Faith Formation and Mission

Year of Jubilee 

Celebrated every 25 years, Pope Francis has declared 2025 a Jubilee Year. A Jubilee Year is intended to be a year of renewal in our relationship with God, one another and with all of creation. Pope Francis has given this Jubilee Year the motto “Pilgrims of Hope” and his description of hope sits very well within our MSC charism. He writes “Hope is born of love and based on the springing from the pierced heart of Jesus… Hope does not deceive or disappoint because it is grounded in the certainty that nothing and no one can ever separate us from God’s love.” 

As we journey together through this Jubilee Year, may we use it as a time to be renewed and refreshed in the love of God, and revitalise others by our expressions of this love within our community. 

Opening Liturgy  

We celebrated the start of our new year with a whole school liturgy on Thursday 6th February. Year 12’s theme “Share your part of the Sacred Heart” beautifully suited the occasion as each house symbolically brought their gifts and talents to the altar as we work together for the betterment of our entire community. We blessed our new staff and students and sang with gusto to celebrate all the new year may bring. 

Year 7 Retreat 

In the first couple of weeks of 2025, Year 7 commenced the year with their Year 7 Retreat as part of a broader induction program to Chev. The retreat helped students better understand belonging to our school community and affirmed them in the gifts they bring to our college community. The retreat was primarily run in houses, giving students a great opportunity to get to know each other, their Leader of House, and Lead Tutor. We hope the experience provided students with a great sense of belonging as we further welcome them into our Chev community. 

Year 12 Retreat 

Last week Year 12 travelled to Collaroy for their final Chev retreat. It was a special three days for the group who immersed themselves in the retreat process beautifully. The retreat was themed “The Heart’s Journey” and above all provided students with valuable time away from the hustle and bustle of their HSC year to listen to the stirrings of their hearts. 

This precious time allowed students the space to: 

• Remember their experiences of Chev 
• Value friendships and laughter 
• Discern their future plans 
• Feel the joys and sorrows of the human heart 
• Recognise God’s love and unique plans for each student 
• Affirm them for the journey ahead 

Thank you to the generous staff who attended for three days and were so present to our students' experience. 

Ash Wednesday 

On Wednesday we marked Ash Wednesday with a liturgy to begin the season of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and reflection leading up to Easter. It was an opportunity to take a moment to reflect on our actions and how we can grow spiritually during this Lenten season. 

Project Compassion 

Project Compassion is our major fundraiser for Term 1 and helps transform the lives of people throughout the world. This year’s theme is “Unite Against Poverty” and calls us to contribute what we can to elevate the most marginalised in our world. This year, there are plenty of ways students and families can contribute. 

1. You can donate through your homeroom’s Project Compassion box or through our school’s online fundraising page. Through the school’s fundraising page you can also access links to a fundraising page for each house. 
2. Purchasing baked goods at the St Patricks Day bake sale. 
3. A new initiative we’ll be running this year is The Big Water Walk. The Big Water Walk helps raise awareness and support for the many people around the globe who have to walk long distances to collect clean water every day. Our Big Water Walk will take place on our Open Day and we’re looking for volunteers who would like to help carry water containers in solidarity. Let’s see how many combined kilometres we can walk as we unite against poverty. 

News from the wider Chevalier Family

Heart of Life 

Heart of Life is one of the three MSC Spirituality Ministries and provides spiritual formation opportunities for adults. Their most recent newsletter provides an insight into the programs on offer, or you can visit their website. 

Formation Evening 

We invite you to a formation evening on Wednesday, 19 March 2025, from 7:30 to 9:00 pm (AEST).  Explore the topic 'Sharing in Jesus' Belief in God: Theology of the Blessed Trinity' with Fr Michael Fallon MSC. This is an opportunity for prayer, reflection, and sharing. The evening will be presented on Zoom.  

To register, visit bit.ly/LCFreflection25 and complete the Google form (or email us at aus.lcf@gmail.com) so we can send you the Zoom link (on the night of the formation evening).  

Podcast Launch 

The 'God's Heart on Earth' podcast from the Laity of the Chevalier Family Australia draws listeners into a Spirituality of the Heart - inward towards God's heart and outward towards others and the home we share. As Chevalier Family Laity, we're shaping hearts and minds wherever we are by 'being on Earth the Heart of God' (Fr Jules Chevalier MSC). 

Listen and follow on: 

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/.../gods-heart-on.../id1796556859 

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/68wS3br9G3RuB4Gz8ZvBa0...