Last week, we began our Lenten journey, receiving Ashes on our foreheads in Homegroup Liturgies. Ash Wednesday and the forty days that follow draw us into a quieter, more inward time of reflection.

It’s a time to contemplate fasting and almsgiving; joining in solidarity with people experiencing poverty, who often have no choice but to go without basic human needs.

Sharing what we have is an expression of our Christian commitment to justice. Through our Lenten giving programs Project Compassion and our Vinnies Easter Raffle we are invited to share in Jesus' promise of hope.

Project Compassion 2025 - Unite Against Poverty

This year, Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion theme is ‘Unite Against Poverty’. Caritas Australia invites you to put your compassion into action this Lent.

As individuals we can help others, but when we come together through Project Compassion, our good becomes great. Our combined kindness grows! And when we unite with each other – and with people living in poverty – we can create BIG, lasting change. Let’s all Unite Against Poverty! There is no time like 2025!

Homegroup donations will form a House based tally across Weeks 6 to 11, with weekly donations due at the end of each week. We have also placed collection boxes in the Front Office, at the Cafe and in the Canteen for small change. You also have the option to donate online. Mater Dei Catholic College Fundraising Page.

Thank you for standing with us, as we Unite Against Poverty this Lent.

Vinnies Easter Raffle

Raffle tickets for our 2025 Easter Raffle will be distributed in Homegroups next week. Our Easter Raffle supports our local chapter of St Vincent De Paul every Lent.

As always, we need your support through donations of easter eggs, baskets and gift bags to make this possible. Tickets will be sold for $1 each and the Raffle will be drawn before the Easter weekend.

Please get behind this wonderful cause. As a Community, we have the capacity to make a direct impact on the lives of those vulnerable members of our local community who have less than we do. Let’s take these steps to make our intentions a reality, this Lent. More information will be provided in Homegroup notices. Thank you in anticipation of this worthy cause.

Year 12 Retreat

During Week 4 our Year 12 Students journeyed to Warrambui to participate in their Retreat experience. This natural bushland setting provided a wonderful venue to disconnect from students’ ordinary routines and come together as a year group.

Year 12 student Millie Cutler reflected on her experience:

"The Retreat is facilitated by the legendary Chris Doyle from Karis Ministries, along with a talented team of College Staff Leaders. The focus for our students is on deepening their relationship with their year group, their families and God in a unique and personal way. Chris shared his inspiring advice through song and dance and Year 12 students were challenged to break down barriers and push themselves out of their comfort zones.

“The Year 12 retreat was a memorable three days with activities and important moments. We discussed forgiveness, which led to some deep conversations and a lot of tears. It was interesting to see how sharing and hearing stories brought us closer together. We had a lot of fun laughing and getting to know classmates we didn’t usually talk to, all while fighting for that one bar of phone service (it was a struggle), but we managed.

The campfire sing-along was a personal highlight of my experience; being able to sing Bruno Mars with my peers was something I didn't know I needed to do. The fire alarm went off unexpectedly, which made lunch take longer and left us hungry and tired while we angrily waited. When the food finally came, we were very grateful, especially Jok.

One of the best parts was the dress-up disco night; who knew Gru (aka Maya) could hit the worm? Mr. Buik’s performance of APT with Chris Doyle added to the fun and got everyone smiling. The affirmations we shared touched everyone, and many were moved by the words spoken. Old friendship shenanigans were left in the past, allowing everyone to move forward and have peace with one another. Overall, being with close friends and doing different activities made the Retreat an important and enjoyable part of our Year 12 experience”.

Year 7 Reflection Day

Recently Year 7 students enjoyed their Reflection Day experience with ‘Just Motivation’, led by Guest Presenter Az Hamilton. Az has an incredible ability to connect with young people through stories and personal experiences spent both overseas and within Australian communities. His message inspired our students to live a life worth getting excited about through his program entitled ‘Connections’.

Student Council Representatives (SRC)

After calling for student expressions of interest at the end of 2024, we are very pleased to announce the Student Representative Council team for 2025.

These students will join our College, House and Boarding Captains for 2025 providing an important voice and support to our College community. This Student representative committee will have a strong social justice and service focus and provide a platform to build student leadership within the College. The skills and experiences we hope these students will develop and enjoy are:

skills in leadership and communication,
sharing with the College Leadership Team, teachers and the College community in service as part of our faith expression
Promoting care for our College and what happens in it and
Experiencing enjoyment through successful participation

These SRC students have already been involved in College Open Night, and will soon be promoting our Vinnies Easter Raffle, along with Caritas, Catholic Mission, and other St Vincent de Paul initiatives. Later on this year they will also be promoting Socktober during Mission Month.

Mr Ellis congratulated the student leaders and presented the SRC students with their leadership badges at College Assembly this week. The students are as follows:

From Year 8 - Joel Smith and Holly Umback

From Year 9 - Harvey McLachlan and Miley Gibson

From Year 10 - Felicity Steele and Harrison Uphill

From Year 11 - Jed Hutchinson and Ben Devries

Year 9 Camps

Our gender camps are fast approaching. Thank you to the families who have completed the online consent form. For families who haven’t, please attend to this as soon as it is possible.

The Mass of Chrism

All Staff, parents and students are invited to attend the Mass of Chrism. Please see further details attached.

Lenten Prayer

God of our journey

we are all pilgrims of hope

brought together by your love

and your wish that we may all be one.

We pray that in this Year of Jubilee

when we are called to greater justice

and care for our common home

that we may Unite Against Poverty.

May our Lenten pilgrimage of fasting, almsgiving and prayer

bring us closer to your loving heart.

We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen

Mrs Rebecca Gill | Leader of Faith Formation and Mission

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