Mission & Identity

Third Week of Lent

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you do not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2

Daily Prayer

Lord God, we thank you that you have given us atonement, an atonement that delivers us from all evil, from all that is temporal and perishable, and that allows us even now to live in eternity. Grant that many people become aware of the greatness and freeing power of the redemption you have offered us. May a people be born to you, serving you with light in their hearts as they look to the future coming of Jesus Christ. Be with us, strengthen us, and protect us from all the deception on earth. For we want to be your children and nothing else; with our whole hearts we want to look always to you. Amen.

Project Compassion

As a college we are actively supporting Project Compassion throughout Lent. The money boxes for Project Compassion are being brought around to home rooms every morning and are present throughout the college. One of the Lenten observances that we are called to follow is that of almsgiving. Thanks for your ongoing support of this fundraiser.

Easter Egg Drive

Thanks for your wonderful support for our annual Easter Egg Drive. We are collecting until Wednesday when we will then visit St John of God Hospital and the Ballarat Base hospital to distribute the eggs to those that won’t be home at Easter. Massive thanks to Brett Earl and Paterson Meneely who have taken the lead on this. The sight of the boys, each morning, dressed in the Easter Bunny suits, collecting eggs, lifts the spirits of everyone!

ECSI survey 

Recently we sent home the documents for each of our families to participate in the Enhancing Catholic School’s Identity (ECSI) survey. This survey is conducted by Catholic schools every five years, and this year it is our turn.

We would appreciate it if you could take some time out of your busy schedules to complete the survey. The results of the survey will give us a snapshot in time as to where our college sits among the other Catholic colleges in the state.

The login details are as follows:

www.ecsi.site/au/user/

Case sensitive password is: Ghj654

School access code is: wn4y7g St Patrick’s College Ballarat

Weekly Mass

Weekly Mass will continue to be held at 1.50pm each Thursday afternoon. All are most welcome to attend.

Edmund Rice Day

Our annual Edmund Rice Day celebration will take place on May 5 and is fast approaching. On Edmund Rice day, as has become traditional, we will be holding our annual walkathon. The boys will walk around Victoria Park and Lake Wendouree. For their efforts it is hoped that each boy will raise at least $40. The money raised goes to support the charities that, we as a college, have formed relationships with over many years.

• Edmund Rice Community Services
• Edmund Rice Foundation Australia
• Edmund Rice Camps
• Caritas Australia

These four charities rely heavily on the funding that we provide to them through our Edmund Rice Day walkathon.

On Monday, 31 March the boys will be given their fundraising cards for this year. The donation card will feature a QR code on the front cover. This code will allow donors to access a portal where donations can be made via direct transfer. As we will again be conducting a competition among the students to see who can raise the most money, the portal will require the donor to enter the relevant students name at the time the donation takes place. This will allow us to collate each students donated amounts more accurately. Of course, the boys are also able to collect actual money, which will also be recorded against their name.

Fundraising will continue until Wednesday, 7 May where we would ask all boys to return their cards and any monies that they have collected.

As we look forward to the school holidays, we wish you a very happy Easter and may the joy of the risen Christ be with you all.

God Bless you all.