Director of Identity 

After a huge couple of weeks of activities, ceremonies, learning and being together we enter into our second week of Lent and our thoughts turn to the lives of others in the stories of Caritas’ Lenten Appeal Project Compassion.

Our Year 10 Student Leaders will tomorrow be joined by their newly commissioned House Representatives and Peer Support Leaders and together they will be organising some meaningful and exciting fundraising and awareness raising activities throughout the rest of the term.

Caritas Australia believes that fundraising should be FUN! It’s also an opportunity to raise awareness about important issues, and a chance for the community to take part in a social justice action. Everyone who contributes is empowered and able to stand in solidarity, with the communities we serve and those who benefit from our actions.

How you can be part of Project Compassion gives us four steps from charity to justice

STEP 1: Give What You Can

Give some money even if you can and even if it’s only small change it can still make a difference because it helps meet immediate needs of people with very little. But this alone cannot end the cycle of poverty. Taking the next steps can do more to have a positive impact in the most vulnerable communities.

Step 2: Raise Awareness

Help others understand the issues that people experiencing extreme poverty are faced with. Inform your community about how donations can help communities gain access to clean water, food security, basic healthcare and safety.

Step 3: Act in Solidarity

Actions like walking a long way – in solidarity with those who walk a long way to collect water, or those fleeing conflict zones to safety, promote empathy and understanding. When you walk in the shoes of the world’s most vulnerable, you start to understand, with compassion, the injustices these communities face.

Step 4: Act for Social Justice

Take social justice actions to create lasting change and address underlying issues.

These actions could focus on participation, care for creation, peace, sustainability, inclusion and justice. As well as taking action, take some time to reflect on what you’re doing.

Most of all, we can pray for our brothers and sisters around the world and work for a better more just world for all. This is the most important step of all.

God of all people’s and nations,

As you accompany us on our Lenten journey,

May our fasting strengthen our commitment to live in solidarity

Our almsgiving be an act of justice,

And our prayers anchor us in love and compassion.

Through living simply and loving generously,

May we care for our global family and our common home as we “Aspire not to have more, but to be more”.

We ask this in Jesus’ name.

Amen.