College Information & Events
Shrove Tuesday 2022
02 March
A tradition that has been an annual feature of College life since Bishop Connors came to Ballarat was held again on 1st March with Bishop Paul Bird. The student leaders of Damascus College and Loreto College gathered at the St. Patrick’s Cathedral on the day before the beginning of Lent to acknowledge their role in their colleges. Bishop Paul challenged the school leaders to follow Jesus’ witness and to reach out to those most in need this lent. Bishop Paul expanded on the title of Pope Francis and reminded the gathering that the one of the pope’s ancient titles is Servant of the Servants of God. He offered this as an idea of leadership that might be emulated by the student leaders of the colleges. They, too, could see their roles in terms of service to their communities at the service of God.
The ceremony was a simple celebration of the Mass, moving from the font, recalling our baptismal commitment in a Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling, to the lectern and the proclamation of God’s Word and finally around the altar for Eucharist. The dismissal included a blessing of the Ashes that would be used by the colleges in Ash Wednesday ceremonies the following day. The launch of Project Compassion was conducted after communion and before the final blessing with the assistance of local Caritas director, Jillian Hogbin. Bishop Paul joined the students in the garden of the cathedral for the traditional Shrove Tuesday pancakes.
