To start off our season of Lent, the whole school celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass on 5 March 2025.
Lent is truly a significant season in the catholic calendar, a time of repentance and sacrifice. Just a day before Mass – in their navigation classes, the students were reminded of Lent, its significance and what it represents.
The theme that Caritas has revolved Lent around this year is, “Restoring Hope: Your Compassion in Action / Kia Puawai Te Tūmanako.” This theme is to remind us of our action in repenting our sins and disciplining ourselves for God by giving up something for Lent.
Mass was led by Bishop Peter Brown and started off with a hymn, “Ashes” followed with prayers, readings, the gospel and a reflection. Homily taught us what a disciplined life looks like by using the daily life of an Olympic athlete as an example. The athlete remained disciplined while training and practicing her sport – just as we should be disciplined in this time of repentance and sacrifice to gain a deeper connection with God.
To finish Mass, the ashes from last year’s Palm Sunday were transferred onto our foreheads in the shape of a crosses by the prefects saying, “Repent and believe in the gospel” and we sung our final hymn, ‘Come back to me Hosea’.
This was a truly amazing start to remind us of and mark the season of Lent.
