A Moment of Grace for the Oblates & Iona Community
As an Oblate community, we have been celebrating the 200th anniversary of the approval of the Constitutions and Rules of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate by Pope Leo XII in 1826.
While that might sound like a milestone from long ago, for us it’s something very much alive today. Those Constitution and Rules didn’t just establish a congregation, they shaped a way of life: a missionary heart, a strong sense of community, and a willingness to go where the need is greatest.
And 200 years on, that same spirit is alive here at Iona. You can see it in the way we gather, the way we look out for one another, and the way we journey with our young people, not just helping them succeed but helping them find purpose.
What made this anniversary even more special was the recent visit of Fr Luis Ignacio Rois Alonso, fondly known as Fr Chicho, the Superior General of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the 14th successor of St Eugene.
Having him with us brought the global Oblate family right to our doorstep. It was a reminder that what we do here at Iona is part of something much bigger – a mission that stretches across the world, but is also lived out in very real and local ways.
During his visit, I found myself not just welcoming him but also watching how he experienced our community.
What he encountered wasn’t something staged, it was something genuine. He encountered a College where faith isn’t just talked about, but lived.
We could see it in the warmth of the welcome, in the care and professionalism of our staff, in the way students engaged, and in all the small, behind-the-scenes efforts that made the day what it was.
These were simple things but, as Mother Teresa reminds us, it’s often about doing ordinary things with extraordinary love.
The whole-school Eucharist on the Solemnity of the Annunciation was a real highlight. Gathering as one community was a strong sense of who we are at our core.
Through Fr Chicho’s words, and just as much through his presence, Fr Chicho reminded us that saying “yes” to God isn’t usually about big, dramatic moments. It’s about the everyday choices we make: to be present, to be generous, to care.
The blessing with the cross of St Eugene was particularly powerful. It felt like one of those moments where past and present came together.
We were reminded that we’re part of a living tradition that has been handed on through generations and that we each have a place in that story.
Across the day, through Fr Chicho’s conversations with the Iona Leadership Team and our Student Leaders, time spent in classrooms, moments with our Banji students and Primary Leaders, hearing stories from long-standing Ionians, and the blessing of the Tempier Building site, we witnessed just how alive the Oblate missionary spirit was among us.
And maybe that’s the most important thing of all: we’re not just looking after a legacy, we are part of it. The mission that began with St Eugene continues through each of us in how we teach, lead, support, and care for those around us.
There was also a real sense of hope for the future. While we honour the 200-year history of the Oblates, we’re also invited to keep growing and responding to the needs of today.
The world our young people are stepping into is complex and changing, but our mission remains steady: to form people of faith, integrity, respect, excellence, and service.
As I reflect on these two significant moments – the 200th anniversary and Fr Chicho’s visit, I do so with a deep sense of gratitude.
Through your care, your commitment, and your daily “yes,” we witness a community where the Gospel is truly lived.
Thank you to all of our staff, students, and families for the many ways you contributed to the life of Iona every day.
May we continue to walk together as one family, staying true to the spirit of St Eugene, and attentive to God’s presence in the everyday moments of our lives.
