Living with Strength and Kindliness

Last Wednesday I had the privilege of gathering with parish and catholic school representatives across the diocese for the Diocesan Assembly. Our group was composed of members from the St Mary’s Echuca Parish, representatives from St Joseph’s College and St Mary’s Primary School. Our College Captains Jack Anderson and Mara Looney also attended. The day was held in Shepparton and was an opportunity to look forward towards a synodal church or, as Pope Francis explains, as a “Church which listens” pointing out that "mutual listening has been the goal of much of the church's renewal since Vatican II". It was inspiring to sit among local people, particularly our young student leaders and listen to their creative and thoughtful responses. 

This week marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is a liturgical season beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Thursday. It includes six Sundays, the five Sundays of Lent plus Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord.

Lent is a time for reflecting on our lives, for refocusing on God’s love for us, and God’s call to love and serve others, beginning with Ash Wednesday. Lent is a time for renewal through prayer, fasting and giving. Lent provides us with an opportunity to consider how we might help those in need, rather than thinking about ourselves.

Porreca. K 2015, “Some Sundays in Lent” Good News for Catechists Term 1 p. 17

At St Joseph’s we marked the beginning of Lent with an Ash Wednesday liturgy held in our House groups. This was an opportunity for us all to reflect on what this liturgical season means to us and to come together in prayer. Throughout Lent we will be engaging with the Caritas Project Compassion Resource. This year there theme is “For All Future Generations”.  We will have many opportunities to engage in awareness raising, prayer and almsgiving throughout the remainder of this term. 

This week, the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allow Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. 

Project Compassion

The theme of Project Compassion 2023 is ‘For All Future Generations’ and reminds us that the good we do today extends to impact the lives of generations to come. It invites us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long-term solutions to global issues.  We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through prayer, fasting and almsgiving in support of Project Compassion. Each family will receive a Project Compassion box and/or a set of envelopes for their donations or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion

Lee Pethybridge

College Leader Faith and Community