Director Faith and Community

Portals
Call

St. Maximilian, amidst the hate and lonely misery of Auschwitz, you brought love into the lives of fellow captives, and sowed the seeds of hope amidst despair. You bore witness to the world, by word and deed, that only “Love alone creates.”

Help me to become more like yourself. With you and Mary and the Church, may I proclaim that only “Love alone creates.” To the hungry and oppressed, the naked and homeless, the scorned and hated, the lonely and despairing, may I proclaim the power of Christ’s love, which endures forever and ever.

St. Maximilian Kolbe,

Pray for us.
Amen.

This week, Kolbe Catholic College gathers to celebrate the Feast Day of our Patron Saint, St Maximilian Kolbe. St Maximilian is most known for sacrificing his life, offering to take the place of another prisoner of Auschwitz. The prayer to St Maximilian attached to this article epitomises his attitude, considering the horrors he will have observed and endured. I encourage you to reflect on his words, that “love alone creates” and how we can realise this in our daily lives.

Whilst our Feast Mass will be the highlight of the day, our Walk for Awareness of Domestic Violence is a significant moment of action our entire college will be participating in. We have been preparing for this walk by exploring key definitions, statistics and the prevalence of domestic violence in Victoria and the Hume Council. Our sea of purple shirts will be a fantastic symbol of solidarity for this issue.

Recently, our students participated in decorating bags for the Handover HeARTwork Project, another great social justice project, preserving dignity for the patients of Northern Hospital. Patient belongings are returned to families or the patient in respectfully decorated bags, as opposed to plastic bags with ‘patient belongings’ printed on it. Thanks to all the students and staff who have been involved in this project, as well as the library for offering us the space to carry out this work.

Last week, members of MacKillop gathered for their Feast Day Mass, celebrated by Fr. Samuel Pearson of Church of the Good Shepherd, Gladstone Park. His homily outlined the life but especially the challenges St. Mary of the Cross overcame to fulfil her vocation.

We look forward to the Feast Day for Teresa House in September.

Finally, all our Year 11 students will be involved in their retreat at the end of August. We have three fantastic facilitators who will work with our students on the theme of ‘life choices’. The days should provide opportunities for connection, reflection and discernment.

Peace and blessings.

Rob Dellar
Director Faith and Community