Whole School Mass

Last Thursday we gathered together as a  community to celebrate our Whole School Opening Mass for 2025. We reflected on the Jubilee year and our theme for this year ‘Walking Together in Friendship’. The Scripture passages reminded us that we are meant to journey alongside others in hope and friendship, learning from Jesus’ teachings. During the mass teachers and students were given a blessing for the year ahead.  The Year 6 leaders took their leadership pledge and were presented with their leadership roles and badges. A big thank you to our newly formed Youth Group for leading Mass with readings and performing our school song for the year ‘Jesus is our Friend’. Thank you also to families and friends who were able to join us. May the year ahead be filled with hope, joy and friendship.

Shrove Tuesday is the day that precedes Ash Wednesday. It is sometimes called Pancake Tuesday or Fat Tuesday.  It is traditionally a day of feasting and celebrating before the start of 40 days of Lent.

Ash Wednesday, a holy day is observed by Catholics as well as other Christians around the world. During Mass a cross is marked on peoples’ foreheads using the blessed ashes from the burned Palm Sunday branches from the previous year. Everyone is welcome, no matter their faith to receive the blessed ashes. This cross signed in ash on foreheads reminds people of their mortality and symbolises the dust from which God made us. Ash Wednesday marks the start of our Lenten Journey, a time to prepare ourselves for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

All are welcome to join us for Mass on Ash Wednesday, 12 midday at St Michael’s Church.

The beginning of Lent also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Project Compassion 2025 calls on us to stand and ‘Unite Against Poverty’. St Michael’s will join thousands of schools, parishes and supporters nationwide to allow Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. Every dollar raised, helps change the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people and stand in solidarity with them.

This Lenten season, we encourage you to put your compassion into action by almsgiving in support of Project Compassion. Each family will receive a Project Compassion money box for their donations which will be collected in Week 10 this term. Thank you in advance for your generosity.