Ash Wednesday and Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion Appeal
Yesterday, our Church entered the season of Lent, which also marks the beginning of Caritas Australia’s annual Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.

As highlighted in our last newsletter, the theme for Project Compassion’s 2022 campaign is ‘For All Future Generations’.  This theme reminds us that the good we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come. It invites us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long-term solutions to global issues.  

Yesterday, Years 4-6 attended the parish Mass to commemorate Ash Wednesday and Years K-3 celebrated a liturgy in their classrooms. Project Compassion boxes were delivered to all of the classrooms for their prayer spaces.  These boxes serve as both a reminder for us to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world and the work of Caritas and to encourage us to think about what money we can go without in order to support this life-changing work.

Project Compassion Feature Stories

First Week of Lent - Anatercia from Mozambique

We begin our annual Lenten Project Compassion journey by learning about Anatercia, a 12-year-old girl living in a small village in southern Mozambique. She began to take on more and more adult responsibilities as her mother has chronic health issues. She did most of the household chores and had to travel up to five hours every day to collect clean water. Water scarcity also meant that harvests were poor and there was never enough to eat.

With your support, Caritas Australia’s local partner, Caritas Regional Chokwe, was able to help Anatercia’s family to irrigate their farm to improve their food security. They also improved water access for households in the village, delivered sustainable farming training, and provided Anatercia with essential school supplies.

Anatercia’s health, education and quality of life have improved, along with the outlook of her whole community for all future generations.

To watch a short film about Anatercia’s story click here.

Please support Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au

Prayers for Ukraine

Since our last newsletter, we have seen reports of the unfolding tragedy in Ukraine.

Speaking at the end of a General Audience last week, Pope Francis invited everyone to make 2 March, Ash Wednesday, a Day of Fasting for Peace.   He said, "I encourage believers in a special way to dedicate themselves intensely to prayer and fasting on that day. May the Queen of Peace preserve the world from the madness of war”.

St Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Image: Monument to St Volodymyr overlooking the Dnipro river in Kyiv, Ukraine

                                  Gracious God, 

we pray for the people of Ukraine suffering from war.

May they be held in your loving care and protection 

and given the strength to endure their suffering and hardship.

Transform the hearts and minds of those who perpetuate 

the violence and oppression.

Grant wisdom to world leaders in advancing efforts toward peace; 

may they not be compromised by self-interest and blind indifference.

We ask all this through the intercession of Our Lady of Perpetual Help 

and in the name of your Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.

Amen.

Harmony Day
Harmony Day is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values. Held every year on 21 March. The Day coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.  Details for this day will be communicated in the coming weeks.