By Mr Patrick Donnely, Assistant Principal Mission and Identity 

Lent, Holy Week and Easter

This year, we continue Lent into the holidays and end the two weeks with the start of Easter. I will hold off on talking about Easter until then.

As we know, Lent is a time when we are in the desert with Jesus, and Holy Week is the moment when we start to see the foreshadowing, from the Old Testament, come to a reality. During this time, we are challenged with the story and truth of what happened to Jesus. Society turns on him, his disciples forgetting the path and the message, and Jesus shows us all his human qualities with the struggles of seeing what was said come to fruition. we journey with Jesus through His final hours, witnessing His profound love and sacrifice. This path of sorrow and pain ultimately leads to the triumph of the resurrection, reminding us of the hope and new life that Easter brings.

As we consider the theme of Jesus leaving the desert, we recall His time of temptation and preparation. After forty days in the wilderness, Jesus emerged ready to fulfill His mission. This period of testing and reflection strengthened Him for the trials ahead, culminating in His passion and resurrection.

In our own lives, we, too, experience deserts—times of struggle and preparation. These moments, though challenging, can deepen our faith and prepare us for the joy of Easter. As we walk with Jesus through the Stations of the Cross, let us remember that our own crosses, when carried with faith, lead us to the promise of new life and resurrection.

Cornerstones

This week's reflection was on the topic of the Examen, a style of prayer brought in by St Ignatius of Loyola, and using art in prayer. The group meet once a fortnight and this fortnight was a fun-filled session. Below are snippets of a different staff member from their fortnight’s reflection.

‘Jesus on the Tube’

The artwork highlights the idea that Jesus is present in our daily lives, even in the most mundane settings. It challenges viewers to recognise and acknowledge the sacred in the ordinary moments of life.

‘Homeless Jesus’ 

This bronze sculpture portrays Jesus as a homeless person sleeping on a park bench. His face and hands are obscured under a blanket, but the crucifixion wounds on his feet reveal his identity. The sculpture is life-sized, providing enough room for someone to sit on the bench beside the figure.

This artwork serves as a powerful reminder of the Christian call to care for the marginalised and vulnerable in society. It visually translates the Gospel of Matthew passage where Jesus says, "as you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me." The artwork is intended to provoke thought and challenge viewers to see Jesus in the faces of the homeless and needy.