Mission and Identity

Ungana Kuwasha Lenten Appeal

As the College community enters the sacred season of Lent, students are being invited into a deeper reflection on what it truly means to sacrifice - not as an abstract idea, but as a lived expression of solidarity with others.

In the coming days, students will be encouraged to reflect on an amount of money that would feel like a real sacrifice if it were lost or given away, and to take that reflection home to the family dinner table. These conversations are intended to prompt thoughtful discussion about the meaning of Lent, generosity, and the call to stand alongside those who experience poverty and marginalisation.

This year’s Lenten Appeal, Ungana Kuwasha, supports Mannya Parish, Uganda, a partner community deeply connected to the Edmund Rice tradition. The appeal reflects the 2026 Year 12 theme, 'For All, With All,' which calls our community not simply to give to others, but to stand with them - recognising shared dignity, shared humanity, and shared responsibility.

Rather than focusing on a prescribed amount, families are invited to discern for themselves what generosity might look like this Lent. For some, this may be a modest contribution offered consistently; for others, a larger gift made once. What matters most is the spirit in which it is given - freely, thoughtfully, and in solidarity with those whose daily sacrifices are not chosen. 

Funds raised through Ungana Kuwasha will support educational infrastructure in Mannya Parish, enabling young people to learn in safe, dignified environments and strengthening the long-term capacity of the local community. This support is not simply an act of charity, but an expression of companionship - walking alongside a partner community in hope and shared humanity. To explore the possibilities:

• If every family donated $10 to the appeal during Lent, we would have enough to allow the community to access a reliable supply of clean drinking water at St Joseph's Kensekka, the local Parish School at Mannya;

• $20 per family during Lent would go towards clean water, and funding the Parish's self-sustaining coffee plant program, providing a source of employment for the community.

Ungana Kuwasha, drawn from last year's College Theme, Unite to Ignite, captures the spirit of this appeal: a reminder that when a community acts together, freely and willingly, small acts of generosity can ignite meaningful and lasting change. In 2026, this spirit of unity and solidarity continues in the spirit of 'For All, With All,' where the College community is invited to journey through Lent united in compassion, conscience, and faith in action.

How to Support Ungana Kuwasha

• Students can purchase pancakes every Tuesday throughout Lent, run by the Edmund Rice Society

• Direct donations via the TryBooking link: 

https://www.trybooking.com/au/donate/spxedmundriceappeal

• Learn more at the Ungana Kuwasha Appeal website:

 https://www.spxedmundriceappeal.com.au/

Tuesday's Shrove Tuesday pancake sale was bustling, with students enjoying the first pancake Tuesday of the year.

Mr Ryan Balboa - Social Justice Coordinator