Newsletter 16: 3 December 2024
Dear Colleagues,
The peace of the Lord be with you always
As we Marists enter this Advent season and prepare for Christmas, remembering those who are close to us in work and personal lives will be marked with Christmas Cards and greetings that most often among the faithful, wish upon the other the peace of Christ.
The prayerful desire for peace reflects a basic need among all people. To face and deal with the pressures and challenges of daily life in a Spirit of peace is Jesus’ gift to us. Praying for the peace of Christ seems even more needed at this time of the school year, when energy is low, patience sometimes in short supply, and a list of “to dos” inversely proportional to days left in the school year.
For Marist educators it is important to remind our young people during Advent that wishing one another the peace of Christ is not unique to Christmas. Each time we celebrate the Eucharist, at the height of the liturgical experience following the Our Father and immediately before we receive the Body of Christ, we pray for and wish upon those around us the peace of Christ.
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
This encouraging truth is to be highlighted in the end of year Masses celebrated in the coming days and weeks as we give thanks to God for the people with whom we have shared the transformative experience of a Marist education in 2024.
This week, schools from across the country are participating in the 50th Annual Marist Cricket Carnival, which is being most generously hosted at Saint Joseph’s College Hunters Hill NSW and Lavalla Catholic College Traralgon Victoria.
The history of the Marist Cricket Carnival is laced with enthusiasm for our Marist way and a passion for the game of cricket. That the two go hand in hand is not surprising as many Cricket tragics will tell you, no other game has the structured potential of cricket to foster and form lasting friendships.
20 teams are participating in this year’s carnival and happily, girls cricket features for the first time reflecting the growth in popularity of cricket among women from all cricket loving nations. Congratulations to all involved and especially the organisers who generously give many hours to ensure this wonderful experience for our students.
Finally, please keep in your prayers the following Principals who will be concluding in their roles at the end of 2024 after many years of faithful service and leadership in Marist education. Their contributions were appropriately recognised at the recent Mass and Dinner celebrations.
Mr Mark Pauschmann - Parramatta Marist High School
Mr Michael Pepper - Bunbury Catholic College
Mr Chris Randell - Catholic College Sale
Mr Darren Hovey - Galen Catholic College