Let us celebrate grace of God in St Eugene Friday morning saw the whole community of Mazenod College: students, teachers and staff joined by the Oblates and some priests from the local churches celebrating the Founder’s Day. Mazenod College in Melbourne, as one may easy guess, was established by the Oblates to educate the young men in the spirit of St Eugene. The school of more than 1200 pupils continues living the dream of those Oblates who believed that the inspiration of St Eugene could make an impact on the young hearts and minds. Every year the school celebrates with profound solemnity the gift of St Eugene de Mazenod to the Church and to this school as well. I am always amazed at the seriousness and commitment of the students to Christ. There is always somebody in the school chapel praying. Every morning there is Mass for those who wish to attend. A few weeks ago when I was helping with Reconciliation there I was approached by a teacher who expressed his concern that with Fr Irek’s departure for the China Mission, the College will be left only with one priest – the Rector and it may mean that there will not be a daily Mass. I must say that I was moved to the core of my being. I assured the teacher that I will do my best to assist them. Isn’t a powerful sign of faith and love for Jesus? I am sure that it is the fruit of many years of quiet and committed ministry of our Oblates who have implanted this faith in the school community.
Before we started Eucharist there was a presentation to share the spirit of St Eugane. Mat who is on the evangelization team for the college took on the role of St Eugene writing to his Oblates scattered across the world. Mat’s first job was to select from Eugene’s letters some extracts that show his fatherly care for his spiritual sons. I must say that he did very well. I have been reading these letters so often and I can tell that the selection presented on Friday captured the core of Eugene’s spirit. When it came to the final words Eugene spoke just before he died I was just shaking. I have read them so often but to hear them being read aloud was awesome. These are the words:
“Be sure to tell my Oblates that I die happy… that I die happy that God was so good as to choose me to found the Congregation of the Oblates in the Church.”
Then he added:“ Practice among yourselves charity, charity, charity and outside, zeal for the salvation of souls.”
Before we started Eucharist there was a presentation to share the spirit of St Eugane. Mat who is on the evangelization team for the college took on the role of St Eugene writing to his Oblates scattered across the world. Mat’s first job was to select from Eugene’s letters some extracts that show his fatherly care for his spiritual sons. I must say that he did very well. I have been reading these letters so often and I can tell that the selection presented on Friday captured the core of Eugene’s spirit. When it came to the final words Eugene spoke just before he died I was just shaking. I have read them so often but to hear them being read aloud was awesome. These are the words:
“Be sure to tell my Oblates that I die happy… that I die happy that God was so good as to choose me to found the Congregation of the Oblates in the Church.”
Then he added:“ Practice among yourselves charity, charity, charity and outside, zeal for the salvation of souls.”
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