Australia: Ash Wednesday, February 14 (Part 1)

Today was a busy day with two Ash Wednesday liturgies and presentations about Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion in two schools.

This Ash Wednesday started at Rosebank College in Five Dock. Then there were two presentations at St. Mark’s Catholic College and then another Ash Wednesday service and Project Compassion launch at the cathedral.
At Rosebank College 1,300 students participated in the service. One of the teachers gave the ashes to Fr. Charlie first.
One of the students helped in the well-prepared liturgy.
After the Rosebank liturgy, the Caritas staff took Charlie to St. Mark’s Catholic College where he had two presentations.
St. Patrick Cathedral is located in the Parramatta Diocese bordering the Sydney Archdiocese.
The cathedral is different in that its seating is arranged in antiphonal style, with the two sides facing each other rather than facing forward toward an altar.
We spent much of the afternoon setting up the cathedral parish hall for an evening event to mark the beginning of Project Compassion at the cathedral.

Return tomorrow for the second half of the day, the Ash Wednesday service at the cathedral and the gathering afterwards.