Dear Parents, Friends, Staff and Students,

Welcome back to the new term.

At our first assembly for the term, I focussed on a number of areas, one of which was prayer. It is a matter of finding the right balance which presents prayer as important for a balanced life, but then not pushing it to such an extent that turns our boys away.

As a Marist school we have an obligation to keep chipping away at this important gift which still needs to be awoken in the life of so many in our school community.

Julian of Norwich, a well-known mystic, speaks of it as follows:This is the reason why we have no ease of heart or soul, for we are seeking our rest in trivial things which cannot satisfy, and not seeking to know God, almighty, all wise, all good. He is true rest.

In Matthew 11:28-30 we are told:‘Come to me all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light”.

Many of us avoid the invitation because we worry about what it will entail. There will be plenty of challenges along the way but some time aside for prayer will be like the foundation stone on which we build a balanced and enriching life. We cannot hope to build any relationship with a friend if we do not spend quality time with them so why would our relationship with God through prayer be any different?

Esther de Waal in her book ‘Lost in Wonder’ reiterates this quite clearly when she says “In the end it is prayer which allows me to hold everything else in place and which prevents me from being pulled apart, fragmented. The sense of the presence of God is the anchor, the linchpin, the rock, by which all the varied elements of daily life are brought into perspective. Everything flows in and out of prayer; it is as simple as that. Living and praying become one continuous flowing movement, in a life in which each element plays its part in a harmonious and balanced whole.

At school this term we are endeavouring to focus a little more on the importance of prayer as the foundation stone of our school community. We have reintroduced the Angelus each Wednesday at midday and are encouraging our boys and staff to join in community prayer each Friday morning before school. These are just two of many iniatives we are following in order

to provide a school which balances the busyness with the reflective.

Cardinal Basil Hume reminds us:Each of us needs an opportunity to be alone, and silent, to find space in the day or in the week, just to reflect and to listen to the voice of God that speaks deep within us. Our search for God is our only response to his search for us. He knocks at our door, but for many people their lives are too preoccupied for them to be able to hear.

May we try to find some space in our busy weeks for some prayer, reflection and some quality time with the Lord.

With best wishes,

Br Bill Sullivan, fmsHeadmaster

Number 14 19 October 2005

Ex-Student Papal HonourThe Apostolic Nuncio in Australia has announced that the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has bestowed on Mr Kevin Goodhope Smith, who was a student of Marcellin College in the early 1930s, currently of St Cecilia’s Parish, Balgowlah, Sydney, the papal honour “ Croce Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice ”. Kevin was presented with the certificate accompanying the award at the Vigil Mass in St Cecilia’s Church on Saturday 24 th September.

S p e c i a l a c h i e v e m e n t SCongratulations to the students pictured below on their outstanding achievements. Well done!

from the headmaster

Term 4 DatesYear 11 Prizegiving 7.30pm Tuesday 1st November

School Certificate Exams Monday 7th November and Tuesday 8th November

Walkathon Friday 11th November

Year 7 Grandparents afternoon Friday 18th November 1.30pm to 3pm

Special Announcement Marcellin Mothers Trip cancelled

Unfortunately this trip has had to be cancelled. Apologies to those who were looking forward to a day of dining and shopping! Notice will be given as soon as possible if it is to be rescheduled for next year.

NewsletterThis week all families receive a hard copy version of the Newsletter. We will revert to issuing hard copies from the next edition to those families who have requested one. All other famlies will be able to access the Newsletter as per normal from the College website. A reminder email will be forwarded to families on the day the Newsletter is distributed.

Graduation PhotosAny students wishing to obtain a copy of a photo from the Year 12 Graduation Day please contact Br Joa on 9398 6355 or email fabbroj@marcellin.nsw.edu.au

Celebrating Performing Arts in Sydney Catholic Schools‘Entertaining Angels’ will showcase close to 4000 students from over 140 Sydney Catholic schools displaying their performing arts talents in music, song and dance. The first performance was held last night and the final one will be on this evening at the Sydney Entertainment Centre; tickets $25. If you’d like to see if tickets are still available for tonight’s performance at 7.30pm please phone Ticketmaster7 on 136 100.

Adam Laughlan-BowlbyYear 11

On top of his already successful year, Adam has now gone one step further and made first place in 1500m U16 NSW All Schools and second place in the 3km U16 All Schools. Adam now qualifies for the National Championships later in the year.

The Marist Forum Meetings Year 11This year, the Marist Forum was held in the Marist Mittagong Farmhouse, the pride and joy of the Marist Brothers of New South Wales. The Forum’s main purpose was to inform us on choices and decisions which would later lead to our vocation. It was, in my view, a highly spiritual forum. Students from all across Australia attended the Forum, bringing their own unique skills to the group discussions after each session. The Forum gives you such a grand experience and gives you lessons on life. What caught me the most was the friendly nature of all the participants in the Forum and

that of the Marist Brothers. It is an experience I will describe as fantastic, spectacular, character-moulding. It was a wonderful opportunity. Chi-Roong Ho and Sebastian Compton Year 11

Aidan BennisonYear 8

Aidan has been selected in the development squad in Athletics for the 2012 Paralympics in London.

Year 12 Graduation 2005Farewell Year 12 2005

Congratulations to all the students of the Graduating

Class of Year 12 2005.

Our prayers and best wishes are with each and every one of them for the

upcoming Higher School Certificate

examinations

notices and newsSocial Justice - East Timor

During the last school holidays three Marcellin students – Joel Foffani, Ben Campbell and Jason Rooney - went to East Timor on a social justice immersion trip. Below is their account of this experience.

We were very fortunate to be accepted to participate in this immersion experience; it was an honour to be selected after undergoing a series of interviews by a board of the College Executive staff with many questions asked of us, such as why we wanted to go and what we felt the experience would offer us.

East Timor is the world’s newest nation and only four years ago it was considered one of the world’s poorest developing countries and is still today. Before this life-changing trip we had endured countless hours of preparation for the lead up to East Timor. We had to learn about

the current situation of East Timor, the history of East Timor, the economy of the country, the cultural “do’s and don’ts”, medical requirements, which food we should eat and which food we should not eat and learn some of the local basic language, called Tetun.

The trip was hosted and linked with St Josephs College, Hunters Hill and The Scots College. It was organized by Caritas Australia, which is one of the world’s biggest funding aids for developing countries and nations.

We have really experienced what poverty is actually like. It is scary and you don’t know what lies around the next corner. Children coming up to you on their knees, big, watery eyes, their hand out, begging for money, students literally just like you and me in class rooms with no tables or chairs, no pens or paper. We have seriously come to terms with reality and realize that it really is a sad, sad world we live in and that we take so many things for granted. Water for example is very scarce and it had to be carried from a well one or even up to twenty kilometers away from the main village, carried by a woman on top of her head. This is only just to get water. Yet, despite their seemingly overwhelming problems and daily struggles to survive, the East Timorese people still have positive attitudes to life.

As a group we have experienced so much and gained much more knowledge and understanding of the world and environment that surrounds our everyday life. This journey has changed our minds and our hearts. There were times of sadness, happiness, sorrow, encouragement, guilt, the fact that we take everything for granted. There was, however, the odd laugh along the way.

Our return home does not mean this experience has finished for us. We intend being involved in further fund-raising and awareness raising of the problems in this country so that the help they sorely need is given to them. It has impacted on all of our lives and made us view our home here in a different way when we realised how fortunate we truly are. Joel Foffani, Ben Campbell, Jason Rooney

An Evening of Art and Music - Visions of VentnorFriends of Ventnor House are holding this fundraising event in aid of the restoration of Ventnor House to be opened by Peter Garrett MP on Saturday 29th October 6-8pm. Tickets $25. Please call 9398 3904 or email joanmcn@tpg.com.au for further details.NIDA Term 4 Workshopsyouth@NIDA are holding Term 4 workshops in performance, costume design and ensemble theatre. Bookings are being taken now. Phone 9697 7626 or email open@nida.edu.au or visit the website: www.nida.edu.au for further details.

Living With Teenagers

A series of five group sessions designed to give parents skills to explore the challenges of parenting, including such topics as adolescent development,

setting limits that stick, drugs and alcohol, negotiating with your teenager, communication and support services for parents. Groups will be starting on

Tuesday 25th October at St Peter’s Town Hall from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Call Veck on 9280 3580 or Wilma on 9243 3482 to register

Congratulations to Adam Laughlan-Bowlby and Stuart Bainbridge on their outstanding successes in various athletics meets that took place in September. Adam won the 1500m at the NSWCCC Championships then backed this up winning the event at the NSW All Schools Carnival at Homebush. Adam also came 2nd in the 3000m event and has now qualified for the Australian All Schools Championships. Stuart won the 100m at the NSWCCC Championships and was 4th at the NSW All schools Championships.

October 20th MCC Trial vs North ShoreOctober 27th MCC Round 1 vs WahroongaNovember 3rd MCC Round 2 vs Pagewood

November 10th MCC Round 3 vs BankstownNovember 17th MCC Round 4 vs LewishamNovember 24th MCC Round 5 vs Kogarah

Upcoming events in the Sporting Calendar