Lent

During Lent – Catholics are called to repentance, reconciliation, fasting, prayer and almsgiving through the Gospel of Matthew. This call takes us to the heart of the penitential season of Lent: a conversion of heart that comes from a renewed and revitalised relationship with our God who is gracious and merciful and bestows abundant life on all.

As Catholics we know that we are called to live life to the full. During Lent, this ‘joyful season’, we are called to give expression to the ‘greatest commandment of the law’, the love of God and the love of one’s neighbour which is at the heart of Project Compassion.

“Cultivate with love the seeds of goodness, beauty and truth that God sows in every new generation.” Pope Francis

You shall love your neighbour as yourself. – Matt 22:39

Project Compassion 2018 – “a Just Future”

During Lent the College community supported the works of Caritas through making donations to Project Compassion, during CLC, in order to show love to one’s neighbour, both near and far. Throughout Lent Catholics are challenged to give up a luxury item and donate the money usually spent in buying this item to the poor. Students were encouraged to not buy drinks, chocolates, chips or cakes once a week and donate this money to Project Compassion. Working together as a community a donation of as little as $1 per week can collectively make a big difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

The Theme for Project Compassion 2018 was “A Just Future”. Australian communities for over 50 years have been helping the most vulnerable throughout the world to have “A Just Future”. Caritas works with local agencies to combat poverty, promote justice and uphold the dignity of every person.

Throughout Project Compassion 2018 inspiring stories from Nepal, Cambodia, Jordan, Australia, Mozambique and the Philippians were shared to highlight the importance of the work done by caritas agencies to bring about “A Just Future”. These stories are evidence of the difference being made by our community through their donations to caritas through Project Compassion.

Project Compassion http://www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion

Lenten Reflection

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

Janaki is a young entrepreneur from Nepal, who has turned her life around. Growing up in a world of poverty and disadvantage, coupled with a forced marriage at the age of twelve, she was in a very vulnerable position. Even more so when her husband died just two years into their marriage. With the help of a Caritas Australia supported program she is now running her own successful sewing business and has become an inspirational community leader

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

Rattanak is a skilled young barber, living an independent life in rural Cambodia. But it wasn’t always that way. As a child he contracted polio and also became deaf. Like many people who are deaf or hard of hearing, Rattanak faced isolation, with a lack of opportunity to escape poverty. After joining the Deaf Development Program run by Caritas Australia’s partner, Maryknoll Cambodia, his life was transformed and he is now supporting himself, his wife and baby.

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

Bayan is a 12 year old Syrian girl, living with her family in Jordan. An ambitious student, Bayan has her sights set on a career as an ophthalmologist. As a quiet, young refugee she struggled to overcome the trauma of growing up in a conflict zone and faced the prospect of missing out on schooling. With Caritas Australia’s support, Bayan is an academic high-achiever who is flourishing in a stable school environment.

 FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

Evangeline is strengthening Aboriginal culture while making a living and creating opportunities for her community. Featured in Project Compassion 2016, Evangeline went from seeking employment to being a Senior Artsworker and an inspirational leader for youth. Her work at the non-profit Djilpin Arts Aboriginal Corporation has supported the organisation’s growth and it is now a major employer for young people in the remote Northern Territory community.

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

Ditosa, a young girl from Mozambique, is cared for by her grandmother after her parents died of AIDS-related illnesses. Featured in Project Compassion 2013, Ditosa faced a challenging future with food scarcity, little education and few job prospects. In 2018, thanks to Caritas Australia’s support Ditosa has graduated from school and hopes to go to university and secure an even brighter future.

SIXTH SUNDAY OF LENT

When Psyche Mae featured in Project Compassion 2008, she was living in a squatter settlement, on the edge of a giant rubbish dump outside Manila in the Philippines. Her family was forced to pick through the rubbish to sell what they could to survive. Thanks to the support of individuals and Caritas Australia, in 2018, Psyche Mae is now a young social worker, achieving her dream of helping others struggling to leave poverty behind them, with plans to study a Master’s degree.