FAITH MATTERS

This week, we entered what is for Christians, and particularly Catholics the world over, the most important of times on our calendar. Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, the commencement of the Lenten season. I am grateful that Fr James Kerr was able to attend the staff liturgy on Wednesday morning, to lead us in prayer and distribute the ashes to the staff.

As traditionally happens in our school, the Homeroom Teachers led a liturgy during an extended homeroom time, inviting students to read and participate in the prayer, including accepting the ashes.  Although Lent is a Christian tradition, receiving the ashes is not a sacrament, and therefore all members of our school community can choose to receive this symbol of our mortality and repentance.

The ashes are created from burning palm leaves that were blessed during Palm Sunday liturgies the previous year.  When we receive the ashes a number of things might be said.  Traditionally the person distributing the ashes would say “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” or “Repent and believe in the Gospels”, or even “Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospels”.

Lent is a time of reflection and preparation for Easter and goes for 40 days, finishing on Easter Thursday.  We do not count the Sundays within the 40 days as these are feast days.

There are three areas of Christian life we are called to focus on during Lent; almsgiving, prayer and fasting. Whilst in a traditional sense this would mean giving money to the poor, praying more than usual and abstaining from certain food types and lessening portions, in the contemporary world, priests will often give more liberal interpretations of these focus areas. One particularly, almsgiving, can be interpreted as the gestures and tasks we complete for others. On a daily basis, how can each one of us make a positive difference in the life of others? 

https://catholic-link.org/images/infographic-creative-and-simple-things-make-the-best-lent/

On Wednesday 23rd February we celebrated our Beginning of Year Mass.  This was a wonderful, joyous occasion as we were able to finally be together as a whole school community and celebrate in the church.  Our Mass was centred on our theme for 2022, the value of Respect and the St Mary MacKillop quote “We are but travellers here”.

I am grateful to the work of Catherine Howison and the Faith and Mission team that completed all of the planning for this event, including a number of band and choir practices.  I am also grateful that we were able to celebrate the beginning of a new year with Fr James, who spoke to our hearts and encouraged us to “love our enemies” during his homily.

During the Mass our student leaders were commissioned into their respective leadership roles, with many of the leaders also assisting during the mass by reading the readings or prayers of the faithful.  It was an awesome sight as the student leaders processed into the church at the beginning of the Mass.

I look forward to many more times of celebration together in 2022.