Faith

Faith 

To truly understand the teachings of Jesus and our patron, Saint Eugene de Mazenod, students in Iona’s 3:16 and 10:10 religion programs must also follow in their footsteps by initiating positive action.

Every week, students in these programs attend Hemmant Cemetery to tidy the grounds and clean headstones, visit primary schools in the community to help young students with their reading, assist the students from Darling Point Special School with their activities, care for our local environment and provide peer support and mentorship to younger Ionians.

These programs – and many other excursions and workshops throughout the year – are true Catholic education, and following the Oblate mission to serve others.

By learning to help others in the community, students learn how to be better men.

It is at the heart of the Oblate mission, and what it means to be an Ionian.

Iona was founded and remains a ministry of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a Catholic religious congregation founded by St Eugene in Aix-en-Provence in France in 1816 that was dedicated to serving the people and helping the poor and those in need.

Today, the Oblates serve God in 67 countries around the world. In Australia, the Oblates run four Colleges – of which Iona is the oldest – including St Eugene’s at Burpengary, Mazenod College Victoria and Mazenod College Western Australia.

Mass is celebrated before school every day in the College Chapel, which is the geographical and spiritual centre of the Iona campus.

Each house takes it in turn to host the celebration for the community, with whole-school Masses held in The Provence Centre.

Every Ionian is challenged to meet their potential and grow into exceptional men of faith and service to, in the words of St Eugene, “learn what you are in the eyes of God”.