Catholic schools mark the beginning of Lent

25/02/2009

Fr Wim Hoekstra distributes ashes to St Patrick's students for Ash Wednesday

Fr Peter Confeggi and Mayor Cr Charles Lowles celebrate the launch of Proejct Compassion at St Patrick's Blacktown

Fr Peter Confeggi and Mayor Cr Charles Lowles celebrate the launch of Project Compassion at St Patrick's Blacktown

On Tuesday 24 February, St Patrick’s Primary, Blacktown hosted the diocesan launch of Project Compassion 2009. Project Compassion is Caritas Australia’s major annual fundraiser that runs during the six weeks of Lent.

The theme for the Project Compassion campaign this year is ‘An Environment to Grow In’, focusing on giving hope and dignity to people living in poverty by helping them build environments that will make them self-sufficient.

To mark the beginning of the appeal, students from St Patrick’s Primary joined with parents and Caritas representatives for a liturgy followed by the traditional Shrove Tuesday flipping of pancakes with their parish priest, Fr Peter Confeggi, principal, Kevin Mills and guests including the Mayor of Blacktown, Cr Charles Lowles.

With six distinct projects for participants in Project Compassion to select from, the Religious Education coordinator at St Patrick’s, Beverly Hermens, placed the decision in the hands of the students, asking them to vote on which project they wanted to be part of.

'Having supported communities from overseas in previous years, our students decided to do something for a community closer to home. The vote was unanimous – we will be fundraising to help set up training of local community members in running an effective youth program for Indigenous Australians,' said Mrs Hermens.

To help maintain their students’ focus throughout Lent, St Patrick’s Primary is setting up a dedicated space in their library where objects for prayer focus will be displayed. A piece of burnt wood will symbolise the tragedy of the recent Victorian bushfires and remind the students to pray for the communities affected.

On Wednesday 25 February, students across the diocese attended Ash Wednesday masses and liturgies and received the sign of the cross in ash on their foreheads, a mark of sorrow and repentance for sin. A large group of parents, staff and students from St Patrick’s Primary, Parramatta gathered in the cathedral for an Ash Wednesday service with Fr Wim Hoekstra.