Faith, Justice and Formation
Easter Blessings
Today, the College community came together in two halves, to prepare ourselves for the Easter season as we marked Jesus’ journey on the way of the cross. The Senior School and Middle School respectively reflected on and prayed with each Station of the Cross, significant in this Holy Week, which has followed on from Palm Sunday last weekend. It was a sombre liturgy to remind us of Christ’s sacrifice, but as we journey over the next few days, we come to the greatest joy in his resurrection.
This is the most important time in our Christian calendar; a time to spend more moments with God. Check details for liturgical practices in your parish and take some time out of the ordinary to remember why we are here and who we proclaim to be. Significant celebrations include:
Thursday night – The Mass of the Last Supper including the Washing of the Feet
Good Friday (not a time for parties or the Show) – Stations of the Cross in the morning and The Passion in the afternoon (usually at 3:00 PM)
Saturday Evening – The Easter Vigil which showcases the significance of light
Easter Sunday – Mass celebrating the Resurrection of Our Lord.
There are many ways to prepare ourselves for this week. This is up to you. Nonetheless, here are some possible reflections for you.
In this Year of St Francis here are the Stations of the Cross using his method – Stations of the Cross – St. Francis of Assisi — My Catholic Life!
You can follow what is happening at the Vatican via their website with links to documents and live feeds to all celebrations - The Holy See
Reflection on Holy Week events - Holy Week — My Catholic Life!
A Franciscan look at Five Consoling Message for this week (by Richard Rohr) - Five Consoling Messages — Center for Action and Contemplation
Ignatian-inspired Lenten Reflections - Radical Trust: God’s Track Record (Lent Reflections 2026) — Office of Ignatian Spirituality
Connecting of our Christian story to the Earth – Palm Sunday. Passion, death, and resurrection: opening the heart - Laudato Si' Movement.
You may also have your own sources of reflection and contemplation. However you approach the joy of Easter, after the darkness of the tomb, I wish you a truly peaceful and blessed season.
May you experience the fullness of Jesus’ sacrifice and great gift of salvation over this coming week. Spend time with family, with friends, with yourself, with the Earth and with God. Be renewed and refreshed, and celebrate with a heart full of love, seeking God’s help for peace in our world.
God bless you all and Happy Easter.
Peace and St Francis of Assisi
St Francis, as a young man, went to war with his friends fighting other Italian states (before Italian unification) with the desire for wealth and power. It was through illness caused by the trauma of war that Francis had his conversion of the heart. Part of his mission from then on was to work for peace – in life, with the Earth and within oneself.
Peace is an issue on the top of everybody’s mind at present – the need for it. We are incredibly blessed to not live in war-ravaged places, but we are still impacted by war. It leads to increased costs, fear for family in the troubled places and growing levels of anxiety among other things. It is a shame that as a human race we have not learned from our past experiences, from history. But that doesn’t mean we still can’t. We often need to start local in the hope of ripple effects.
The way we talk about other people and nations can have an impact on how we pass on hate. We may not agree with others politically, religiously, or socially, but we are still called to love. To hear members of our community talk about people deserving to die or to be bombed really goes against our Christian foundations. Bringing this hate into our context goes against our way of life. St Paul writes to the Corinthians about what a Christian community looks like – ‘faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love’. (1 Corinthians 13:13)
We need to commit to our faith – Jesus told us to love one another and to particularly love our enemies (Mt 5:44). We need to talk about and bring hope to those around us – Easter is the greatest message of hope; we must see what is possible to help enjoy our life. And ultimately, we know that our core message is love; we need to live with and for it - “Stand firm in faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)
We may not be in the war zone, nor controlling the decisions (though that is something many citizens can do in democracies), but we can still work for peace. I do not condone any of the decisions being made by various countries around the world at present (all are to blame), but I also do know that it is usually the innocent and powerless who are most affected. These are the ones we must remember; we can never tar every person from a group with the same brush. In his life St Francis travelled to Egypt during the Fifth Crusade to meet with the Muslim Sultan Malik al-Kamil. He went with the aim to bring peace. What happened was a genuine encounter of interreligious dialogue with both men developing a respect for the other and embracing parts of the other man’s life. (Some Christian practices of contemplation and the use of bells in worship can be attributed to what St Francis took from Islamic practice.) We can respect and learn about difference while still remaining true to who we are and who we want to be. We do not need to impose our beliefs, but to open our hearts to understanding the depth of others’ faith and the like.
At this time let us remind ourselves of the prayer St Francis of Assisi wrote for peace…
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life. |
|---|
This is how we are called to live, for a better world and to ensure our young people grow up with love not hate.
It is so apt that Pope Leo XIV has dedicated this year to the great saint for peace, St Francis of Assisi, with all that is going on. We pray he helps guide each of us to co-create a better world for all.
May your hearts be filled with the hope of Easter, spreading the love and peace given to us by God.
SOL Service Opportunity in These Holidays – Middle School
Many members of our community have been involved with Kids Giving Back in the past. Below is some information for those wanting to get involved these coming holidays. These opportunities would earn students four SOL Service points per day.
KIDS GIVING BACK: HELPING HANDS - PARRAMATTA
A full-day holiday program for Ages 8+ (Year 3) or over.
Get ready for a fun-filled day where creativity meets kindness! Kids will cook up delicious meals, bake sweet treats, and craft essential care packs - all to be donated to support the amazing work of the Salvation Army Community in Parramatta. It’s a hands-on, feel-good experience where kids will learn the power of giving back and leave feeling proud of what they’ve created for others.
Program Details | |
|---|---|
| Date: | APRIL SCHOOL HOLIDAYS - April 9, 10, 16 and 17 |
| Time: | 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM |
| Cost: | $100 per child |
| Location: | Salvation Army Community Centre, Level 1, 426 Church Street, North Parramatta NSW 2150 |
| Ages: | 8-14 years (Minimum age: 8) |
Buy tickets here: Helping Hands Parramatta - April School Holidays 26
We certainly do not push anyone to do this, given the cost. This is something that is increasing in the volunteer space due to need. I see it in a lot of my work now. Please remember there are still plenty of service opportunities to get involved in that cost nothing.
Don’t forget to get out there wherever you can these holidays boys!
Message for Dads
I ask all Dads to ask their sons about an email from me relating to Cana Farm. No further information here 😊
St Patrick’s Parish Mortlake
If you/your son (in Years 9 to 12) live in St Patrick’s Parish Mortlake, or close by, and would like to become a leader of a parish youth group, see the flyer below. This is a great opportunity to develop leadership skills, confidence and more, and it’s a great way to contribute to your broader community. This can earn SOL Service points or just be done out of the goodness of your hearts.
If you have ever volunteered for anything at St Patrick’s Mortlake, you are invited to an evening of thanks. See the flyer below. Make sure you RSVP. This is not asking for volunteers but thanking those who have volunteered in the past year.
Gillian Daley
Director of Identity