Holiday Activities

 Restricted in movements, we spent a lot of time at home, with a few bushwalks to add variety. Linbcoln's Rock (wentworth Falls) and Wodi Wodi Track / Forest Walk (Stanwell Park to Austinmer) were on the agenda.

Christmas at 12 Varian St

 A Christmas with a difference, amid new COVID restrictions. Nonetheless, Michael was able to join us and a good celebration happened at home.

Finishing the year at MLZ - December 2020

 Our work at Marist Learning Zone is drawing to a close for the year. End of year activities include special Christmas lessons, decorating the centre and an outing top the movies.

                        

Parish Renewal at Holy Family Mount Druitt - November 29

 Lawrie has been assisting on the parish Leadership[ Team for the past year. Recently an important meeting of all the ministry leaders in the parish was help where plans for the future renewal of the parish were further developed.

Raging Waters with Baabayn kids 28 November 2020

 We assisted the Baabayn community in organising an outing for about 100 aborigines, mainly children, to the local water park, Raging Waters.

NAIDOC Week at MLZ

 We celebrated NAIDOC week with special activities, including a presentation by our aboriginal students.

Closure of Linden St Property - 14 November 2020

 We found new homes for the Linden St furniture at Baabayn, Mittagong, Burwood and Holy family parish. It was quite an effort. Fabrício did the lion's share of the heavy work. A couple of Baabayn lads helped on one day.

Argie's reflection on the closure:

Hello there!!!

Letting the house go marks the end of a great time together, whatever the memories we made in Linda house will remain as the beginning of the LaValla200 project in Oceania. I can’t avoid the feelings of nostalgia and a sense of belonging. 

It is hard to imagine the fence, the good side of all this is that no more rent will go to nowhere. 

We’ll see what happens in the coming year, hopefully everything will move quickly for the Spanish couple. 

I send love, hugs and prayers to you all. 

Take care and keep praying for us.

Argie 

We removed the famous bridge, designed by the late Benet Bourke, and restored the back fence.

Important discussion with Silvia and Ruben - by zoom - October 24

 We met with Silvia and Ruben to discuss future accommodation options. The outcome was a decision to use only one house, and consequently we are finishing the rental on Argie and Rodrigo's house. Re-locating the furniture will be a task.

Lawrie's Birthday October 14

 Mick Jones joined us to celebrate Lawrie's birthday.

Fabrício Assists at Province Office - October 13

 Fabrício's skills were required at Mascot for some video work in preparation for the forthcoming Province Forum. Later he spent many hours editing and preparing the videos for the zoom meeting.

New Appointment to Marist Learning Zone - September 18

 Catherine Ruff, seen here with Graeme Atkins, has recently joined the MLZ staff. Her specialty is literacy. We also learned that pioneer staff member, Daniel Morin will be finishing at MLZ in November, to return to his former school, Gilroy College.

Zoom Meeting with Lavalla200> September 12

 It was a joy to meet with most of the Lavalla200> family by zoom,  for the online graduation ceremony of the 2020 group. A special pleasure to see Argie and Rodrigo, Silvia and Ruben and some of our 2016 group.

New Appointments to Community - September 2020

 We were delighted to receive news of the appointment of Ruben and Silvia, a married couple from Spain, to join our community as soon as the Australian border opens.

Visit of Brother Cinto

 East Timorese novice Cinto visited the community for a week from 8 to 16 August.

Among various other activities, he visited Govett's leap and Grand Canyon, accompanied by Fabrício.

Departure Day 5 August 2020

 A sad day as Argie and Rodrigo leave Australian shores and return to Mexico.

The Countdown is on

More farewell events with the Eastwood community and Jeni Miller (Marist Youth Ministry) prior to departure day for Argie and Rodrigo on 5 August.

More Farewells

As departure date draws nearer, Argie and Rodrigohave been at various gatherings with groups of friends for farewell parties.  These photos show gatherings with the Blacktown and Burwood communities, the Young Marists Group, and a very special gathering with the Baabayn elders and some of the aboriginal children they have worked with.

22 July ... Baby Shower

Argie gathered with some of her Mexican friends for a celebration of the baby to be!

20 July 2020 ... Fabrício's Birthday

Fabrício celebrated his first birthday in Australia. For most of the first part of the year, Fabrício has been working on an English course first at OHC then at Kaplan International College. He made many good friends during these programs, and recently had a few gatherings with his fellow students to celebrate the end of the program and Fabrício's birthday. Our community celebration for Fabrício occurred on July 21 ... another great party.

Holiday Adventures

During the Term Two Holidays, Fabrício and Lawrie, with their friend Dave Hyndes, took a long road trip to Warrumbungle National Park and to Western Queensland. This was a good opportunity for Fabrício to see different parts of Australia, on a journey of more than 4,000 kilometres. They enjoyed the camping.

July 3 2020 ... MLZ Farewells Argie and Rodrigo

On July 3, the last day of Term Two, Marist Learning Zone farewelled pioneer staff members, Argie and Rodrigo, who are returning to Mexico in early August to resume their life and work in their home country.

A farewell function in their honour was attended by representatives of Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta, Marist Schools Australia, students, staff and parents. Josh Sly began the ceremony with acknowledgement of country and a welcome smoking ceremony.

Among a number of speeches, one of the students spoke, giving a moving account of the impact the couple had on her life. We wish Argie and Rodrigo every blessing as they return to Mexico after serving at MLZ for more than three years.Their gentle presence will certainly be missed.

O

Royal National Park ... 28 June 2020

Pleasant walk for most of us from Bundeena to Marley Beach, Royal National Park. The matching baby boots tell their own story. It's a boy!

Noynoy's Birthday ... 24 June 2020

A worthy celebration for  special day, an anniversary with a zero on the end!

16 June 2020 ... Our work with the Baabayn Kids

Each Tuesday afternoon, the community assists with a homework group at the Baabayn aboriginal centre. It is an opportunity to get to know the local aboriginal families as well as supporting the children with their studies. Recently the centre acquired some devices to assist their studies. Argie and Fabrício have been assisting in developing resources for use on the new devices.

10 June 2020 ... Formation Program in Progress

Eight young people are currently participating by means of Zoom sessions in the Lavalla200> Formation program, in preparation for appointment to communities worldwide in 2021. We anticipate that two of these people will be appointed here to Mount Druitt. Fabrício prepared this special prayer to support these candidates.