Lenten Activities – Project Compassion
As we enter the first week of Lent, we are reminded of the importance of this season in our Catholic community. Last week, students and staff gathered on each campus for Ash Wednesday. During this prayer service, there was an opportunity to receive ashes on your forehead as a reminder of our commitment to the Gospels. During Lent Catholics are encouraged to deepen their relationship with God through prayer, fasting (or giving up something), and almsgiving. Almsgiving may include donating money or goods, giving up your time to help others or sharing your gift and talents with your community to benefit others.
This Lent, our college community is supporting Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion, uniting in faith and action to make a lasting impact for vulnerable communities around the world. In our classrooms, we’ll be sharing four inspiring stories of resilience and strength, showing the kind of transformative change that we can play a part in achieving.
We will first be introduced to Sisilia, a young student from Tanzania, who often missed classes at school because she had to walk long distances to collect water every day. Thanks to Project Compassion and the support of schools just like ours, her community now has safe, clean water nearby – giving Sisilia more time to learn and chase her dreams of one day becoming a pilot.
We’ll also get to know Monoranjon from Bangladesh, who is using climate-smart farming to feed his family and build a safer, more sustainable future for his children. We’ll meet Manaini, a mother of six and a grandmother of two from remote Fiji, who is learning food processing skills to create new income opportunities. And we’ll shine a light on Caritas Jerusalem staff in Gaza, who have endured displacement, personal loss and danger, yet remain committed to providing life-saving support to those in need.
Watch Caritas Australia’s Introduction to Project Compassion film to be inspired by these stories and learn about the impact your support can have on vulnerable communities around the world.
Our college has the opportunity to be a part of a nationwide movement for change and to pave the way to a brighter future for people and families across the world. We can’t do it without you - will you stand with us?
Renee MacGregor – Director of Faith and Mission
