The new Mass Resources Centre for children in St John the Baptist Church Enoggera, Brisbane.
A Personal Mission Project arising from National Assembly IV
Returning to Marist College Ashgrove for the 2025 Marist Association National Assembly was a special experience, bringing back memories of my first stay there more than 60 years ago as an eager 14-year-old attending a Young Christian Students’ Summer School!
As a local participant, I was grateful that the Assembly was held in Brisbane, giving me the opportunity to be fully present for the gathering. Staying on site not only made attendance easier, but also allowed for the many informal conversations and connections that are such an important part of the Assembly experience. It was wonderful to put faces and personalities to the names I had come to know through emails and Christlife.
I also valued the preparation materials, which provided a deeper understanding of the many ministries across the Province. Most of all, I appreciated the use of the Spiritual Conversations format, which encouraged everyone to actively participate, listen deeply and share openly. It was a refreshing and enriching approach.
Being Marist in a Parish Community
The structured discussions in designated small groups enabled rapport to develop over the sessions and also lead to ad hoc sharing of information on our individual roles in our varied Marist communities. The leader of our group mentioned how she was active in her parish community, not just in her Marist work environment; and this led to an exchange of ideas on the value of being a Marist presence in our local parish activities, and not seeing our Marist Association only as a discrete, employment-based entity.
This struck a particular chord with me. Since retiring from formal employment at MCA in a learning support role in 2015, it’s my local parish that has been my primary faith community, where I continue to use my teaching skills to support Sacramental Programs that “help the young...to come to know Jesus better”. Such programs, however, usually run for short periods of time each year, and unless there is a regular Children’s Liturgy service there may not be much else to support the young parishioners who do attend Mass. This is the case in my parish, where the Liturgy offered was not used as young children preferred to stay with their families.
An Unmet Need Bears the Fruit of a New Project
I felt there was an unmet need and, after discussions with other parishioners, with consent from our Parish Priest, Fr Geo Francis MCBS, encouragement from some of our Ashgrove Local Group members and, in particular, enthusiastic support from Br Marty Connell FMS (of the retired Brothers Community at MCA), I decided to set up a Mass Resources Centre in St John the Baptist Church at Enoggera, Brisbane.
A New Mass Resources Centre takes Shape
The aim of the Centre is to help make Jesus’ Sunday Gospel messages clearer and relevant to young children through the provision of activity materials to use, preferably during the Homily. These aids vary from religious picture books for non-readers, illustrations of the Gospel story (to colour in), quizzes on details of the story for older children, or simple craft activities to begin colouring and later complete at home. The hope with the latter is that such follow-up crafts give scope for parents or grandparents to discuss the Gospel messages with the children as they assist with the task.
Growth and Appreciation of the Centre
I started this project nearly a year ago, during Advent in 2025, and am close to the end of the Year A cycle of Readings. The response to it has been positive and though the number of families that make use of the materials is not large, the regular attendees now know the resources are always there if wanted; and occasional visitors are usually surprised and thankful for what’s available. Several parents have remarked, “Thanks for these picture books...they’re helpful for the little ones”. Fr Geo has observed, “It’s good to see this support for our smallest parishioners...” and is keen for it to continue. Br Marty, who joins our parish choir each week for Mass, has been particularly encouraging, informing me, “I’ve noticed that children now know what to do ...if you’re not there they still go and help themselves to the materials...and return the pencil pots!” And, “I love to see them busy during the Homily.” I prefer to just offer the items and answer any questions, but leave it up to the families, especially the children, to choose whether to use them.
A Personal Commitment
I chose to fund the initial establishment costs of essential materials (furniture, stationery, etc) but the Parish has offered support towards the continuing supply of activities, which I will take up in future. Personally, I am satisfied with how the project has been received by parishioners, who voice their appreciation...some older folk access the craft activities to complete with visiting grandkids. I’m happy, too, that while I can’t be as active as I’d like in other Marist outreach ministries I can still follow St Marcellin’s directives to ... ”love them equally” and “help them come to know Jesus”. Also, I’ve become more spiritually appreciative of the Gospel cycles.
And where to now? Well, there’s still the Years B and C Readings to cater for to reach my goal of eventually leaving the parish with materials for on-going use.
Helen Radley
Ashgrove Local Group
