DIRECTOR OF CATHOLIC IDENTITY
POPE FRANCES LENTEN MESSAGE 2022
In preparation for Lent 2022, Pope Francis has released his annual message, reflecting on St Paul’s epistle to the Galatians: ‘Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest if we do not give up.’ (Galatians 6:9-10)
Sowing for Eternal Life
‘Lent invites us to conversion,’ Francis wrote, ‘to a change in mindset, so that life’s truth and beauty may be found not so much in possessing as in giving, not so much in accumulating as in sharing and sowing goodness.’
The kind of conversion that Lent calls us to is what we are summoned to every day. Lent ‘is in some way an image’ of life itself. Part of this conversion is the willingness to sow goodness in the life of others; even when we do not see the fruits of what we sow, no act of love, no matter how small, Pope Francis says, will be lost in the eyes of God.
The Word of God ‘broadens and elevates our vision’ so that we are not so concerned with witnessing visible fruits in this life. Instead, ‘the real harvest is eschatological, the harvest of the last, undying day.
Those who are intimately united to him in love “by dying a death like his” (Romans 6:5) will be united to his resurrection for eternal life …’
The call of conversion is the call to sow for the fruit of eternal life.
‘Let us not grow tired of doing good’.
A key appeal that appears throughout the Scriptures, however, is not to grow tired:
'The Lenten season calls us to place our faith and hope in the Lord, since only if we fix our gaze on the risen Christ will we be able to respond to the Apostle’s appeal, “Let us never grow tired of doing good.”’
The endurance we are called to is not a matter of human effort alone; it is the result of God’s grace, which strengthens the weak and gives youthfulness to the old. Faith does not release us from the storms of life but instead allows us to face them in union with Jesus:
'… only the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ triumphs over the dark waters of death.’
Pope Francis points to several things we should not grow tired of: prayer, uprooting evil from our lives, asking for forgiveness in the Sacrament of Penance, fighting concupiscence, and doing good in active charity towards our neighbours.
There was one addiction Pope Francis pointed to for us to be aware of: 'digital media'. The Pope encouraged us to use the Lenten season to cultivate more integral forms of human communication, made up of 'authentic encounters' with real people. Digital media, he says, 'impoverishes human relationships.’
‘If we do not give up, we shall reap the harvest’.
'Let us ask God to give us the patient perseverance of the farmer,’ Pope Francis said, ‘and to persevere in doing good, one step at a time.’
In this season of conversion, the soil of our hearts ‘is prepared by fasting, watered by prayer and enriched by charity,’ he said. And though we stumble and fall, ‘let us not hesitate to return to God who is “generous and forgiving” (Isaiah 55:7)'.
'May the Virgin Mary, who bore the Saviour in her womb and “pondered all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:19), obtain for us the gift of patience. May she accompany us with her maternal presence so that this season of conversion may bring forth fruits of eternal salvation.’
Source: https://melbournecatholic.org/news/pope-francis-do-not-grow-tired-of-doing-good
ST JOSEPH'S COLLEGE RESPONDS TO POPE FRANCES' CALL TO "NEVER GROW TIRED OF DOING GOOD."
SHROVE TUESDAY - RAISING FUNDS FOR PROJECT COMPASSION
Due to the reduction in COVID restrictions, the college for the first time in three years, was able to hold its Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Sale to raise funds for Project Compassion. The Mercy Action Group, supported by the canteen and maintenance staff, cooked pancakes during periods 1 to 3 for the whole college.
During recess, the pancakes were sold for $2.00 each. Staff and students enjoyed the Catholic tradition of consuming all the sweet foods before beginning their Lenten Fasting on Ash Wednesday. Fr Matthew assisted the Mercy Action Group Pancake Stall by putting whipped cream on the pancakes to make them even more delicious. The students always appreciate Fr Matthew’s visits to the college for a chat.
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
At 2:00pm on Wednesday March 2, the college community held two Ash Wednesday Services. Fr Shaiju led the Year 8 students in the Mercy Theatre, while Fr Matthew led all other staff and students in the Sacred Heart Church.
Our local Priests encouraged us to welcome and serve strangers by being non-judgemental and friendly, like the Youtube clip ‘The Homeless Pastor’. Students were also asked to ‘Do Something’ about issues of fairness and injustice rather than leave it up to others.
ANNUAL EASTER EGG RAFFLE
The Mercy Action Group have commenced selling raffle tickets for the Annual Easter Egg Raffle at the college. Students have been asked to donate Easter eggs and baskets to make up the prizes for the raffle to be drawn on Friday April 8.
Staff and students may purchase raffle tickets for 50 cents each from the library or front offices at the college. The Mercy Action Group are hoping for an extra-large raffle in 2022, given COVID restrictions are relaxed and we are starting to get back to celebrating our college traditions.
Miss Paula Cox
Director of Catholic Identity