On a lovely sunny morning, the school gathered outdoors for the Ash Wednesday liturgy, a beautiful and solemn tradition in the Catholic church.

The Year 12 students led the liturgy, opening with a short explanation of the Ash Wednesday observation, the beginning of forty days of sacrifice, repentance and prayer during the season of Lent. There followed a reading from the Book of Psalms, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”

The second reading was from the Prophet Joel, “Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” The blessing of the ashes followed, made by burning the palms from last year’s Palm Sunday liturgy. The burning of the ashes is a long-standing tradition in the Church which remembers the beginning of Christ’s Passion. The ashes were blessed by Mrs D’Souza and then distributed by the senior students of the College. It was a moment made especially poignant by the necessary Covid precautions. As they received the ashes, each member of the College heard the words, “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.”

Finally, Mr Simento addressed the assembled staff and students on the theme of sacrifice and the need to be kind, especially in these challenging times.

Suitably uplifted, staff and students returned to their classes.

Thanks to Mr Dominic Schryvers, Mrs Pam D’Souza and the Year 12 Special Character team for preparing this beautiful liturgy.