Welcome Liturgy

On Thursday 10 February 2022,  we held our Welcome Liturgy for the commencement of the academic year. This liturgy was held in Pastoral Care classes due to COVID restrictions preventing us from gathering as a whole school community. In this liturgy we explored our liturgical theme for 2022 ‘…every person living on this planet…’ a quote from Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si. Our readings, prayer and reflections explored the teaching that we are all interconnected, and it is not only a moral imperative, but also an existential imperative, that we respond to both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.

As part of our liturgy, each PC class was gifted a plant, to nurture and grow throughout the year. These plants were placed in a sacred space, and it has been lovely to walk into classrooms and see these sacred spaces brightening up the rooms.

Year Level Masses

There will be a delayed start to our Year Level Masses this term, due to ongoing COVID restrictions. At this stage, the masses for this term are scheduled to occur on:

• Tuesday, 15 March 2022 (Year 10)
• Tuesday, 29 March  (Year 12)

All other year levels will have their Semester 1 masses in Term 2, subject to COVID restrictions.

Pastoral Liturgies

This is one liturgical experience, which has not been affected by COVID restrictions – thank goodness! Our liturgies begAn on Wednesday February 16 2022, and each Pastoral Care class will have the opportunity to experience the liturgy over the course of the semester. In-line with our focus on Pope Francis’s Laudato Si, this semester’s PC liturgy will focus on The Cry of the Poor. We look forward to welcoming Fr. Bony into our PC classes to help us explore this theme.

Saint Vincent de Paul (SVDP) Group

We have started the SVDP group again this year. As always, the focus of this group will be to run Project Compassion over the Lenten period, and the Vinnies Christmas Appeal in Term 4. This year, the SVDP group will also be in charge of sourcing as many social justice or community service activities as they can. The main role of this group will be to connect students with community groups, or opportunities within the College, to give back to the community. This is particularly relevant for our Years 7 – 9 students who will once again be completing a Praxis Community Service task this year.

Ash Wednesday

The Lenten season is fast approaching with Ash Wednesday falling on 2 March 2022. As always, we will mark the occasion with a small liturgy. As this date falls within the current increased COVID restrictions period, this liturgy will occur in Pastoral Care classes rather than House groups. We will also be unable to distribute ashes on our forehead due to COVID restrictions.

The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes – World Day of Prayer for the Sick

World Day of the Sick was first observed on February 11, 1993. February 11 is also the Catholic Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, a name given to the Virgin Mary in honour of the apparitions that were witnessed in and around Lourdes, France, by a young girl called Bernadette Soubirous. The Church canoniSed Bernadette as a saint several years later. Lourdes has become a pilgrimage site for those who are sick and in need of healing.

How appropriate then, that our annual fundraiser for the McGrath Foundation – Pink Stumps Day – occurred on February 11. As we dressed in pink and purchased food from stalls to help raise money for the foundation that aims to supply all people suffering from breast cancer with a breast care nurse, we were all being instruments of healing in the world. Congratulations to all who participated in the day, especially for Mr. Bell’s continued organisation and the Year 12s for leading the way.

Prayer

O God, healer of body, mind, and soul, help us never to forget that your Spirit guides us, your heart consoles us, and your hands bring us consolation and hope.

May the thread of your love be interwoven with the love of our friends and families, and the support provided by all those who care for those in need.

Guide us all to be signs of your loving presence and instruments of your healing.

Look with compassion on all who are suffering in any way today: give them courage.

We pray this in the name of Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you now and always.

Amen.