understand what a fine young man illustrates. He loves to learn, and he loves to chat!

Andrew Nothdurfter, Year 8

Andrew is a respectful and pleasant student who exemplifies the Pillars of Marist Identity. He demonstrates a Love of Work through his engagement and participation in his studies. He is attentive to the learning intentions of lessons and shows a quiet determination in completing tasks with distinction. Andrew is a dedicated sportsman who has experienced many successes in the sport of Swimming, a sport characterised by many hours of disciplined and dedicated training. Andrew has represented the College in MCS and Combined Catholic Colleges Swim Teams.

He is respectful, thoughtful and attentive to the needs of others. He is a valued friend and a welcoming member of the Year group. Through this example he has developed a great understanding of the Marist quality of Family Spirit.

Andrew demonstrates Simplicity by ‘doing good quietly’, he is straightforward and genuine. He is humble about his varied achievements, he rarely seeks attention or invites accolade. It is through these qualities that we can say, without hesitation, he has a truly gentle heart. He is a most deserving recipient of this award in recognition of his disciplined and consistent approach to all areas of school life.

Travis Martin, Year 9

Travis is a student who strives to achieve his very best in all endeavours. Travis has the Marist Charism of humility; he quietly contributes to many facets of life at the College without fuss or the need for recognition. Travis is a dedicated student who completes tasks on time and above expectations. Travis’ modest demeanour is aligned with genuine personal pride and a commitment to excellence. Travis is always polite and respectful to not only his teachers but to his peers. Travis accepts work gracefully and is keen to challenge himself to be better in all his endeavours. His sense of humour, humility and compassion is well grounded in the strongest of principles instilled in him from a young age. Travis is always kind and generous to younger children in the school - especially on the bus. Travis is a credit to his school, his family and, most importantly, himself.

Jack Noy, Year 10

Jack is a student who always strives to achieve his best in all endeavours. He is a loyal, generous and humble young man who demonstrates a keen interest to learn. He has a joyful manner and his peers and teachers alike find it a pleasure to interact with him. Jack is a warm and happy person who can always be relied upon to give his best. He is a credit to his family and the College community. He is mature, reliable and constantly seeks higher standards. Jack clearly exhibits the characteristics of Marcellin Champagnat. He truly deserves recognition as a ‘fine young man’.

Lucas Bucca, Year 11

Lucas is a selfless, honest and genuine young man with a strong sense of commitment. His positive nature and genuine presence aligns perfectly with his actions and sense of responsibility. Through this and his sense of compassion, Lucas has gained the respect of all within the St Gregory’s College community, staff and students alike. It has been stated that Lucas has a heart of gold. He is mature, respectful and a positive role model to students of all ages. Lucas’ modest demeanour is on par with a genuine personal pride and determination to achieve his best. He is a friendly and reliable young man who displays a strong sense of community, often willingly volunteering to be involved to support others or simply by ‘checking in’ to see how others are coping with life. Through his involvement in a wide range of co-curricular activities, Lucas aims to capitalise on every opportunity presented to him. As this young man strives to live in the mould of a true member of a Marist community, many would suggest he epitomises the unique spirit that is held by a genuine young man of St Gregory’s.

Joshua is a true embodiment of all the characteristics of St Marcellin. He is an honourable young man who consistently places the needs of others above his own, he leads not only by example, but more importantly he leads through his service to others. Joshua is indeed a credit to himself, his family, friends and to the College. He has a quiet honour about him. Joshua truly understands and appreciates the value of dedication and hard work, and these are qualities that are much admired in him by others. Joshua is always working behind the scenes to help others. He is an excellent example of humility, modesty, and service. He works quietly to help others achieve their best and wants nothing in return, as the hard work is reward enough for this young man. He is incredibly trustworthy, and he is an individual that is always a pleasure to be around, consistently displaying an enthusiasm and joy for all aspects of life that with which he is currently involved. He is a fine role model who gives his all to every endeavour he is involved in. Joshua is an excellent example of what it truly means to be a fine young Marist.

Mr Edward Stefanski, Community Award

Mr Edward Stefanski. This award recognises someone in our St Gregory’s community who makes an exemplary contribution to the life and values of the College. The essential criteria is a person of strong mind and gentle heart. There is no doubt that the recipient of this award for 2021 is one such person. Congratulations

The word humility comes from the Latin humilis meaning of the earth. Like Marcellin, Ed is deeply connected to the country and the land and, as the word suggests, Ed is a man of great humility and simplicity. He is unassuming and delights in the success of others. He is passionate for life and exhibits great compassion for others. The urban dictionary defines a gentleman as one who does not cower to outside forces and whose character is evident in his presence. People feel comfortable in Ed’s presence. He is a man deeply confident in and comfortable with his faith, yet never pious or arrogant. Love of work is a core characteristic of the Marist charism, modelled by Marcellin as he established the Little Brothers of Mary and built The Hermitage in Lyon, whilst running his Parish of LaValla. Ed too has an incredibly strong work ethic evident in his thorough preparation of lessons, as well as his attention to every detail as he works in the team to organise the many Agricultural shows and opportunities for our students. He is a regular attendee at Retreat and is willing to give of his time and of himself. He loves to learn and has many interests which he shares with our students – he is an avid reader, camper, bushwalker, and loves to tinker with cars and machines as well.

These varied interests and his love of the rural life has allowed Ed to develop empathy with boys from the bush and strong relationships with many young men in the boarding community but he has also inspired many of our day boys and city boys to participate in the Agricultural and other cocurricular programs. He has incredibly high expectations for his students and himself.

Ed’s own philosophy of teaching states, ‘Through fostering a love of learning, positive role modelling and enriching students’ lives, I intend to become a better teacher and person.’ A man, of strong mind and gentle heart, Ed is an ideal role model for our students and many people are better because of him.

The Marist Association of St Marcellin Champagnat

This is a faith community of over 800, including Marist Brothers, lay women and men, and clergy. It is an expression of the wider catholic Church that embraces God’s mission among ourselves as an Association and with the Marist spiritual family around the world. The local branch of St Gregory’s now has over 20 members and at the Champagnat Mass we joined in a moment of renewal:

Centre our lives on God who calls us to prayer and action; deepen our experience and communion with each other and with all life. Radiate hope through hospitality, availability, and spiritual liveliness.

Hear God’s whisper within our hearts, urging us to become our best selves.

Consciously meet the needs of young people, particularly the most vulnerable. Let us stir up and seek from the Lord the power of the Holy Spirit to go forward in greater unity; as a renewed movement within the Church, as anointed and sent members of the Body of Christ.

Amen.

St Greg’s Students branch out to connect to Community

Students in Year 4 at St Gregory’s College Junior School have been exploring how reaching out in love and service can connect communities; locally and globally. In their Unit of Inquiry, the students have explored and investigated various people and organisations that reach out in love and service to support the wide range of needs present within our community.

Throughout the unit they were exposed to different organisations such as Caritas, Marist Solidarity, Orange Sky, Helping Hands and St Vincent de Paul. Mr Jordan from St Vincent de Paul Macarthur, visited the classes and shared the vision, mission and numerous day to day services they provide to people in the local area. A panel of students from the school community involved in outreach programs, also shared their work, experiences and motivation. The staff had recently participated in a Marist Spirituality Day in which they hand-made Rosary beads to send to families in Timor Leste. The families see the Rosary as a form of protection and help guide them in their spiritual and faith journey. Photos of the staff taking action were shown to the students who then further assisted by contributing to the making of more Rosary beads to send overseas. These beads were accompanied by personal letters to those they prayed for as they made the Rosary Beads.

This practical experience further strengthens the spirit of community that exists between the Marist Community here in Australia and our brothers and sisters in Timor Leste.

Mrs Diana Ivancic Assistant Head of Junior School