Assistant Principal - Religious Identity & Mission 

Masses and Liturgies  

Attending Mass can be something that causes anxiety, usually due to unfamiliarity with the procedures and traditions, it’s a bit like learning a new language. We have regular masses throughout the year for both staff and students. There are the large occasions such as our Feast Day, and the more regular Masses such as our fortnightly staff Masses at the senior college. Each senior student will go to St Bernard’s Church (as a group) once during the year, and each core class will attend Mass in our chapel on rotation. The senior staff Masses are held fortnightly on a Tuesday morning from 8am until 8.30am, and each department takes a turn to be responsible for leading the Mass. Student masses at the Senior College will be held on the same Tuesday as the staff Mass each fortnight and are held in either Period 3 or 4.  

 Shrove Tuesday 

Next Tuesday 13 February is Shrove Tuesday (the day before Lent begins) where Catholics traditionally make pancakes to use up rich foods such as eggs, milk and sugar before fasting begins. 

At the Junior School, pancakes will be on sale for students at recess for $3.00 each. Toppings available will be jam, lemon and sugar or plain. This will kickstart Junior School P&F fundraising efforts for 2024. An EdSmart notification has been emailed asking for an indication of how many pancakes your son might like. Please complete this by for catering purposes.

At the senior college, we will use Shrove Tuesday to raise money for Caritas and we thank those who have assisted with donations in providing the pancake shakers and maple syrup for this event. We will be selling plates of pancakes, ice-cream and maple syrup at recess on Tuesday for $5 a plate. Cash or card facilities will be available.  

Ash Wednesday and Lent  

Ash Wednesday is the first day of the liturgical season of  Lent. This year it falls on Wednesday 14 February. It always falls six and half weeks before Easter, beginning the Lenten season of preparation for Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday. 

Where do the ashes come from? 

Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter. It symbolizes Christ’s return to Jerusalem after spending 40 days in the desert. In the Catholic tradition, we receive palm leaves, which have been blessed, to hold onto during Mass and bring home. The leftover palms from Palm Sunday are then burned and saved for the next Lenten season. So, this year’s ashes are from the palms of Palm Sunday of 2023. 

Where do the ashes go? 

It is typical to receive ashes on your forehead in the Sign of the Cross. Similar to taking communion at Mass, you usually process toward the altar to get ashes. The priest will make the Sign of the Cross and say one of two things: 

“Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.” 

“Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” 

All our staff and students, both Junior and Senior, will receive ashes on Ash Wednesday. Arrangements have been made to get the ashes to those (where practicable) off campus on the day. 

What do the ashes symbolize? 

The ashes symbolize our mortality. They are a physical reminder that our bodies will decay, but our souls will live on in eternal life.