Faith and Mission

Founders Day

This year, throughout all Lasallian schools and institutions worldwide the Tercentenary of the death of St John Baptist De La Salle will be marked by the Lasallian communities in Victoria with special Founders Day commemorations.

Here in Melbourne, De La Salle College Malvern, St John’s College Dandenong, St Bede’s College Mentone and St James College East Bentleigh will all come together to mark this significant occasion.

On Friday May 17, all four Colleges will come together to celebrate a special Tercentenary Founders Day Mass, where each College will host a Mass and event for particular year levels and all Year 9 students will be involved in Mass, hosted by St James College, at St Patrick’s Cathedral followed by an event at the nearby Academy of Mary Immaculate College attended by Year 9 students from De La Salle, St Bede’s, and St John’s.

De La Salle College, St John’s Dandenong and St Bede’s Mentone will continue the combined festivities with a shared lunch and activity for the remainder of the day on site at the host Colleges. De La Salle College will host Year 12 students, St Bede’s will host Year 10 and Year 11 students and St John’s, Year 7 and Year 8 students as well as the Primary Grade 5 class and Grade 6 class from De La Salle College. 

The occasion at De La Salle College will be shared with three old Collegians who return to celebrate the Mass; Monsignor Stuart Hall was Principal Celebrant, and Fr Peter Matheson and Fr Kevin Dillon as concelebrants and the presence and company of De La Salle Brothers; Br Peter Smyth FSC, Br Michael Carroll, Br Quentin O’Halloran FSC, Br Paul Smith FSC, and Br Bede French FSC.

The logistics to bring the schools together have been substantial and an organising Tercentenary Planning Committee made up of myself and my counterparts from the aforenamed Colleges have been planning and preparing since 2018.

The day is a truly unique and special way to commemorate and celebrate the life and legacy of our Founder, St John Baptist de La Salle, as we mark 300 years since his death. A highly significant milestone in the story of Lasallian education.

With all Lasallians around the world this year, we celebrate the Tercentenary and give thanks for all Lasallians and their good works, to renew our commitment to looking after the poor and others in need and to be positive and hopeful about the future.

Mother’s Day

In reflecting on Mother’s Day, it is easy and appropriate that we celebrate mothers and mothering and that many people, such as; grandmothers, aunts, step-parents, close family friends, dads, can fulfil the chief mothering role in families.

But as a Catholic, Lasallian community, we also remember and pray for the mothers who have lost children to terror, have been victims of poverty, been forcibly separated from children at borders, war or natural disaster. We remember mothers and children impacted by abuse and domestic violence. This Mother’s Day, may we all take the time to pray and to speak up for mothers everywhere, and may we be inspired by the grace of our Mother Mary and the love, courage and strength she modelled. 

Year 12 Seminar Day 

This week, the Year 12 students commenced their Seminar Program. The program is an opportunity to develop, nurture and form the students’ faith, as well as, an opportunity to provide personal growth by reflecting and discussing topics presented by guest speakers and unpacking the activities which follow. 

The first session saw guest speaker, former Hawthorn and AFL premiership player Steve Lawrence present to the students on being “men on a mission” through service to others, recognising the gift of themselves and allowing time for God.

The seminars are guided by staff who have volunteered their time to become Seminar Leaders and their aim is to have the students develop an understanding of how to look critically at their own generation, its world and its meaning within the context of a Catholic and Lasallian perspective.

Mrs Rana Brogan
Deputy Principal – Faith and Mission 

Back to The Duce Issue 2019 07 - 16 May 2019