Week 5

27 February 2026 

Dear Parents/Carers

Our students have embraced the Lenten season and understand its importance to the Catholic faith. Lent is a 40 day period of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that helps Catholics prepare for Easter by focusing on spiritual discipline and self-control. For teenage boys, it’s often seen as a “spiritual reset” or a challenge to drop distractions. In addition to giving up meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, for most young people, the sacrifice takes on a more modern form of sacrifice such as giving up soft drink or sweets, gaming or social media. 

The reality is, the sacrifice is not designed to be a weight loss initiative or to hurt or punish people, but rather intended to create more time and make more room for God. Lent is deeply important to Catholics because it mirrors the time Jesus spent fasting in the desert, allowing believers to unite their small sacrifices with His. Ultimately, the season is about growth and turning away from bad habits to become a more selfless, intentional version of oneself. How great would it be to live in a world where we encounter selfless and other person-centred individuals in all aspects of our lives?

Our youth sometimes get a bad rap in the media, often labelled as selfish or disrespectful. Over the past 5 weeks, my experience with the students at Marist College Eastwood has been invigorating. I have witnessed countless examples and had many encounters with our boys that have highlighted their kindness and welcoming nature. I would like to congratulate the parents for the boys they are raising. I would also like to thank the staff for their support as co-educators to reinforce the importance of the kindness and welcome they share with others.

Respice Finem

Mr David Sullivan

Principal