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<\/a>Ash Wednesday, preceded by Shrove Tuesday is the start of the Lenten period leading up to Easter. It is our holy day of prayer and fasting. <\/span>This week our Marist Sisters\u2019 Woolwich community gathered together in their House Groups to celebrate Ash Wednesday with a liturgy and distribution of Ashes.<\/span><\/p>\nAsh Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head and symbolise the dust from which God made humanity.\u00a0 Following tradition, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and reminds us that life passes away on Earth. We remember this when we are told “Remember, You are dust, and unto dust you shall return.”\u00a0 The ashes also symbolise grief, in this case, grief that we have sinned and caused division from God.\u00a0 Sin is human and to seek forgiveness and reconciliation is also human.\u00a0 Therefore, this is a universal invitation, not just one for Catholics\u2026it is a way to acknowledge that we all make mistakes, do things we regret, and need to be reconciled with one another and with the God who blesses us with the fullness of life.<\/span><\/p>\n The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are christened <\/span>with Holy Water and are scented. While the ashes reflect penance and contrition, they are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those with repentant hearts. God\u2019s Divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of Lent, and the Church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer and penance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Adapted, with additions from: <\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>https:\/\/www.catholic.org\/lent\/ashwed.php<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The 2023 theme of Project Compassion is <\/span>\u2018<\/span><\/i>For All Future Generations.\u2019 It challenges us to venture into a new experience of compassion, and is taken from the invitation of St. Oscar Romero, to \u201cAspire not to have more, but to be more.\u201d This message invites us to step up and step out for those who do not have the essential resources they need for their survival. Those whose needs at this time are far beyond ours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We are encouraged as a Marist Sisters\u2019 community to have hope. Along with love and faith, hope is one of the three pillars of Christian virtue. It is a powerful force for good and helps to transform lives. Hope helps us to face life\u2019s challenges and sustains us as we work alongside the most marginalised and vulnerable communities to achieve better lives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n During this time of Lent we reflect on the challenges which face our world. Too many people live their lives in poverty. We have the power to change our world, to make it a world of justice and peace where people, and creation, are respected.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nIn our Community\u2026\u2026<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n
LAUNCH OF PROJECT COMPASSION<\/b><\/h5>\n
<\/a>Project Compassion was launched at the end of the Ash Wednesday Liturgy this week. Our House Captains spoke about <\/span>Project Compassion being Caritas Australia’s main annual fundraising campaign, mobilising Australians to raise much-needed funds to help alleviate poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity in the most vulnerable and marginalised communities in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n