FAITH MATTERS 

Seeing Clearly Through Compassion – Project Compassion at MacKillop 

Our school community has embraced the spirit of Lent with great generosity as donations for Project Compassion continue to come in from homerooms across the college. 

Last Friday we held our very first Project Compassion “weigh-in”, where each homeroom donation box was placed on the scales to see which one was the heaviest. Congratulations to Xavier 5, whose box tipped the scales and earned them the title of our first winners! A special shout-out must also go to the canteen, whose donation box was three times heavier than the winning homeroom. Word has it that their contribution may even be helping boost the tally for Xavier House! 

This week the next stage begins as we count the donations collected so far. I was politely reminded that while coins add weight, notes don’t weigh very much at all—so even though some boxes may feel heavier, the total monetary value may surprise us! 

Next week at the Athletics Carnival, students will take part in a special novelty event called The Big Water Walk. This activity helps raise awareness of the millions of people around the world who must walk more than 30 minutes each day just to collect clean and safe water. In a relay-style challenge, students will carry buckets of water for a set period of time, with the team completing the most laps declared the winners. It promises to be a fun and meaningful way to connect our school spirit with the message of Project Compassion. 

This week also marks the Fourth Week of Lent, a time that invites us to reflect on light, sight and understanding. In this morning’s Chapel prayer, we reflected on the Gospel story of the man born blind, where Jesus opens not only physical eyes but hearts and minds as well. As educators in Catholic schools, we are called to help our students see the world more clearly—through wisdom, compassion and hope. 

Those who attended chapel were invited to put on a pair of special “Lenten glasses” as a reminder that Lent invites us to see the world differently—to notice the needs of others, recognise injustice and respond with compassion. 

Closing Prayer 

Loving God, 

Open our eyes to see the needs of others in our world. 

Help us to recognise where compassion is needed 

and give us the courage to respond with generous hearts. 

As we continue our Lenten journey, 

may the small actions we take through Project Compassion 

bring hope, dignity and new life to others. 

We ask this through Christ our Lord. 

Amen. 

Jesus light of the world, guide us 

St Joseph, journey with us 

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us 

Alison Wright

Director of Faith and Mission