Mission and Identity
- Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent
- Calling Musicians
- Dinner, Fundraiser and Advocacy Night
Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent
On Ash Wednesday we gathered, with Christians across the world, to mark the beginning of the 40 days of the holy season of Lent. During Lent we are called to fast, to pray and to give. We are called to fast from things to make more room for God in our lives. We are called to pray so that our relationship with God grows richer because our communication with Him has increased. We are called to give, so that we can be His hands and feet through our sacrifice.
This is a sacred season that calls us to prepare our hearts for the central mystery of our faith: the death and resurrection of Christ. Easter is not just another celebration in the liturgical year; it is the heart of it all. The crucifixion and resurrection are not about divine retribution but about love - God’s love restoring and renewing us.
Br Frederick James reflects that 'in reframing the events of Easter, James Alison reminds us, "Jesus' death is not about satisfying an angry God, but about God’s willingness to enter into our violence to transform it from within.'
Fr Richard Rohr echoes this in his reflections on the Paschal Mystery, teaching that 'Jesus did not come to change the mind of God about humanity, but to change the mind of humanity about God.' This Lenten journey is our opportunity to undergo this change - to be transformed by love, not fear; by restoration, not punishment.
This Lent, I want to encourage you into a journey of deep, intentional preparation. Many approach Lent reactively - choosing something to give up at the last minute, resolving to 'do better' in vague and unstructured ways. But what if we prepared for Lent the way we prepare for Easter itself? What if we stepped into this season with anticipation, with mindfulness, and with open hearts? Just as Advent prepares us for the birth of Christ, Lent prepares us for the fullness of His love poured out in the resurrection. I invite you into three steps to help you deepen your fasting, prayer and giving this Lent.
1. Ask Yourself: Where Do I Need Healing?
Lent is often framed as a season of discipline, but it is first and foremost a season of healing. Before we decide what to fast from or what practices to take on, we must ask: Where do I need God’s healing love? Where have I been resisting transformation? Where have I been resisting God’s dream for me?
Take time to sit with Psalm 139:23-24: 'Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!' Allow the Spirit to reveal to you the places where you need God’s touch - not in shame, but in love. If Lent is a journey to Easter, healing is the road we must walk to arrive at the empty tomb.
2. Commit to a Daily Rhythm of Stillness
As Lent begins, cultivate stillness. If we move into Lent already hurried and distracted, our disciplines will feel like burdens instead of invitations. Find a simple daily rhythm - perhaps five minutes in the morning of silent prayer, or an evening examen to reflect on where you saw God that day.
Henri Nouwen wrote, 'In solitude we become aware that our worth is not the same as our usefulness.' Lent is not about proving ourselves to God, but about being present with God. Preparing in stillness will allow the Lenten practices ahead to deepen rather than merely add to your spiritual life.
3. Choose a Lens of Love, Not Obligation
Many approach Lent with a mindset of obligation - What must I give up? How can I prove my devotion? Instead, begin Lent with a lens of love. The cross is not a transaction; it is a revelation of God’s relentless love. When we fast, when we pray, when we give - it is not to earn anything, but to make space for the love of God to transform us.
John 15:13 reminds us, 'Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.' Lent is not about proving our faithfulness to God; it is about allowing God’s love to move through us. As you prepare for Lent, ask yourself: How can I make space for love? What does a Lent lived in love look like for me?
The power of these forty days when they are approached with intention and openness can be transformational. This journey is about surrendering ourselves into the hands of God, allowing Christ’s Spirit to shape our hearts and minds, so that the work of our hands and the witness of our lives might shine brightly for Christ in the world.
As you prepare, know that you are not walking alone. The worldwide community of people who will join you in this shared journey is part of the beauty of the Lenten season.
Let us step forward in love, together.
College Lenten Appeal 2025:
During Lent, we are called to three pillars of action: To pray, to fast and to give.
Prayer:
To support the increased prayer life of our students and staff, a new Rosary Prayer Group has started and will continue every Thursday at 8:10 am in the Chapel. This connects with the long standing tradition of Marian prayer at the College. A St Pius X alumni from the original cohort in the late 1930’s, Flight Lieutenant John Hannan served in WWII and was shot down and a prisoner of war in North Korea for 19 months (1953). When captured, he was willing to relinquish everything but his Rosary beads. We are elated to be reforging a commitment to the Rosary at St Pius X.
Fasting:
No meat products will be sold at the canteen on Fridays during Lent. Students and staff also have the opportunity to show solidarity for their brothers and sisters at the Edmund Rice Centre Nairobi. This school is dedicated to students with mental and physical disabilities in the slums of Nairobi, and provides students with their only meal of the day - rice with cabbage and beans. Students can purchase a bowl of steamed rice from the canteen and commit to fasting from anything else while on campus for the day. Bowls of rice are $2.
Giving:
This year we are seeking to raise funds and awareness to support the work of the Edmund Rice Centre Nairobi. If a young person is enrolled at the school, they are freed from circumstances that often result in being chained to a bed in the dark confines of their shelter in the slums to keep them safe while their parents search for work and meals. To assist in further students receiving the opportunity to enrol at the school and benefit from its services, the College is seeking to raise $40,000. Such funds would create four new classrooms for additional students to enrol.
This equates to $5 per student each week during Lent or $30 per student.
Please access the website below to donate and to learn about the wonderful work of the Edmund Rice Centre Nairobi:
https://www.spxedmundriceappeal.com.au/
You can also donate directly via:
Thank you in advance for generously supporting our Lenten Appeal.
Calling Musicians
We are delighted to offer the opportunity for musicians to take part in the canonisation celebrations of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint on 27 April this year. As shared previously, Our Lady of Dolours Chatswood is the only
church in Australia to have a first class relic of Blessed Carlo. As such, there will be much celebration for our community when he is canonised in Rome. To assist with the celebration Mass, a specialised Orchestra is being formed for this Mass.
Any student musicians from both Mercy College and St Pius X College who would like to offer their talents in service of this celebration are encouraged to completed the expression of interest form below:
Save the Date: Dinner, Fundraiser and Advocacy Night
On Friday 4 April at 6:00 pm, the College will be hosting ‘A Night of Hope’ as a dinner, fundraiser and advocacy night to support the recently visited disability school: Edmund Rice Centre Nairobi, Kenya.
Mr Daniel Petrie - Assistant Principal, Mission and Identity