Happy Easter

Today’s Easter Liturgy allowed us to gather as a Franciscan community to reflect on the most important series of events in the Christian tradition: the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus. Students in the Liturgy Committee and Year 9 Drama students, retold the story of the Passion through an adaptation of the Stations of the Cross. In our year of Respect, the juxtaposition of the Passion and the challenges faced by students, invited us to consider the injustices of our time through the lens of the quintessential Christian message: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

During the liturgy, we displayed an Easter triptych designed by Mia Beilby (Year 7) and Lillian Smith (Year 9) and created by the Art Club under the guidance of Miss Longley. The three artworks are inspired by Chinese-Australian multimedia artist Louise Zhang and biblical artist Mike Torvell and incorporate paper textures using acrylic paint and recycled materials. The first piece depicts the hill of Calvary on which Jesus was crucified. The light shining onto the cross and the cross that Jesus carried through Jerusalem represents, respectively, the divinity and humanity of Jesus. It reminds us that his sacrifice was an act of love, a sign of God’s love for us. It calls us to love others through our words, actions and commitment to justice in our world.

The second piece focuses on the tomb in which Jesus is laid to rest after his death. That Jesus died reveals to us the humanity we share. The image of the open tomb between the valleys, once again signifies the divinity of Jesus and his miraculous resurrection. It reminds us of the power of hope and that death never has the last word. The final piece focuses on the power of the Holy Spirit, as depicted through the glimmering dove. Through his resurrection from the dead, Jesus is present in the world and present to all communities who gather in his name. As we prepare to welcome the gift of the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday, let us remember what it means. Resurrection begins with the empty tomb, with the women who come and go again, puzzled, perplexed, in wonder at the angel’s message. It continues with the men who race eagerly to the tomb to see for themselves. Jesus is not dead. Christ is risen! Although his risen body bears the marks of his suffering, his pain is gone. Grief turns into joy, despair turns to hope, and fear turns to love. The eternal dance of new life goes on and on and on. Happy Easter!

Ponytail Project

Yesterday during our College assembly, fifteen students and Mrs Shelley Turner participated in the Ponytail Project in support of the Cancer Council and people living with cancer. They each donated at least 20cm of their hair that will be made into charitable wigs for those suffering from cancer or alopecia. Team Mount Alvernia have smashed their fundraising target of $2500, their revised target of $5000 and their revised, revised target of $10000. This is an amazing effort that places Mount Alvernia in second place on the Ponytail Project Leaderboard in Queensland. You can still donate to Team Mount Alvernia via the Ponytail Project website: https://www.ponytailproject.com.au/fundraisers/teammountalvernia. Every dollar supports people experiencing cancer and cancer research. Thank you for your generosity.

Project Compassion

Yesterday, students were invited to dress down in support of Project Compassion, the annual Lenten appeal for Caritas Australia, the Catholic Church’s official international aid and development agency. The money raised will support long term development programs in partnership with some of the world’s most vulnerable communities for whom poverty and injustice is a daily reality. Donations can still be made through the Mount Alvernia College Project Compassion online portal: https://fundraise.projectcompassion.org.au/o/mt-alvernia-college. For more information, visit the Caritas website: https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/.

Year 9 Reflection Day

All Year 9 families have been emailed information about the Year 9 Reflection Day on Monday 24 April. As this is a compulsory school day, attendance is expected. Parents/carers are reminded to complete the permission request via the Igloo portal.

ANZAC Day

The Kedron-Wavell RSL Sub Branch has extended an invitation to our College community to attend its ANZAC Day services on Tuesday 25 April 2023. The Sub Branch has requested that the College notify them by 4 April of the number of students and parents/carers/family members from Mount Alvernia College who will be present at each of these services.

5.00am: Assemble for the Dawn Service at War Graves Section, Lutwyche Cemetery, Kitchener Road, Kedron. The Dawn Service begins at 5.30am and concludes around 6.30am.

7.45am: Assemble on the oval near the Chermside Historical Precinct, 61 Kittyhawk Drive, Chermside, for the March. The March begins at 8.00am.

8.30am: ANZAC Day service at Kedron-Wavell Services Club, Kittyhawk Drive, Chermside. Concludes around 10.00am.

Students and families are welcome to participate in any or all of these services. In order to register, please complete the registration form that has been emailed to all parents/carers. It is important that this information is completed by a parent/carer, specifically the consent for students to participate. Please ensure you indicate which services your child, or your child and family members, will be attending. Please complete a registration for each Mt A student from your family who will be attending these services. Students are required to wear College uniform with hat and blazer.

Students attending the morning service (8.30am) are encouraged to bring a water bottle. Please note: The College will not be providing transport for students on this day. If your child is attending the Dawn Service and the March/Morning Service, transport must be provided or arranged by your family from the Lutwyche Cemetery, Kitchener Road Kedron to the Kedron-Wavell Services Club, Kittyhawk Drive Chermside.

News & Views

Audacious, Aspiring, Authentic

Issue 6 · 31 Mar 2023

In this issue