Student leaders from St Francis Xavier College in Beaconsfield and the Cranbourne campus of St Peter’s College were among a total of seven schools to launch Project Compassion on Friday, 7 March.
They were accompanied by the Catholic Bishop of Sale, the Most Reverend Greg Bennet, as he joined the students, teachers and other guests from schools and parish communities to mark the beginning of Lent, as well as the Caritas Project Compassion appeal.
Each year, during the season of Lent, Project Compassion aims to bring together the thousands of Australian schools and parishes to “stand in solidarity” with the world’s most vulnerable communities in order to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.
Likewise, the theme for 2025’s project is ‘Unite Against Poverty’, where during Lent, parishes and Catholic schools are encouraged to donate and host fundraisers in the name of Project Compassion.
These funds raised will then support Caritas’ work in assisting vulnerable and needy communities both in Australia and overseas.
Alongside the two schools mentioned above, also present were representatives from Marist Sion College, Warragul; Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College, Leongatha; Lavalla Catholic College, Traralgon; Catholic College Sale and Nagle College, Bairnsdale.
Four Catholic primary schools were also in attendance: they were St. Laurence O’Toole Primary School, Leongatha; St. Joseph’s Primary School, Korumburra; St Joseph’s School, Wonthaggi; and St John the Baptist Primary School, Koo Wee Rup.
Each school representative received a Caritas candle to take back to their schools, which was presented by Bishop Greg Bennet and Caritas Australia’s community partnership specialist, Ms Sally Murphy.
Following the launch, Bishop Greg joined students, staff and guests for Shrove Tuesday pancakes, with the stalls being run by the students also serving as a fundraiser for Shrove Tuesday, the eve before Ash Wednesday.
