From the Leader of Faith and Mission
Faith and Mission
Term 1 - Project Compassion
Earlier this term, on Caroline Chisholm Day, our college community came together with great generosity to raise an impressive $10,000 for Caritas – Project Compassion. This year’s initiative, themed “For a Just Future,” focused on empowering vulnerable communities by addressing issues such as poverty, injustice, and inequality. The funds raised will directly support projects that provide essential resources, education, and opportunities to those in need, particularly in underprivileged regions around the world. This incredible contribution reflects our college’s core value of compassion and aligns with the Catholic social teaching of the preferential option for the poor. By reaching out to those who are most vulnerable, we live out our commitment to social justice and demonstrate our collective responsibility to help build a more just and compassionate world.
Holy Week: A Sacred Journey to the Hope of the Resurrection
This Sunday, we enter the most sacred time in the Catholic liturgical calendar, Holy Week — a time of deep reflection, prayer, and spiritual renewal. This solemn week holds profound significance for Christians around the world as we recall the Passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a time to refocus on what truly matters—Jesus’ journey of love, sacrifice, and redemption. Holy Week is called “holy” because it invites us to reflect deeply on the heart of our Christian faith. It is a time to ask ourselves:
- Who is this Jesus who has changed the world?
- What does His story mean for me?
- How am I called to respond and make a difference?
Our journey begins with Palm Sunday, which marks Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The crowds welcomed Him with palm branches, shouting praises; unaware that soon they would turn against Him. For this reason, Palm Sunday is also known as Passion Sunday, marking the beginning of Christ’s path to the cross.
Throughout the week, we reflect on the key moments of Jesus’ final days. Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, where Jesus instituted the Eucharist and modelled servant leadership by washing the feet of His disciples. Good Friday invites us into solemn remembrance of Christ’s crucifixion and ultimate sacrifice — an expression of God's boundless love and mercy.
The week culminates in the celebration of Easter Sunday, the cornerstone of our faith. Christ’s resurrection from the dead is a powerful message of new life, hope, and the triumph of light over darkness. In this Jubilee Year, themed Pilgrims of Hope, we are reminded that we are a people on a sacred journey — sustained by faith, inspired by the resurrection, and called to bring hope into the world.
Palm Sunday College Liturgy
Today, our college community came together in a spirit of reverence and reflection to celebrate a special liturgy commemorating Palm Sunday, marking the beginning of Holy Week. Students and staff gathered in prayer to recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, symbolised by the blessing and procession of palms. The liturgy also invited us to reflect deeply on the events of Christ’s Passion — His suffering, sacrifice, and unwavering love. Through scripture, prayer, and symbolic action, we united as a faith-filled community to contemplate the significance of these sacred moments and prepare our hearts for the journey to Easter.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the staff and students who thoughtfully prepared and led today’s Palm Sunday liturgy. Their preparation and leadership fostered a deeply meaningful and reflective experience for our entire college community. From the planning and readings to the music, drama, and symbolic rituals, each element reflected a deep understanding of the significance of Holy Week. Their leadership not only brought the story of Christ’s Passion to life but also inspired us all to enter this sacred season with open hearts and renewed faith.
CYP Good Friday Walk
Next Friday, 18th April, a group consisting of 12 senior students and 5 staff will participate in the Catholic Youth Parramatta - Good Friday Walk, an annual event that brings together young people from across the diocese to walk in solidarity, reflecting on the Passion of Christ. The walk, which traces key moments of Christ’s journey to the cross, will provide our students and staff with a powerful opportunity to deepen their faith and reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus. As they walk alongside peers from other schools and parishes, they will be united in prayer and contemplation, embodying the spirit of pilgrimage and renewal. Their involvement in this meaningful tradition will allow them to witness firsthand the importance of community, reflection, and the profound significance of Good Friday in the Catholic faith
Mrs Jeanette Cocks
Leader of Faith and Mission
Easter Triduum & Easter Mass Times
St Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church Penrith
Holy Thursday 17 April: 7.00 pm
Good Friday 18 April:
10.00 am Stations of the Cross
3.00 pm Celebration of the Lord's Passion
Easter Vigil 19 April: Vigil Mass 6.30 pm
Easter Sunday 20 April:
Masses 7 am, 8.30 am, 10 am and 6 pm
St Padre Pio Catholic Church Glenmore Park
Holy Thursday 17 April: 7.00 pm
Good Friday 18 April:
10.00 am Stations of the Cross
3.00 pm Celebration of the Lord's Passion
Easter Vigil 19 April: Vigil Mass 7.00 pm
Easter Sunday 20 April:
Masses 8 am, 10 am
Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church Emu Plains
Holy Thursday 17 April: 7.30 pm
Good Friday 18 April:
10.00 am Stations of the Cross
3.00 pm Celebration of the Lord's Passion
Easter Vigil 19 April: Vigil Mass 6.00 pm
Easter Sunday 20 April:
Masses 8 am, 9.30 am
Holy Family Catholic Church Luddenham
Holy Thursday 17 April: 7.00 pm
Good Friday 18 April:
3.00 pm Celebration of the Lord's Passion
Easter Vigil 19 April: Vigil Mass 7.00 pm
Easter Sunday 20 April:
Mass 10 am