Faith and Mission
Lent calls us to prayer, almsgiving, and fasting, three pillars that foster compassion and solidarity with others. As we strive to live out the values of hope and renewal, our Live Simply initiative and other fundraising efforts are tangible responses to this Lenten call.
Today, over 600 Secondary students embraced the Live Simply initiative. Some chose to walk or ride to school, reduce their environmental impact, or eat a simple lunch of plain bread. This act of fasting and solidarity demonstrated their commitment to living simply, reflecting on the struggles of others, and raising funds for Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. By giving up personal comforts, students showed their solidarity with those less fortunate while contributing to a cause that brings lasting change.
Our Primary students have also answered the Lenten call to support Project Compassion. Through class activities, creative fundraising, and thoughtful discussions, they have gained an understanding of the impact small actions can have. Each student has brought home a coin bag to collect donations over the six weeks of Lent, which has been emptied into a large Project Compassion box in each classroom. This practice of almsgiving encourages our youngest students to contribute to a greater cause and make a meaningful difference.
In addition, Primary students participated in a special Chapel journey. At various stations, they reflected on the needs of others, wrote prayers of hope, and placed them in the wishing well. This hands-on experience deepened their connection with the spirit of Lent and the Jubilee Year of Hope, reinforcing the power of prayer and almsgiving.
As we continue our Lenten journey, we also look ahead to the Year 12 Manresa Retreat, an opportunity for students to reflect on their spiritual lives and their relationships with families and friends. Inspired by the town where St Ignatius of Loyola experienced deep transformation, the Manresa Retreat offers Year 12 students time to explore their gifts, their identity, and the path God is calling them to follow. With the theme 'I have called you by name; you are mine' (Isaiah 43:1), the retreat will invite students into prayer, quiet reflection, and discussions, encouraging them to listen for God’s call in their lives. We ask the wider school community to please keep our Year 12 students in your prayers during this important time so that they may experience God's guidance and strength as they prepare for their final year and the road ahead.
ACRATH Slavery Free Chocolate Campaign
As we prepare for Easter, we invite our school community to make ethical choices by supporting ACRATH’s (Australian Catholic Religious Against the Trafficking in Humans) chocolate campaign. Is your chocolate sweet—or tainted by child labour? Download the ACRATH Seal of Approval poster, explore resources, and use Be Slavery Free’s upcoming Chocolate Scorecard to choose slavery-free treats this Easter.
Janeen Murphy
Deputy Principal Faith and Mission
Community Mass
Next Friday, the last day of term, Community Mass will begin with a procession of palms in the Library Courtyard at 7:30am. Thank you to our Years 7 to 11 Homeroom leaders who will arrive early to lead this procession from the Library Courtyard to the Chapel. After arriving at the Chapel, we will commence Mass, around 7:50am. The liturgy will include the proclamation of the Passion of Jesus, from the Gospel of Luke. Families are welcome to Mass only, or to gather at 7:30am for the procession! The College procession of palms is a harbinger of parish liturgies for Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week, the high point of the Christian calendar.
If you have any questions about Community Mass, please contact Mary-Anne Lumley.
Community Mass Details
- College Chapel
- Fridays in term time
- Starts: 8:00am and concludes 8:30am,
Exception: Friday 11 April – Procession of Palms commences at 7:30am, Library Courtyard. Mass commences around 7:50am, Chapel
Sacraments
Do you have a child in Years 3, 4 or 6?
Students in these classes are respectively preparing for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation. It is imperative to enrol in a parish program as soon as possible as some parishes have already closed their enrolments for 2025.
Each parish has their own unique Sacrament program. Information from some local parishes is provided below and on the College website.
CLAREMONT – ST THOMAS APOSTLE
Currently accepting enrolments.
Contact: Silvia.kinder@cewa.edu.au
COTTESLOE – ST MARY STAR OF THE SEA
Confirmation – enrolments close Monday, 25 August.
Enrol online here: Sacramental Programme | St Mary Star of the Sea & Corpus Christi Churches
Full details are available on the College website.
Further queries: Natasha Colli, sacraments.cottesloe@perthcatholic.org.au
Parents often have questions about the Sacrament program, so don’t be afraid to ask:
- Your parish priest or Sacrament Coordinator
- John XXIII College website
- The Archdiocesan website: Parishes & Mass Times
- Mary-Anne Lumley on email or via phone on 08 9383 0513
Holy Week in Parishes
Family celebrations of Easter are varied, and often include special food or traditions. Many families incorporate parish liturgies into their festivities. Some of our local parishes have supplied details of their Holy Week program and warmly welcome families with children to any or all of their liturgies.
Holy Week is 13-20 April and includes Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.
You can find your parish here.
See below for specific details from some of our local parishes.
CITY BEACH, HOLY SPIRIT
PALM SUNDAY – 13 April
Saturday 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am, 9:30am, 5:30pm
All Masses include Procession of Palms
HOLY THURSDAY – 17 April
6:30pm – Mass of the Lords Supper
GOOD FRIDAY – 18 April
9:45am – Passion Play on the school oval (Disciples of Jesus Community)
1:30pm – Stations of the Cross
3.00pm – The Passion of the Lord
4:15pm – Divine Mercy Novena
HOLY SATURDAY – 19 April
7.00pm – Vigil Mass
EASTER SUNDAY – 20 April
8:00am, 9:30am, 5:30pm
DOUBLEVIEW, OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY
PALM SUNDAY – 13 April
8.00am - Mass
10:00 am – with Procession of Palms
5.30pm – Procession of Palms; 6:00pm Mass.
HOLY THURSDAY – 17 April
7.30pm – Mass of the Lords Supper
GOOD FRIDAY – 18 April
10.30am – Stations of the Cross
3.00pm – The Passion of the Lord
HOLY SATURDAY – 19 April
7.00pm – Vigil Mass
EASTER SUNDAY – 20 April
8.00am, 10.00am, 5.30pm
More details below.
FLOREAT/WEMBLEY, ST CECILIA’s & OUR LADY OF VICTORIES
PALM SUNDAY – 13 April
Saturday 6:00pm, Floreat
Sunday 7:30am, Wembley
9:30am, 5:30pm, Floreat
HOLY THURSDAY – 17 April
7:00pm – Mass of the Lords Supper, Floreat
GOOD FRIDAY – 18 April
10:00am – Stations of the Cross (followed by the Divine Mercy Novena)
2:30pm – Seven Last Words of Christ (Choral)
3.00pm – The Passion of the Lord
HOLY SATURDAY – 19 April
6:00pm – Vigil Mass, Floreat
EASTER SUNDAY – 20 April
7:30am, Wembley
9:30am, Floreat
FLOREAT/WEMBLEY, ST CECILIA’s & OUR LADY OF VICTORIES
PALM SUNDAY – 13 April
Saturday 6:00pm, Floreat
Sunday 7:300am, Wembley
9:30am, 5:30pm, Floreat
HOLY THURSDAY – 17 April
7:00pm – Mass of the Lords Supper, Floreat
GOOD FRIDAY – 18 April
10:00am – Stations of the Cross (followed by the Divine Mercy Novena)
2:30pm – Seven Last Words of Christ (Choral
3.00pm – The Passion of the Lord
HOLY SATURDAY – 19 April
6:00pm – Vigil Mass, Floreat
EASTER SUNDAY – 20 April
7:30am, Wembley
9:30am, Floreat
NEDLANDS, HOLY ROSARY & CARMELITE MONASTERY
PALM SUNDAY – 13 April
Saturday 6:00pm, Holy Rosary
Sunday 8:45am, Holy Rosary
10:30am, Carmelite Monastery
HOLY THURSDAY – 17 April
7:00pm – Mass of the Lords Supper, Holy Rosary
GOOD FRIDAY – 18 April
10:00am – Stations of the Cross, Holy Rosary
3.00pm – The Passion of the Lord, Holy Rosary
HOLY SATURDAY – 19 April
:00pm – Vigil Mass, Holy Rosary
EASTER SUNDAY – 20 April
8:45am, Holy Rosary
10:30am, Carmelite Monastery
INNALOO/KARRINYUP, ST DOMINIC’S & OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL
HOLY THURSDAY – 17 April
6:00pm – Mass of the Lords Supper, Karrinyup
GOOD FRIDAY – 18 April
9:00am – Stations of the Cross, Karrinyup
9:00am – Stations of the Cross, Innaloo
3.00pm – The Passion of the Lord, Innaloo
HOLY SATURDAY – 19 April
6:00pm – Vigil Mass, Innaloo
EASTER SUNDAY – 20 April
8:00am, Karrinyup
10:30am, Innaloo
SCARBOROUGH, IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
PALM SUNDAY – 13 April
Saturday 5:00pm
Sunday 7:30am, 9:30am
HOLY THURSDAY – 17 April
7.00pm – Mass of the Lords Supper
GOOD FRIDAY – 18 April
10.00am – Stations of the Cross
3.00pm – The Passion of the Lord
HOLY SATURDAY – 19 April
7.00pm – Vigil Mass
EASTER SUNDAY – 20 April
7:30am, 9:30am.
Good News for the 5th Sunday in Lent
The Scripture
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them.
The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in full view of everybody, they said to Jesus, ‘Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery, and Moses has ordered us in the Law to condemn women like this to death by stoning. What have you to say?’ They asked him this as a test, looking for something to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. As they persisted with their question, he looked up and said, ‘If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Then he bent down and wrote on the ground again. When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there. He looked up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she replied. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go away, and don’t sin any more.’
John 8:1-11
Reflection
The Gaze of Jesus
The accusers of this woman make her ‘stand there in full view of everybody.’ She is surrounded by the hostile glare of eyes filled with blood lust.
It is only when the accusers have left in embarrassment that Jesus, who has been bent to the ground, looks up at her. He adopts the posture of a slave, seeing her as she could be if she gives up her current pattern of behaviour.
Up till now, no-one has spoken to this woman. Now Jesus treats her as a human being worth speaking to. And what does she hear? That he does not condemn her but points her to a new sort of life in the future.
We could pause for a moment to allow Jesus the time to look at us, talk to us, in that way. Do you have the courage to ‘lock eyes’ with Jesus and live out the consequences?
© Michael Tate
This reflection is from Father Michael Tate and is used with permission. Rev. Prof. Michael Tate was a Senator for Tasmania from 1978-93 and Ambassador to The Hague and the Holy See from 1993-96. He is currently Vicar-General in the Archdiocese of Hobart and is an Honorary Professor of Law at the University of Tasmania, where he lectures in International Humanitarian Law.