Liturgy launches Project Compassion for Lent
Catholic school students, along with representatives from parishes and Catholic organisations gathered at St Mary’s Cathedral in Hobart on February 16 to launch Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten Project Compassion.
Led by Archbishop Julian, a Liturgy of the Word was followed by distribution of Caritas candles and Project Compassion donation boxes.
“The season of Lent encourages us to look not just at ourselves and our own needs, but to think of the needs of others,” Archbishop Julian said in his homily.
“Acts of self-denial are meant to be turned to become acts of charity. We go without something so that we turn our attention to giving to others.”
“This is what Project Compassion invites us to do each Lent. When we look at the Project Compassion box, we are invited to think of those in so many places across the world who do not enjoy the many good things that come our way,” His Grace said.
“At the end of Lent we bring the box back to the church and the money is then sent to the Caritas office in Sydney and then it goes to all sorts of different places across the world.
“We can take a moment to think that my little act of sacrifice is making a difference to someone who is in need.”
Student representatives from schools and colleges in the greater Hobart area attended the liturgy, as well as those further afield, with both St Brigid’s Catholic School in New Norfolk and St James Catholic College in Cygnet represented.
Project Compassion boxes were handed out by Archdiocesan Director of Caritas Australia Deacon Michael Smith and Eleanor Trinchera, Program Coordinator for Caritas in Bangladesh, Nepal and the Philippines.
Following the liturgy, Ms Trinchera led a presentation and discussion session with students in the Cathedral Parish Centre as part of a three-day tour of visiting schools and meeting students to speak about the work of Caritas Australia.
Main image: Donation boxes and candles at the Lenten liturgy to launch Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion.
Below: More images from the Project Compassion launch.
