Faith & Mission

Caritas – Project Compassion

Caritas Australia is the international aid and development agency of the Catholic Church in Australia, working in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Pacific and in First Australian communities. 

We are part of the international Caritas Internationalis network, the second-largest humanitarian network in the world, which supports emergency aid and grassroots programs in over 200 countries and territories.

Project Compassion is Caritas’ annual fundraising, awareness and education appeal, held during Lent, the six-week period before Easter.

Our commitment to Social Justice at Monivae is at the very core of who we are as an MSC school.  Each year, we commit to raising money for Caritas Australia in Term 1, and MSC Mission Australia in Term 3.

Project Compassion 2026 - ‘Unite Against Poverty’

Our fundraising kicked off at the start of Lent with a gold-coin donation for casual clothes day.  This was followed by a Saint Patrick’s Day donut sale, where all profits supported Project Compassion.  These combined efforts raised enough to provide each of our four school Houses with a $211.80 head start for their competitive fundraising totals.

This year, we swapped traditional Caritas coin boxes for a more creative approach to supporting Project Compassion: a House competition.  Houses competed in two categories; the longest physical line of coins and the highest total amount raised.  In the weeks leading up to the competition, students were encouraged to “squirrel” away any coins they could to contribute to their House’s chance of having the longest money line.

I must admit, I was initially apprehensive about the outcome of this new initiative. Although POD teachers had encouraged students to participate, I worried that in our increasingly cashless society, finding spare coins at home would be a challenge.  I also wondered:  would students even remember to bring them on the day?

The results far exceeded my expectations. Students arrived with an incredible amount of change, and we watched in disbelief as the House money lines grew at an astonishing rate.  The stadium became a hive of activity, buzzing with energy as students worked together to stretch their lines across the floor. 

Issoudun House won the longest line competition, spanning an impressive three lengths in total of the stadium floor, and I won’t know which House raised the largest amount until we have had a chance to count the four household buckets worth of money donated on the day.

Thank you to the students, staff and families who contributed to our Project Compassion fundraising efforts this year.

World’s Greatest Shave

Twenty-five Year 12 students have signed up for this year’s ‘World’s Greatest Shave’.  I am writing this report on the morning of the event, and I am thrilled to share that between the students, they have currently raised the amazing figure of $20,527!  Look out for the final results and photos in our next issue.

Prayer

Lord of Life,

We thank you for the gift of Easter and the hope it brings to our school community.

As we reflect on the journey of Lent, we thank you for the generosity shown through our Project Compassion efforts.  May the seeds of justice we have sown continue to grow in our hearts.

Bless our students, staff, and families during this holy season.  May the light of the Risen Christ brighten our homes, fill us with peace, and inspire us to live with renewed kindness and joy.

We ask this through Christ our Lord,

Amen.

Mrs Lia Mailes

Faith and Mission Leader