On Ash Wednesday 14 February the whole school participated in a Mass celebrated with our Chaplain, Father Glenford Lowe with a Liturgy of the Ashes. It was humbling to gather in communion as a faith community and renew our faith and hope by promising to "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel". A reminder that through the temptations and trials of our lives we must always remind ourselves to follow Jesus.

Pope Francis teaches us Lent is a journey of return to God. He asks us to consider how many times, in our activity or indifference, have we told him: “Lord, I will come to you later, just wait a little. I can’t come today, but tomorrow I will begin to pray and do something for others.” In this life, Pope Francis says, we will always have things to do and excuses to offer, but right now is the time to return to God. Pope Francis teaches us "Return to me, he says, with all your heart. Lent is a journey that involves our whole life, our entire being. It is a time to reconsider the path we are taking, to find the route that leads us home and to rediscover our profound relationship with God, on whom everything depends."

In his Lenten message for us this year, Pope Francis provides us with two practical ways to 'return to God'. During Lent he invites us to “pause” for prayer and to assist our brothers and sisters in need, in order to change our own lives and the lives of our communities. These are two easy actions for us all to take up during Lent. 1. Make time for prayer 2. Make time to help others. Through our actions this season may we all draw closer to our loving and merciful Lord.

Ki te wairua o whānaungatanga,
Kirstie Wearmouth