Saint Patrick’s Day

This year the Mass for the Feast of Saint Patrick will officially be celebrated on Monday 18 March. This is because the Mass on 17 March will be of that for the Fifth Sunday of Lent and, liturgically, has precedence. Despite this, the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Association wish to acknowledge Saint Patrick’s Day and so they extend an invitation to all to join them for the 10am Mass on Sunday 17 March at St Stephen’s Cathedral. While the Mass itself will not have the same Irish flavour as in previous years, it is still an opportunity to come together and pray for the wellbeing of the Irish diaspora. The annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade will be held in the City on Saturday 16 March starting at 10.30am.

The International Day of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Harmony Day, celebrated on the 21 March, is the Australian observation of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This day highlights the injustice of racism on one hand, and celebrates our nation’s cultural diversity on the other.

Here in Australia, the 2022 Australian Reconciliation Barometer reported that 60% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people surveyed reported an experience of at least one form of racial prejudice in the previous 6 months. Sadly, this was only exacerbated in the lead up to the referendum on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament held last year. In recent times, we have also witnessed groups of neo-Nazis brazenly demonstrating in public places throughout Australia and making Nazi salutes. Such examples of hate suggest to us that human rights, inclusion and peace, are not givens, even in this country. They are ideals that we need to strive for, to live out in our own lives and, sometimes, even defend.

It requires of all of us, an attitude of respect. In our Christian tradition we would also recognise this as the love to which we are all called. As Jesus says to his disciples, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Let us pray:

Creator of all, make me a person of peace.

Where there is oppression, let me bring equality;

Where there is abuse, dignity;

Where there is fragmentation, unity;

Where there is exploitation, justice;

Where there is conflict, resolution;

Where there is discrimination, mutuality;

Where there is violence, vision;

Where there is powerlessness, power.

Grant that I may not so much

seek to compete as to collaborate;

to exclude as to include;

to dominate as to complement.

For it is in healing that we are healed;

it is in reconciling, that we are reconciled;

it is in our common bond, that we become whole.

We ask this in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

National Close the Gap Day

Thursday 21 March is also National Close the Gap Day. This day of advocacy highlights health inequality experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Over the past 12 months, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, individuals, and organisations, have worked tirelessly to push for better outcomes and recognition for their communities. There has been extraordinary advocacy, action, and strength, as well as steep challenges and deep disappointments, including the defeat of the Voice proposal in the October 2023 Referendum. Despite the setbacks, this year’s report, Progressing Voice, Treaty, Truth, Leadership and Governance and Building our Economies, refocuses the narrative on the strengths and successes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. There is still much work to do to close the gap.

World Down Syndrome Day

World Down Syndrome Day on the 21 March, is a global awareness day that has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. The date - the 21st day of the 3rd month - was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down Syndrome.

All around the world, people with Down Syndrome experience discrimination. They are denied a quality education, good health care, the chance to work and earn their own money and even the right to make decisions about their own lives.

In Homeroom on Wednesday 20 March, students will learn about World Down Syndrome Day and its role in advocating for the rights, inclusion and well-being of people with Down Syndrome.

Earth Hour

Earth Hour will be held at 8.30pm on Saturday 23rd March. While this event has become much more than switching off lights for an hour, the iconic switch-off moment is still an important part of Earth Hour supported by millions of people worldwide who are committed to caring for the fragile planet on which we live. In preparation for Earth Hour, all Homerooms will participate in the Mt A Earth Half-Hour by switching off lights, electrical items and devices for 30 minutes during homeroom time on Friday 22 March.

Archdiocesan Youth Rally

From 6.00 – 8.30pm on Friday 22 March, the Archdiocese of Brisbane will be hosting a Youth Rally at La Cordelle, Padua College. Young people from across Brisbane are invited to attend an evening of live music, games, inspirational speakers and prayer. There will also be the opportunity for students to participate in Reconciliation, a sacrament offered by Catholic parishes especially during Lent.

All students interested in attending the Rally will need to register via the webpage, Reco Rally 24 - Evangelisation Brisbane. There is no cost to register for this event; however, on the night, pizza slices and drinks will be on sale for $2 each.

Non-Uniform Day

To boost our fundraising totals for Project Compassion, on Tuesday 26 March, we invite students to wear ‘free’ dress (non-uniform) for a gold coin donation. Donations will be collected during Homeroom on the day.

The usual expectations for non-uniform days apply: no spaghetti straps, bare shoulders or midriffs, leggings, short shorts, clothing with inappropriate or offensive text and images, etc. In the interest of safety, students should wear enclosed shoes.

Students are permitted to wear free dress to and from school.

To mark Saint Patrick’s Day on 17 March and Harmony Day on 21 March, students may wish to wear green or clothing that represents their family’s nation or culture of origin. Students may also wish to participate in Lots of Socks – Down Syndrome Australia by purchasing and wearing socks designed for Down Syndrome Australia. The idea behind the ‘Lots of Socks’ initiative is acceptance of our individual differences, and what makes us unique. Socks come in all shapes, sizes, and designs, just like each of us.

Sausage Sizzle and Drink Stall

Thursday 28 March is our Interhouse Cross Country Carnival that will be held at Teralba Park. While there are no canteen facilities at the park, the College will provide a sausage sizzle and range of soft drinks that students can purchase. Students will also have a decent lunch break when they return to school in the afternoon. They will also be able to purchase a sausage sizzle and drink during this time. Each item will be $2.50; students will be required to bring cash to purchase these items. All funds raised will be donated to Project Compassion.

To assist the College in planning for this event, students who intend to purchase a sausage sizzle and/or drink, have been asked to complete a short survey.

Project Compassion

Each year during Lent, the College supports the Project Compassion Appeal. Project Compassion is the major fundraiser of Caritas, the Catholic Church’s agency for global development. This year, the Project Compassion Appeal highlights the stories of three women from the Philippines, Malawi and Samoa. Though they face very different challenges in their day-to-day lives, they are all united by their dream of creating a better tomorrow for themselves and for all future generations. In our Year of Service, our challenge is to respond to these stories courageously, and to act for social and ecological justice. By putting our faith and compassion in action today, we have the power to create lasting change for generations to come.

The money raised through this appeal is used to develop long term development programs in partnership with some of the world’s most vulnerable communities for whom poverty and injustice is a daily reality.

All donations can be made through the Mount Alvernia College Project Compassion online portal. Please support your child’s House team by donating to her House. For more information, visit the Caritas website.

ANZAC Day

The Kedron-Wavell Sub Branch RSL has extended an invitation to our College community to attend its ANZAC Day services on Thursday 25 April 2024.

5.00am: Assemble for the Dawn Service at War Graves Section, Lutwyche Cemetery, Kitchener Road, Kedron. Students are to enter via the gate opposite Glentanna Street and check in with Mr Rogusz for roll marking purposes. The Dawn Service begins at 5.30am and concludes around 6.30am.7.45am: Assemble on the oval near the Chermside Historical Precinct, 61 Kittyhawk Drive, Chermside, for the March.

The March begins at 8.00am. 8.30am: The Main Service at Kedron-Wavell Services Club, Kittyhawk Drive, Chermside. Concludes around 10.00am. Students and families are welcome to participate in any or all of these services. In order to register your child, please complete the ANZAC Day Registration Form. It is important that this information is completed by a parent/carer, specifically the consent for students to participate. Please ensure you indicate which services your child, or your child and family members, will be attending. Please complete a registration for each Mt A student from your family who will be attending these services. Students are required to wear their College uniform with hat and blazer. Students attending the morning service (8.30am) are encouraged to bring a water bottle.

Please note: The College will not be providing transport for students on this day. If your child is attending the Dawn Service and the March/Main Service, transport must be provided or arranged by your family from the Lutwyche Cemetery, Kitchener Road Kedron to the Kedron-Wavell Services Club, Kittyhawk Drive Chermside.

Ponytail Project

Next term, Thursday 16 May, the College will be raising funds for the Cancer Council and people living with cancer by participating in the Ponytail Project.

Every year an estimated 4000 ponytails are needed just to make enough charitable wigs for those suffering from cancer or alopecia. One wig requires 20 ponytails and can cost thousands of dollars.

Sustainable Salons collects all ponytails 20cm or longer, both coloured and uncoloured, and sends them to charitable organisations and wigmakers. Uncoloured ponytails 36cm+ are the holy grail for charitable wigs.

A number of students are keen to donate their hair to this worthy cause. All students interested in Rocking the Chop are required to submit an expression of interest before the end of Term 1. Expressions of interest can be submitted using the Ponytail Project Registration Form.

The Franciscan Virtue of Charity

“When it comes to charities, did you know that there are over 60,000 registered charities in Australia? If you think that is a large number, perhaps you might like to support one of the many unregistered Australian charities, which numbers somewhere over the twenty-five million mark — now that’s a lot!”

For Franciscans the virtue of charity is held in the highest esteem. Charity is an act we should strive for daily. However, it is hard. Reflect on the story of Francis and the leper and get some take-away lessons for today.

Find out more about this virtue in the Autumn edition of The Young Franciscan. Click on the link to access the latest edition.

Encounter Kedron