Then Mary said,
‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord;
let it be with me according to your word.’

Luke 1:38

Recently, our Church celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We celebrated Mass at the College in our chapel led by Fr Peter Matheson, who presented a reflection on the connection between the date of the feast and the announcement of the surrender by Japan at the end of WWII.

Growing up, I remember on the Assumption my grandmother (who lived with us) always brought out her Rosary Beads and ‘invited’ me to join her before we ate dinner. Of course, I had already been to Mass at school, as it was (and still is) a holy day of obligation, but this didn’t stop my grandmother, who never missed a chance to honour Mary.

Coincidentally, 15 August is also the anniversary of the birth of Saint Oscar Romero, the martyred Archbishop of San Salvador, who was undoubtedly inspired by the Gospel reading on the Feast of the Assumption, Mary’s Magnificat (Lk 1:46-55).

Mary’s Assumption is a celebration of the fullness of life, and the hope of a life beyond the physical world that we inhabit. It is a reminder that as people of faith, we hope for the fulfilment of Mary’s promises and the hope that our bodies will be transformed in the presence of God after we die.

The theme of the fullness of life is played out for us especially on Brigidine Day (Friday 15 September), when we celebrate our three identities: as a Catholic school, as an Australian school and as a Kildare Ministries school. We will celebrate the Eucharist together, concelebrated by Bishop Tony Ireland, Auxiliary Bishop for the southern region of Melbourne and Fr Peter Matheson, then walk as a community to Mentone Beach to support the work of Saltbush, Balnarring Beach. There is a feast of food and activities back at school upon our return.

Saltbush, Balnarring Beach (formerly known as the Presentation Family Centre) was established by the Victorian Presentation Sisters in 1989 to provide a place of respite and recreation for families and individuals in difficult circumstances due to poverty, sickness, distress, misfortune, or disability. As part of Kildare Ministries, Kilbreda College will support their work on Brigidine Day through fundraising as well as awareness raising.

As we look forward to Brigidine Day and the Term 3 holidays, may we reflect joyfully upon the words that Mary sang in her beautiful canticle: ‘‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour”.

Bill Fitzsimons
Level Leader: Year 8