College Chaplain

Friends,

We give thanks to the Lord that we could celebrate Ash Wednesday together with the whole school this year. However, I missed out on that occasion, and even I had to celebrate Ash Wednesday alone. I was locked down because I had been in Melbourne for the Lunar New Year celebration. 

We are blessed here, especially in the regional area of NSW, that we haven't experienced a lockdown during COVID-19 and that we haven't experienced wearing a mask in public. We have done our part to keep our community safe as we entered the season of Lent. 

Every year we enter Lenten season with lots of commitments and solutions to make ourselves better with the grace of God, in particular, to enter the wilderness with Jesus, our Saviour and friend.

Let us remind ourselves of our commitment during Lent. We often hear about fasting, praying and Palms giving during this season. We see some friends or our grandparents giving up something in their daily lives to pray for someone; or giving something to those in need. Most Catholic families or Catholic schools will collect some Compassion Boxes from the Church and donate some money to the poor. Some give up sugar, or chocolate, or something else and give some donation to the poor. Some people spend less time watching television and more time praying, attending Holy Mass and meditating upon the Stations of the Cross.

What is your solution for this season of Lent?

On Ash Wednesday, you heard the word of God "Repent and believe in the Gospel." What did it appeal to you?

Fasting, praying, and almsgiving are the outward signs of the growth of our spiritual life. Our spiritual life always needs the grace of God to grow. Through the grace of God, we come closer to God and recognize the love he shows us through his death and resurrection. 

Most of us know the reason why Jesus died on the cross. All Christians believe that Jesus saves us and helps us to reconcile with our Heavenly Father. On our part, we need to repent and believe in the Good News. 

The sign of our repentance and belief is to make a reconciliation with the Lord, welcoming him into our lives and allowing him to make us dwelling among us. 

Our college will organize a day of reconciliation very soon. This occasion is a good chance for each one of us to receive the sacrament of reconciliation to prepare ourselves worthily for joining the joy of resurrection at Easter. Let us come and experience God's love and mercy.

Recently Pope Francis declares 2021 the YEAR OF SAINT JOSEPH as the Patron of the Universal Church and encourages all of us, together with him, to say the prayer to Saint Joseph. 

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To you God entrusted his only Son;

in you Mary placed her trust;

with you Christ became man.

Blessed Joseph, to us too,

show yourself a father

and guide us in the path of life.

Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,

and defend us from every evil. Amen.

Fr Paul

College Chaplain