This week our school community gathered for our Ash Wednesday liturgies, a significant moment that marks the beginning of Lent. Students received the traditional cross of ashes on their forehead, symbolising the start of their Lenten journey. As we begin the season of Lent, our school community is invited to slow down, reflect, and renew our hearts as we journey towards Easter.
This year, our Lenten journey is given special meaning through the inspiration of St Francis of Assisi, during a specially declared Jubilee Year announced by Pope Leo XIV. St Francis is remembered for his radical commitment to simplicity, care for the poor, and love for all of God’s creation. His life challenges us to ask important questions: What do we truly need? How do we treat others? How can we be peacemakers in our world?
Inspired by the example of Christ and the witness of St Francis, Lent provides us the opportunity for renewal, to repair relationships, and to choose kindness, justice, and care for our common home. As a school community, may this Lenten season help us walk together with hope, humility, and a renewed commitment to living out our values in word and action.
As part of our shared spiritual life, we warmly invite all members of the College community -students, staff, families, and friends - to come together for the celebration of the Eucharist every Friday morning at 8:10AM in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Bundoora Campus. These gatherings offer a quiet and prayerful start to the day, especially meaningful during the Lenten season, as we reflect together on God’s call to renewal and hope. Whether you join weekly or are considering coming for the first time, you will be warmly welcomed. Throughout the year, each Tutor Group will have an allocated week to join the Friday Eucharist and celebrate together as a community. Tutor teachers will share the specific dates with students and families in advance.
This week, our Year 12 students began the Tenete Retreat program, a long-standing and valued tradition at our school that invites students to step beyond the classroom and engage deeply with issues of social justice.
As part of the retreat, students spend a day in the city exploring the complex realities of homelessness. Through guided experiences and reflection, they are challenged to see the city through a different lens - one that recognises dignity, inequality, and the responsibility we share for one another. A key element of the day is hearing directly from The Salvation Army, as students learn about their mission, outreach, and practical work supporting people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage.
The Tenete Retreats are designed to encourage reflection, empathy, and action, grounding our students in the belief that faith is lived out through justice, service, and compassion. As the Year 12 cohort begins this journey for the year, we hope the experience inspires thoughtful conversations, deeper awareness, and a continued commitment to standing with those on the margins of our community.
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