From the Principal
Prayer for Ash Wednesday
Gracious and Merciful God,
On this Ash Wednesday,
we pause at the threshold of Lent,
beginning a journey of inner reflection and renewal.
As these forty days stretch before us,
invite us inward to that silent, holy space
where Your Spirit dwells in the depths of our being.
Beckon us, Lord, to see our lives through the eyes of Christ
to face our shadows with courage
and to embrace the truth of Your incarnate love.
Give us the grace to live these days with holy anticipation.
As we open our souls to Your presence,
let Your loving kindness flow over us,
seeping into the hidden pockets of our hearts
and healing all that is weary.
May the ashes we received not be a sign of ending,
but the fuel that keeps our lanterns burning bright
as we walk as pilgrims of hope toward the joy of Easter.
Amen.
Venerable Nano Nagle, Pray for us.
Dear Parents, Carers, Students and Friends of the Domremy Community,
Our Lenten Journey Begins…
On Wednesday, our school community gathered for Ash Wednesday to receive the sign of the cross – a powerful reminder of our shared human commitment to reflection, to growth and to renewal. As we begin these forty days of the season of Lent, we move into a quieter, more intentional space. Lent offers us a beautiful opportunity to reflect, to discern and to simplify our lives and the three actions of Lent – prayer, fasting and almsgiving – are presented to us in the gospel of the day as the actions that can help us to achieve this simplified way of life.
Throughout the season of Lent, we are all encouraged to engage with the three traditional pillars of Lent in ways that resonate with our lives today regardless of whether we are students or adults. Adults often speak about work / life balance. Lent is the perfect season to begin to work on achieving this balance. Some suggestions:
Finding time for Prayer: Prayer doesn’t have to be long or formulaic. Finding moments of silence amidst the noise of television, social media and study, or the busyness of family life, is prayer. And each moment of silence is allowing yourself to hear God speaking to you.
Fasting: Not merely about giving up treats, but perhaps “fasting” from unkind words, comparison, or unkind thoughts. Reframe this as not giving up but giving – giving time by volunteering or perhaps visiting an elderly relative. Fasting is about making room for what truly matters.
Almsgiving: Our student leaders have many easy ways that students can contribute to our annual Project Compassion appeals. We challenge our girls to see how their small sacrifices can lead to significant change for those in the margins. At the beginning of the year, our staff made 1,000 sandwiches for St Vincent de Paul. Could your family make up one loaf of ham and cheese sandwiches? What a difference that would make to a number of families.
Lent is not a season of gloom, but one of discernment and preparation. Just as we prepare our students for exams and future careers, we use this time to prepare their hearts. We want our girls to emerge at Easter with a clearer sense of purpose, a deeper empathy for others, and a stronger connection to their faith. As parents, we too need time to prepare our hearts for Easter.
Perhaps this week, your family might find a moment to discuss what “giving back” looks like in your own home. St Benedict would argue that it is in the small ways, the attitudes we have that we can give back; and the great St Teresa of Avila (1515–1582), a Spanish mystic and reformer, wrote :
“Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which He looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which He blesses all the world.”
My thanks to Mrs Caroline Morizzi, Ms Isabella Bechara, Ms Isabella Soueid, Ms Cristina Peros and the Student Leaders for the beautiful and reflective liturgy they led and to the whole College for their reverent participation.
Open Day
Our most anticipated community event, Domremy College Open Day, is taking place on Sunday 1 March. This is a landmark day for our College, allowing prospective families to step inside the College gates and experience the vibrant, inclusive environment that makes Domremy unique. It is a joy to see our students lead tours with such pride, showcasing our faculties and facilities.
As we prepare for our largest community event of the year, please be reminded that Friday 6 March is a scheduled pupil free day. This provides our staff and students a well deserved break following our Open Day on Sunday 1 March. We appreciate your support and cooperation.
Try Domremy for a Day
We are delighted by the enthusiastic response to our ‘Try Domremy for a Day’ events. While our Year 5 session is now fully booked and registrations have closed, we are excited to welcome Year 4 students on Wednesday 6 May. For those wishing to attend the Year 4 day, please keep an eye on our website as registrations will open in mid March.
Enrolments
We are currently experiencing a high volume of Applications for Enrolment. If you have family or friends considering a Domremy education for their daughters, please invite them to attend our Open Day. Alternatively, they may contact our Enrolment Officer to discuss the application process. Please be aware that places for Year 7 2028 are filling rapidly!
Finally…
The College has been very busy over the last four weeks. I would like to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to our entire community. The dedication shown by our students, the expertise of our teachers and the unwavering support of our parents have ensured a truly exceptional start to the year. The energy across the campus is palpable and it promises to be a year of significant achievement and growth.
In all of the busyness of school and the busyness in our homes, may this season of Lent be a special time of profound peace and grace for you and your loved ones. As we begin our Lenten journey, let us be resolved to be people who aim to be compassionate, who aim to be kind, and who aim to be like Christ.
I look forward to seeing many of you at our Open Day.
Blessings on you and your families,
Mrs Antoinette McGahan, College Principal
