Faith, Justice and Formation
Ash Wednesday and Lent at St Patrick’s College
Prayer
Today marks the beginning of Lent in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, with our Maronite brothers and sisters having commenced on Monday this week. As a College community we celebrated at the same time but in different locations around the College. Year 12 gathered in the Chapel with the Eucharistic Ministers and Prefects going out into the College to distribute the ashes and pass on suggestions for fasting this Lent. Years 5 to 11 celebrated the same liturgy based in the class/homeroom led by their class teacher or homeroom teachers, and Year 9 commemorate on camp in the dirt and ashes of their environment.
We began by considering the theme of this Jubilee Year, Pilgrims of Hope. This season of Lent we aim to reflect, pray, fast, and give alms while bringing hope to all around us, and seeking it deep in our hearts. We need hope at present, but there is also so much to be hopeful for.
The readings centered on sacrifice, and each of us wrote out intentions for Lent. These will be hung on trees on the Hickey balcony for the season. Each student also drew from a bag something they are asked to do or fast from in Lent. These have been stuck in the students’ diaries and could be something good to share at home.
Prayer is a continuous part of life at the College. The Rosary is said at lunch every Tuesday throughout the year in the Chapel, and during Lent the Stations of the Cross will be done at lunch each Friday in the Chapel. We hope to see as many students and staff there as possible.
As we continue to pray at this time, we keep Pope Francis especially, in our prayers, knowing God’s will prevail.
Fasting
We know that fasting is a part of the Lenten season and so I remind you of a few things at the College. The Canteen/Cafeteria will not sell meat items on Fridays in Lent, as a reminder of our commitments, even though this is not a requirement any longer. However, it is a requirement over the age of 13 to go without something during every Friday of Lent, especially if you do not go without meat.
There are many things to fast from at this time. We really should be focused on removing those things that get in the way of our relationship with God or others, in the hope it will continue into everyday life. While meat does not hold the same significance as it once did, a modern luxury we could reduce our use of is carbon, which is harming our planet.
You will find the SPC Lenten Carbon Fast here – check out the suggestions for every day to make the world a better place and make us think about what we often take for granted.
Almsgiving/Fundraising
The SPC Lenten Appeal also commenced today to collect money for our Lenten Partners as part of the required almsgiving in this season. Our Lenten Partners for 2025 are St Joseph’s Catholic Flexible Learning Centre, Alice Springs, The Edmund Rice Life Training Centre in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea and Edmund Rice Camps in Sydney. All are Edmund Rice ministries whom we have had a long-standing relationship with over decades. You will learn more about them over coming weeks.
St Patrick’s College has a proud history of fundraising, and I trust this Lent will be no different. However, there will be some different ways to help collect funds….
Cash collections in homerooms each day. This is about giving not only spare change but the money you may have spent on a treat (not a necessity) during the day to recognise that we need to give without expecting anything in return. Cash can also be dropped into the Finance Office at any time.
To aid our new ‘less-cash’ system every homeroom in the school will have one day between now and the end of term to make an electronic donation. Your son should be given this date by his class / homeroom teacher. Where it is possible it is good to look at a collective sum you could give on this day, such as $1 per school day in Lent which will equate to roughly $50. You can give more or less, and you can give at other times too. A machine will be brought to homerooms on their allocated day to aid this.
Mufti Day on Monday 31 March. Please have cash ready for this day. It will be $5 per student.
Homerooms/Junior classes can run stalls that are booked in through me (only). The stalls may involve food or games. All money raised will contribute to the homeroom /Junior class tally. Students can use cash or bank card (not student card) to purchase or participate. It really is a good idea at this time of year to have some cash for all of these purposes.
Donations can be made when ordering lunch through Flexischools.
There are plenty of options here on how to contribute to the SPC Lenten Appeal. We thank you in advance for your support and hope we can raise a substantial amount for those in greater need, locally, nationally and globally.
This season is about stopping, reflecting on where we are at and removing what isn’t good for us and our relationships. It is a time to humble ourselves and clean our hearts in preparation for the resurrection of our Lord at Easter. It is a time of sacrifice and faith, reminding us to look at what is really important; a time to get rid of the ‘stuff’ that inhibits us. I pray for all of us as we walk through this journey together as Pilgrims of Hope.
Year 11 Father-Son Evening -“What kind of man will he be?”
All young men of Year 11 and their fathers/father figures are invited to attend an evening of reflection, sharing and fun. We will share a meal together and continue to develop our relationships in this positive environment. A good chance just to have time together.
Date: Tuesday 1 April 2025
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Venue: College Hall
Attire: Casual clothing
Please RSVP by Monday 24 March. Complete this form to RSVP - SPC Year 11 Father/ Son Evening 2025. Numbers will be limited to 50 pairs (father and son) so get in quick. If you have any questions, please send me an email or contact me at the College. Mr Biviano, the Year 11 Coordinator, Mr Herro, The Head of Identity (Senior School) and I look forward to welcoming you on the evening.
Gillian Daley
Director of Identity
SPC Clean Up Australia Day
On Sunday 2 March, students from all areas of the College took time out of their weekend to partake in the 35th annual Clean Up Australia Day. The organisation, Clean Up Australia Limited, inspires and mobilises communities to improve and conserve our environment, eliminate litter, and end waste.
Their focus is as much on preventing rubbish entering our environment as it is removing what has already accumulated. With this in mind, students across every grade went out into nearby Strathfield streets and parks, and the College itself with the simple goal of picking up as much rubbish as possible. After all, we need to keep our community and common home clean, especially as stewards of God’s creation.
Overall, the day was a highly productive and enjoyable experience, with over a dozen bags of rubbish and recycling being filled. Of course, Australia's environmental challenges can't be solved in just one day, so I encourage everyone to be mindful of their own waste in their day-to-day lives, as well as picking up rubbish wherever needed.
As Saint Mary Mackillop famously said,
“Never see a need without doing something about it.”
Anthony Naim | Social Justice Prefect