Ash Wednesday – Start of Lent

Last Wednesday we celebrated Ash Wednesday with each class participating in a class liturgy. I was privileged to be invited to lead and share in these liturgies with the students, and it was a wonderful opportunity to join with the students and staff to share in this celebration of the Catholic faith on an important day in our Liturgical Calendar. As part of this liturgy we listened to the Word of God, prayed together, and acknowledged the day, for those who were interested, by receiving a symbol of a cross from ashes on either their palm or forehead.

Ash Wednesday is an important Holy Day in our Liturgical Calendar and has marked the beginning of Lent – a period of time leading up to Easter where we reflect on the sacrifices Jesus made for us, and we seek forgiveness for our mistakes. As part of our liturgies after hearing the Gospel story from the book of Matthew – our homily focussed on these key messages – that we are Made in the Image of God, that we are good people, that we make mistakes, but always try to made good choices. During Lent we are invited to make a Lenten sacrifice – this could be by fasting/giving up a favourite food, donating items to charity, taking up a cause, and generally trying to be more self-reflective and giving of ourselves towards others in gratitude and forgiveness.

Joshua Page

Acting Deputy Head of Campus

Prayer for Lent – Adapted from Caritas – Project Compassion

We pray this Lent for a deeper trust in God’s plan. May our commitment to prayer, fasting and almsgiving, awaken within us a hunger for justice and compassion.

We pray for greater respect for the environment. May we care deeply for Earth, the place that God has entrusted to our care.

We pray for all those whose access to food and water is insecure. May the whole human family respond generously in creating lasting justice in the distribution of life’s necessities.

We pray for anyone who lives with disability, especially people who are stigmatised in any way. May we do all we can to support their flourishing as truly equal participants in the human family.

We pray for those driven away from their homes by violence, persecution or poverty, especially women. May our hearts be open to do all we can to rebuild the lives of others through supporting Caritas Australia and the work of Project Compassion.

We pray that all women may be respected and encouraged to take their rightful place in society. We pray also that all people will have access to clean water and safe housing.

We make these prayers in your name – through Christ our Lord.

Amen

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