MOTHERS’ DAY MASS AND BREAKFAST 2019
To the Salesian College Family,
Last Friday morning, 10 May, well over 400 people – Mothers, Sons and Members of Staff – attended the College’s annual Mass and Breakfast for our wonderful mothers who undoubtedly deserve our ongoing gratitude and acknowledgement.
The theme of this year’s Mass in the College Chapel was the ‘Strenna’ or Motto of the Salesian Rector Major for 2019, Holiness For You Too, which underlines the reality that all of us are called to be Saints – the very best people that we can possibly be – and faithful Witnesses of God’s saving love and mercy throughout the world.
During his homily, Fr Greg pointed out that Pope Francis, in his well-received exhortation, Rejoice and Exult, also emphasised the importance of striving to be Holy People and Everyday Saints in our normal daily lives and in our ordinary dealings with our fellow human beings. In our capacity as everyday witnesses, the Pope challenges us all to be ‘neighbourhood saints’, ‘the saints next door’ and the ‘middle class of holiness’.
Among these saints, he singles out mothers and grandmothers for special attention:
“These witnesses may include our own mothers, grandmothers or other loved ones. Their lives may not always have been perfect, yet even amid their faults and failings they kept moving forward and proved pleasing to the Lord.”
And again:
“I think too of all those unknown or forgotten women who, each in her own way, sustained and transformed families and communities by the power of their witness.”
And finally, in Article 7 of Rejoice and Exult, Pope Francis contemplates “the holiness present in the patience of God’s people: in those parents who raise their children with immense love, in those men and women who work hard to support their families….in their daily perseverance I see the holiness of the Church.”
In his concluding words, Fr Greg gave this encouragement to the many mothers present:
“I encourage you to follow the example of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and of Margaret, the Mother of Don Bosco, and continue to be Instruments of God’s Love in the world and Witnesses of his Saving Activity wherever you may be in the present and wherever you may go in the future. And may Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord, remain with you all the days of your lives. Amen.”
Following our joyful Mass, all mothers, sons, relatives and staff-members proceeded to the College Hall, where they took part in a festive breakfast prepared by the Parents and Friends’ Association and were royally entertained by our String Ensemble. All our mums fittingly received special Mothers’ Day gifts, but most importantly all were recipients of our highest esteem and most grateful affection. At the end of the breakfast a Raffle was drawn, with three mothers receiving well deserved prizes.
May God bless our Salesian College Mothers!
YEAR LEVEL RESURRECTION MASSES
During the second and third weeks of Term 2, all Year Levels had the opportunity to participate in well-prepared Resurrection Masses which highlighted the significance of Easter and the central importance of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ in our lives.
The students were actively involved in these Eucharists as servers, commentators, readers and bearers of special Easter Symbols which were brought in procession to the altar and sanctuary. These symbols were the lighted Paschal Candle (representing the light of the Risen Christ), the Bowl of Water (representing Baptism and new life), the White Garment (representing Baptism and clothing oneself in Christ), the Sacred Oils (used for anointing in the Sacraments of the Church) and the Bread and Wine (transformed into the Body and Blood of the Risen Lord during the Eucharist).
Finally, I take this opportunity to acknowledge all those who contributed so positively to the success of our 2019 Resurrection Masses, particularly Fr Lawrie and Fr Oreste, Mrs Knight and Miss Barcellona, the Religious Education Teachers, Oratory Leaders and Year Level Co-ordinators, the IT and Maintenance Staff and, most of all, the student office-bearers and participants themselves.
May the Risen Lord be with you all. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Fr Greg Chambers
Rector
