Our thoughts and prayers go to all families and communities who have been impacted by the debilitating floods. One news item I heard during the week indicated Sydney and its Environs had received 8 months’ worth of rain in one week! And the footage of homes and communities negatively affected was just devastating. I hope all in the Magdalene CC community are as good as they can be. Thank you also to all who have been extra patient with bus delays and increased traffic in and around the College.

I particularly commend our staff and students who were on the Year 8 Camp and who, in spite of non-stop torrential rain for two days, continued to fully participate in the Camp activities. There are some wonderful photographs of students in the pouring rain on slides and the Giant Swing – having a really fantastic time. Indeed, I believe this is part of the beauty of Camps as they challenge students, place them out of their comfort zone and help build one’s capacity to overcome trying and difficult circumstances. Well done to all of our Year 8 students, our Year 8 Coordinator Mr Manns and all staff who attended.

NEW STRATEGIC DIRECTION

Earlier this week you would have been invited (by Compass) to complete a survey regarding the strategic directions of Catholic Education Wollongong.

The last strategic Plan entitled “Lighting the Way 2019-2022” serves us very well but with a new Bishop (Bishop Brian Mascord) and new Director (Mr Peter Hill) appointed in recent years, this is a wonderful opportunity to have your say in the creation of a new document which will guide us for 2022 and beyond.

The Strategic Plan guides priority areas across faith, learning, human resources, facilities and all aspects of Catholic Education. So, if you can spare 5-10 minutes I encourage you to fill in the survey today. Surveys have gone out to parents/carers, students and staff.

EASTER

On Tuesday the College will partake in our Easter Liturgy and our students will be involved in a service involving the Stations of the Cross.

After the year we have had, Easter continues to provide a wellspring of hope and it is a time that we naturally reflect on the College patron Mary Magdalene, who continues to inspire us with her resolve and contribution in the early Church.

Brian Strassburger reminds us that the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday) is: “the most solemn feast in the Catholic calendar. The rituals in this celebration make present the great mystery of Christ’s Resurrection, which is beyond what words can capture. The washing of the feet, the dramatized retelling of the passion, the pillar of fire, the processions, the silence, the incense, the music, all of it building to a staggering trumpet blast: He is risen!”

We encourage all families to attend one or more Easter service face-to-face or look to one of the many online options available these days. Services available in the Wollongong Diocese can be located here: https://www.dow.org.au/parish-mass-times/mass-times-other-services-finder/

Finally, while we still have four days of school remaining (including an Athletics Carnival), given this is the last newsletter of the term, we wish all of our families a safe, happy and holy Easter and vacation period.

PRAYER

Easter is a time to commemorate and memorialise the suffering, death and burial of Christ. Yet it is also a time to rejoice in His resurrection and the hope which this gives us all.

Here are two prayers which recognise the Passion of our Lord yet also celebrate the significance of Easter Sunday.

Lenten Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus,
by Your Passion and Resurrection
You brought life to the world.
But the glory of the Resurrection
came only after the sufferings of the Passion.

You laid down Your life willingly
and gave up everything for us.
Your body was broken and fastened to a Cross,
Your clothing became the prize of soldiers,
Your blood ebbed slowly but surely away,
and Your Mother was entrusted to the beloved disciple.

Stretched out on the Cross,
deprived of all earthly possessions and human aid,
You cried out to Your Father that the end had come.
You had accomplished the work given You,
and You committed into His hands,
as a perfect gift,
the little life that remained to You.

Lord, teach me to accept all afflictions
after the example You have given.
Let me place my death in Yours
and my weakness in Your abandonment,
Take hold of me with Your love,
that same foolish love that knew no limits,
and let me offer myself to the Father
with You so that I may rise with You to eternal life

Easter Prayer of St. Hippolytus of Rome
Christ is Risen: The world below lies desolate
Christ is Risen: The spirits of evil are fallen
Christ is Risen: The angels of God are rejoicing
Christ is Risen: The tombs of the dead are empty
Christ is Risen indeed from the dead, the first of the sleepers,
Glory and power are His forever and ever.