Catholic Identity & Mission News

The beginning of the 2024 school year was celebrated at our Opening School Masses on Thursday, February 8. Both masses were held in the Cranbourne Campus Hall and the respectful participation of our students (and staff!) was just magnificent. It was wonderful to meet Fr Prabhu Antony, the new assistant priest at St Agatha’s, who presided at the Cranbourne Campus mass. Having only recently arrived in the Diocese, he connected with the College community immediately and offered his insights and encouragement around our annual theme, ‘Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly’ (Mic 6:8). Similarly, Fr Denis O’Bryan, Parish Priest of St Thomas the Apostle, delved into the meaning and implications of our theme as it accompanies us in 2024. The Opening Masses also incorporate a strong spirit of welcome, both a ‘welcome back’ to those continuing at the College in 2024 and all those staff and students (especially our Year 7’s) who have joined us this year. Each member of our community was blessed and in turn, all were invited to pledge their commitment to fraternity, best effort, and excellence this year. Our annual theme posters were distributed, including to our celebrants to take back to their respective parishes and all were sent forth to do their best to live the Gospel!

And then within a week, it was Ash Wednesday – the first day of Lent. Lent is the 6-week period of penance and preparation leading up to Easter, finishing on the evening of Holy Thursday. Across the College, House groups participated in a morning liturgy during extended tutor group time. The liturgy opened with the entrance antiphon from the mass of the day:

‘You are merciful to all, O Lord, and despise nothing that you have made. 

 You overlook people’s sins, to bring them to repentance, and you spare them, for you are the Lord our God.’

The themes of God’s mercy and unconditional love, as well as our need to seek and work for repentance for the things we do, and fail to do, were reiterated in the liturgy before students and staff were able to receive the mark of the ashes on their foreheads. As each gathering was reminded, ‘The ashes we are invited to wear are, among other things, a symbol of God’s love. Leave them on or wipe them off afterwards – that is up to each person. Whatever the case though, the focus should be on what is important: throughout this Lent, God wants to lead us on a journey that will heal and purify us.’

Another journey we take through Lent is the journey with Caritas’ Project Compassion campaign. I was able to accompany some of our Cranbourne Campus Student Executive (Clyde North students were meant to be at their Swimming Carnival) and Mr Tishan Lokuge, to Marist Sion College, Warragul for the Diocese of Sale’s official launch of Project Compassion 2024. The theme of this year’s campaign is again ‘For all future generations’,and Bishop Greg Bennet, having just arrived back from Rome, was in fine form in encouraging deeper thought and a greater commitment to this important sentiment. His words were supported by Nicole Dobrohotoff from Caritas Australia and together, they presented Alanah, our Social Justice Captain (CRA) with candles to bring back to the College.

We prayed, sang, and promised to do our best and then along with the other DOSCEL school attendees, we gathered for the traditional Shrove Tuesday meal of pancakes!

Students and staff back at school were also served pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and many thanks are owed to our Youth Ministry staff and students (CRA) and Vocational Major staff and students (CLN) for facilitating this. These events commenced our fundraising for Caritas this Lent but there will be more to come, and not only fundraising but also acts of advocacy– to speak out and pray for an end to the injustice and inequality that can be experienced in our world. I invite all members of our College community to get behind the Project Compassion campaign – more details to come in the next newsletter!

Ms Fiona McKenna

Deputy Principal - Catholic Identity & Mission