Newsletter 14: 31 October 2023

Dear Colleagues,

Hard work and gratitude - the pillars of our spiritual life!

Pope Francis

Over the past three weeks Marist Schools Australia has celebrated the 2023 Annual Mass and Dinners across the three regions at Marcellin College Bulleen in Melbourne, Saint Joseph’s College Hunters Hill in Sydney, and Marist College Ashgrove in Brisbane. 45 staff members from across the 56 member schools of Marist Schools Australia were recognised by over 400 colleagues, family, and friends in appreciation for their contributions to Marist education over many years. We were privileged to have a number of senior leaders in Catholic education join us from different Dioceses including Dr Debra Sayce, Executive Director Catholic Education Western Australia, Mr Paul Velten, CEO of Diocese of Sale Catholic Education, Mr Paul Desmond, Executive Director Catholic Education Sandhurst, Mr Tim Gilmour, Deputy Director Diocese of Wollongong and Mr Andrew Watson, Director of Catholic Education Diocese of Wagga Wagga.

Each evening commenced with Mass during which we gave thanks to God for the privilege and the challenge of working in Marist education in Australia. In each of the citations for the worthy recipients, there was explicit recognition for the influence these inspiring people have exercised through witness in the way of Jesus. The citations and photos will be published in the next edition of Lavalla Magazine in 2024. Whilst the Mass and Dinners continue to be a most uplifting and inspirational gathering of the Marist family, the statements of appreciation for each award winner collectively provide a rich contribution for reflection in the unfolding story of Marist education. Most striking was the consistent alignment captured in the citations with the purpose and character of our Marist way in Catholic education as defined in our key Marist documents.

As we reflect with appreciation on the quality of work in our schools recognised during these recent annual gatherings, the following words of Pope Francis are commended to you.

For all the obstacles we see before us

gratitude and appreciation

should prevail over concerns and complaints.

Joy springs from a grateful heart!

We can change the world by being bearers of gratitude.

The world needs hope.

And with gratitude, with this habit of saying thank you,

we transmit a bit of hope.

Everything is united and everything is connected,

and everyone needs to do his or her part wherever we are.

The pillars of our spiritual life are hard work and gratitude.