Principal's Message

Ash Wednesday and the Lenten Season

Our Ash Wednesday Mass this week was a wonderful celebration of the Eucharist and signalled the commencement of our Lenten Season. Our celebration also afforded us an opportunity to formally launch our Project Compassion Appeal and to challenge the boys to consider the importance and true purpose of Christian Service – to genuinely consider ‘the other’ in striving to be Men for Others.

Lent is characterised as a time for prayer, penance and almsgiving. As we move into this most sacred liturgical time, I would respectfully ask parents to find an opportunity to speak to your sons about sacrifice; about going without in order to be in solidarity with the marginalised; about the importance of prayer and reflection; about Project Compassion and what it represents; and about the many lessons that can emerge through serving others. As I have alluded to previously, when the Family/College partnership is such that the messages from home are complemented by the messages from school, we have the greatest chance of establishing those life values considered important in the formation of caring young men. A wonderful aspiration that I am sure we share.

During this time of Lent, when our boys have been challenged to consider their own personal commitment to Christian Service and their personal contributions to our Project Compassion appeal, it is very timely to reflect on the thoughts and words of the leader of our Church, Pope Francis. He has continually made strong references to the importance of service to others and the need for all of us, as Christians, to show genuine leadership in this regard. A great message for us at Trinity College, a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition

His Holiness has been determined in his efforts to instil a new sense of humility and simplicity into our Church. He has regularly referred to a metaphor in which he emphasises the model of the shepherd - suggesting that good Christians must be so in touch with the people around them and the plight of our neighbours that “…they are shepherds with the smell of the sheep”. It is consistent with the expectations we have at our College in terms of Christian Service and a very timely reminder in this Lenten season.

In the recently released 2025 Lenten Message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis aligns his reflections with the Jubilee Year’s theme, ‘Pilgrims of Hope,’ and is themed around three key calls: journeying, journeying together and journeying in hope. He draws parallels to the Israelites’ journey from slavery to freedom. Pope Francis calls for self-examination, asking, “Am I really on a journey, or am I standing still, not moving, either immobilized by fear and hopelessness or reluctant to move out of my comfort zone?” A central point in his message is the comparison of one’s life to that of migrants and refugees, encouraging empathy and a renewed awareness of human dignity. The full Lenten Message from Pope Francis can be viewed HERE. We also take this opportunity to offer our prayers of healing to our Holy Father.

It is in giving that we truly receive; and it is in reaching out that others may have the chance to reach up. Our Project Compassion Appeal provides an opportunity for students, and indeed families, to reach out; and our commitment to Christian Service helps our boys understand why! We trust that our boys will respond generously.

Live Jesus in our hearts.

Mr Darren O’Neill 

Principal