Prayer and Reflection

During these forty days of Lent, we are called to make sacrifice or do something for others. Whatever we choose to do we want it to be a sign of our love for God. Lent is a time of sacrifice but also a time of joy and hope. We are reminded of Jesus’ suffering and the love he has for us. We cleanse and purify ourselves so that we can demonstrates this love for others. 

Prayer for the first week of Lent:

Lord, although our intentions may be pure, we often fall to temptation and sin. 

We know that you love us. May your love sustain us, helping us to correct our wrongs, to get up when we have fallen, and to find strength in our weakness and victory in our failings. 

Amen.

Our Lady of the Rosary. Pray for us.

St Dominic. Pray for us.

Blessed Edmund Rice. Pray for us.

Opening College Mass

The liturgical life of McCarthy began this year with the celebration of the Mass of the Holy Spirit in the College hall in week 2 celebrated by Fr Chris. During this celebration we prayed for God’s blessing on the year ahead and for the presence of the Holy Spirit in our College community throughout the year. Following this, on the 26 February, we celebrated the beginning of the 2020 season of Lent with a whole College Liturgy of the Word. During this liturgy Fr Francis blessed the ashes made from the burning of palms of last year’s Palm Sunday. All students and staff who wished, were then signed with small cross of ash on the forehead as a reminder of our sinfulness and desire to repent and believe in the Gospel.

Vinnies Shrove Tuesday 

The day before Ash Wednesday is known as Shrove Tuesday and comes from an old custom of going to confession in preparation for Lent. It also emerged from the practice of using up ingredients in the home before the period of fasting began. Over the years this has evolved into what is known as Pancake Tuesday. To mark this custom and pre-empt the beginning of Lent the student members of St Agnes Conference, our McCarthy St Vincent de Paul group, made and sold pancakes at Recess. The total money raised on the day was $364.45 half of which will go towards Caritas and half for the Vinnies' Winter Appeal later in the year. 

Youth Mass

At St Nicholas' Parish Church the fourth Sunday of every month has been set aside as a Youth Mass. Slowly but surely, the numbers of students attending and carrying out the various ministry roles is growing. We are gradually building the provision of live music at this Mass and so I encourage all students who may be able to attend this Mass to come along and build the experience of the Youth Mass for everyone. The next Youth Mass will be Sunday 22 March at St Nicholas’ Church at 5.30 pm. 

Condolences

Our thoughts and prayers are with Hayden Volk and his family, and Georgia and Thomas Sheppard and their family after the passing of their respective grandmothers as well as Mrs Janet Nolan and her family after the passing of her son, Tim. We also offer condolences to Hailey Tran and her family after the passing of her father, Jasmin Hughes and her family after the passing of her grandfather, and to Mrs Louise Byrne after the passing of her mother in law.

Mrs Cate Allen -  Leader of Mission, Spiritual Formation and Religious Education