Journey Through Lent

Banners of purple, bowls of ash, no flowers in the church…what do all these things mean? Lent is here. The community of the Catholic Church, along with many other Christian denominations (but not all) use Lent as a time of turning back to God, in preparation for the sorrow and joy of the Easter season. It is a time to reflect, to look inward, and to further develop one’s relationship with God. We traditionally think of it as a time of almsgiving, prayer and fasting, which links back to Scripture.

 "…when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" (Mt 6:2-3).

This week at Holy Cross, we came together in the Church to share our Ash Wednesday Liturgy and be blessed with ashes.  Ash Wednesday is Day One of our Lenten journey. God’s invitation to ‘come back to me with all your heart’ is also an invitation to leave our private room and step into a world in urgent need of our love and honesty.

The colour purple or violet, used during Lent, is a symbol of repentance and penance. It reminds us of the violet flower that bows its head and is a symbol of humility. The ashes, a sign of the dust from which God made us, were marked with a cross on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday. They are a sign that we have made mistakes and are willing to repent, say sorry or change our ways.

"Repent and believe in the Gospel."

Project Compassion

Lent is a special time of year. It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. This year, Project Compassion is calling us to Unite Against Poverty. St Paul says, ‘now is the favourable time.’ We can make the most difference when we are most truly ourselves. As individuals we can help others, but when we come together though 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.

Each year at Holy Cross, we fundraise to support Caritas Australia – Project compassion. During the time of Lent, we use teaching resources from Caritas to raise awareness amongst the students about the good work being done around the world by Caritas Australia. The Justice Squad, guided by Mr Brad Henry, will encourage the school to pray, to be more aware and to give during Lent. Their goal this year is to raise enough money to contribute to the work currently being undertaken in Samoa to alleviate the challenges for those in the country who are living with water scarcity. This coming week, the students will learn about Toefuata'iga and her classmates who faces frequent early school dismissals and missed lessons due to a lack of clean water. After Caritas Australia’s partner, Caritas Samoa, installed a 10,000-litre water tank at her school, Toefuata'iga and her classmates saw improved health and more consistent class attendance. We would love to be able to help more communities in Samoa, if each student at Holy Cross was able to donate $2, we will easily reach our goal and change the world for many people. We encourage you to talk as a family about the ways the students can earn this $2. Maybe they could help a little extra around the house, dig for change in the lounge or forgo a treat during Lent and donate that money to Project Compassion. The possibilities are endless, and the impact will be felt by many.

First Week of Lent
(Week beginning Monday 10 March)

This Lent, we’re invited to Unite Against Poverty with Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. This year is especially significant as we celebrate the Jubilee Year - a time of renewal and solidarity.

Project Compassion 2025 shares three stories from around the world. We’ll meet Toefuata'iga - (Toy-foo-ah-tah-ing-ah) a young student from Samoa who faced severe water shortages at her school. Thanks to Caritas Australia and the generosity of supporters like you, her school now has a 10,000 L water tank improving hygiene and allowing the teachers to prioritise education.

We’ll get to know Lam from Vietnam, born with short stature, Lam faced social exclusion and limited employment opportunities – through the I-SHINE program, Lam is now a freelance graphic designer.

And we’ll meet Irene from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who faced immense challenges after losing her father to war and raising her children in poverty. With support from Caritas Australia, Irene received vocational training in sewing and farming and can now support her whole family.

Watch our Introduction to Project Compassion film HERE - be inspired by 3 powerful stories of resilience and strength, and learn the impact that your support can have on vulnerable communities around the world.

So, as you journey through the forty days of Lent, challenge yourself to take time out to reflect, to connect, to give, and to pray.

This week on Shrove Tuesday, the Justice Squad was able to kick start their water tank project. Thanks to the generosity of families who ordered pancakes and to those who helped make, flip and serve. A special mention to the Justice Squad, who were able to feed the hungry staff and students with over 700 pancakes! Thank you, thank you!

Stephanie Travers
Assistant Principal - Catholic Identity and Wellbeing