Caritas Australia, Project Compassion Launch 2020   "Go Further Together"

On Tuesday 25th February Sr Niesha and Mrs Cornett had the privilege of accompanying our school captains, Ava Cowie and Jacob Lipscombe to the launch of the 2020 Caritas Australia, Project Compassion Lenten Appeal at St Benedict's Catholic College, Oran Park.

Focussing on a theme of "Go Further Together", the role of Caritas in our community was documented through a digital presentation, highlighting the different ways that our donations can be used to support the sick, disadvantaged and marginalised both in Australia and around the globe. Each week of Lent shares a different story through the eyes of someone who has been supported by Caritas, evidencing how Project Compassion are agents of change in people's lives and communities, enabling self sufficiency and enterprise for long term relief from poverty and prejudice.

Bishop Brian Mascord led a prayerful liturgy, challenging all throughout the season of Lent not to take God's love for granted, but instead to understand our obligation as Catholic people to "be God's love" in the lives of those we meet. His message was supported by Mr Peter Hill, our Director of Schools, who encouraged our Lenten fasting to include doing "something extra" - an act of kindness or charity to accompany "giving up" a food or favourite activity. He noted that in our lives, it is so easy to replace the item that we have "given up" very readily with something else, so that we barely notice the sacrifice. Lent needs to be a conscious process focusing on the three pillars of Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving and we need to challenge the way we adapt these pillars to our modern lives.