Mission and Identity

From the Mission and Identity Team 

Reflections on the Liturgical Season of Lent 

This week we began the Season of Lent with our Ash Wednesday liturgy. Lent is a season of spiritual reflection, an invitation to pause, look inward, and realign ourselves with God’s call to love, justice, and mercy. It is a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, pathways to for us to reflect and renew. 

Just as Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness, emerging ready to begin his ministry, we too are called to embrace this time of spiritual challenge, knowing that renewal awaits. Lent is a time to reflect on our lives, our relationships with others, and our faith. Lent is not only about personal reflection; it is also a season of hope. It reminds us that no darkness is permanent, no suffering is meaningless, and no heart is beyond God’s grace and love. 

Mary Ward, a woman of deep faith and courage, also walked a path of challenge and renewal. She endured trials, misunderstandings, and hardship, yet her trust in God never faltered. She believed that in the grace of God, you could ‘refer all things to him’. Like Lent, her life was a journey of trust, patience, and the hope that God’s plan would be revealed in time.

As we journey through Lent, we are called to reflect on what we can learn. Our fasting teaches us solidarity with those in need. Our prayer deepens our connection with God and with one another and our almsgiving allows us to be people of compassion in the world. 

Martina O’Connell 

Assistant Principal Mission and Identity. 

Reflections from Vietnam and Cambodia 

In November 2024, 18 Year 11 and Year 12 students took part in the Social Justice Tour to Vietnam and Cambodia. In our school newsletter you will be able to read and reflect on the journey that they shared together.  The students visited the major cities of Saigon, (HCMC), Phnom Penh and Siam Reap, learning about the history, culture and completing acts of service.  This reflection comes from Year 12 Student Madeline Eime. 

As the bus pulled up to Thien Phuoc, our first orphanage visit in Ho Chi Minh City, we were greeted by the most amazing, happy, energetic, and welcoming children. Straight away, it felt like I had known them for years, dancing with them, massaging them and laughing over filters on photos. I built a connection with a boy who was immobilised from the waist down, but that didn’t stop him from having lots of fun. He handed me a ball and insisted that I start walking backwards, throwing his hands in the directions he wanted me to go and where he wanted me to throw the ball. Soon, it became a competition to see if I could get the ball past him or if he could stop it. We had fun joking around, saying he is better than professional goalkeepers in the Champions League. Leaving this orphanage after the second day was a heartbreaking moment; it felt like I was leaving my family behind. However, I knew that just spending time with the children for two days had made a significant impact on their lives as well as mine.

This was my first time travelling out of Australia, so I was very intrigued to learn about other countries' cultures and ways of life. While we were in Vietnam, we travelled to the War Remnants Museum to learn about the history of the war and how it impacted the Vietnamese community. We also participated in an Amazing Race around Ho Chi Minh City, exploring the culture and immersing ourselves in the people's way of life. 

In 2022, I completed an assignment on the Cambodian genocide, so I had a small background story on what that looked like and what the citizens of Cambodia experienced. However, the moment I entered the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields, it became more realistic. It was very confronting to see all the images displayed on the walls and listen to the stories and events that occurred at these places. A mixture of emotions swirled around in my brain: sadness, hatred and shock. It was hard to grasp how this could happen and who in their right mind would do this. 

Later that week, we went to many different temples, including the famous Angkor Wat temple, which is considered the largest religious monument in the world. It was amazing to look at the stunning architecture and learn about the history behind these architectural buildings.

As I returned from the social justice tour, the main impression I took away was that all the children in the orphanages, the teachers, and all the people in Vietnam and Cambodia are compassionate and loving. It didn’t matter if some were less fortunate than others; they always helped everybody. I have always stood by the principle that the smallest actions can have the biggest impact, and now, after seeing this, I know it is incredibly true. I feel so privileged to have been able to take part in this tour and proud to have made a difference, even if all I did was as small as talking with children or making them laugh. I know that this made them feel loved. Even if it was for a second or maybe a day, I know that we all made an impact while we were there.

This experience certainly resonated with me, and I will always hold the memories and connections I made over there deep in my heart. I know that one day I will go back and learn more about the history and hopefully see all the people I made long lasting connections with again one day.

Madeline Eime

Year 12

Launch of Project Compassion 

As students arrived early to school on Shrove Tuesday, the delicious smell of pancakes floated across the quad. Facilitated by Year 6 and Year 12 students and supported by Social Justice Leaders, hundreds of pancakes were baked, decorated and sold to kickstart our Project Compassion Appeal for 2025. As always, this is a highly anticipated event which is well supported and enjoyed by our community. Look out for more fundraising across the college in Term 1 for Project Compassion. 

Our Liturgical Life 

Year 1 students led a meaningful liturgy honouring Mother Gonzaga Barry, the visionary nun who brought the Loreto Sisters to Australia in 1875. In this special 150 years of Loreto Australia, Mother Barry’s dedication to education and faith laid the foundation for the Loreto schools we are a part of today.

The students led the liturgy with great reverence and enthusiastic participation in responses and singing. Attended by many family members, this liturgy allowed us to honour Mother Gonzaga Barry’s legacy and the generations of students she inspired. 

In celebration of International Women’s Day, our Year 12 students recently took on the responsibility of leading a special Mass, which was celebrated by Parish Priest, Father Chris Jenkins. This Mass was an opportunity to reflect on the achievements and contributions of women worldwide, while also highlighting the importance of gender equality and empowerment. This Mass was a fitting tribute to the spirit of International Women’s Day and showcased the leadership and dedication of our Year 12 students. 

Ash  Wednesday

This year, we marked the beginning of Lent with two special Ash Wednesday liturgies—one for the junior school and one for the senior school. Ash Wednesday is a significant day in the Christian calendar, marking the start of the 40-day season of Lent, a time of reflection, prayer, and repentance leading up to Easter. During both liturgies, students received the ashes with the words "Be true to yourself," a reflection of our year of Verity which calls us to live with authenticity, embracing the truth of who we are as God intended.  These liturgies were an important opportunity for our school community to come together in prayer, reflect on the season ahead, and commit to deepening our faith through the Lenten journey.

Sacramental Program

The Parent Information Evening for families seeking the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation, and First Communion for their daughters will be held on March 18 at 3:30 pm in the Chapel. The session will be led by Parish Priest, Fr. Chris Jenkins. Please contact Mrs Isabelle Roberts for further information.

Mrs Isabelle Roberts

REC/College LIturgist