Last week staff from St Eugene College Qld, Mazenod College Vic, Mazenod College WA and Iona College Qld attended the annual conference in North Lakes Brisbane. St Eugene College hosted the event which included a visit/tour of their campus and Professional Learning focussing on Transformative Learning. Grade 3 students Ellie and Gracie provided an extraordinary insight into the programme designed to empower young people to understand and appreciate what they are learning. The four C’s, Creativity, Critical Reflection, Communication and Collaboration are the ingredients to create a more socially justice world according to the structures of Transformative Learning, introduced to delegates by Mr Adam Fritz and Mr Mitch Ulacco.
Rectors and principals from the four colleges directed conversations by sharing ideas and resources that complemented the De Mazenod Family Charism Signposts. Fr John Sherman OMI, Fr Joe Antony OMI, Fr Harry Dyer OMI and Fr Christian Fini OMI attended the conference. Fr Harry enlightened the group about the History of the Oblates, focussing on the life of St Eugene and our Oblate Founders. The Provincial of the Oblates, Fr Fini, spoke of the challenges in our contemporary context, drawing comparisons to the challenges facing St Eugene at the time of the French Revolution. He also endorsed the need to build resources to better understand our shared charism. The De Mazenod Family Education Network was established in 2022 as part of the broader network, the De Mazenod Family. Anyone connected to our colleges, primary schools, parishes and mission work are invited to learn more about these associations by accessing the following websites: www.omi.com.au and www.demazenodfamily.com.au
Staff conferences provide an opportunity to learn more about the De Mazenod Charism and share valuable information, but there is also a collegial and social aspect to these gatherings. Our hosts, St Eugene College, were the perfect hosts. Thank you to Ms Louise Olley, Mr Adam Fritz and Ms Carolyn Wakefield for their hospitality and planning.
Thank you to all the delegates who participated so enthusiastically and shared their experiences so generously throughout the conference.
