My fellow Ionians,

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your exceptional participation in last week's Commitment Mass. Your presence, dedication, and enthusiasm made this event truly memorable.

A special thank you goes to our Year 12 students, whose commitment and readiness to embrace the journey ahead is truly inspiring. You have set a beautiful example of unity, faith, and determination.

Thanks also to the staff, families, guests and friends who contributed so much to making this day a great success.

Approaching the season of Lent, beginning next week with Ash Wednesday, we enter a sacred time in the Christian calendar.

Lent is a period of reflection, renewal, and spiritual growth, offering each of us an opportunity to deepen our faith and strengthen our relationship with God.

It invites us to reflect on the sacrifice and love of Jesus, and to embrace the practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving that lead us toward personal transformation.

As I’ve said before, we as Ionians are a community defined by faith, love, and service and inspired by the example of St Eugene de Mazenod whose life serves as a powerful model of how Lent can be a time of profound spiritual renewal and personal growth.

St Eugene was deeply committed to prayer, sacrifice, and mission. He dedicated himself to serving others, particularly the poor and marginalised, and his journey of faith was continually nourished through devotion and reflection.

His life was one of transformation, using every moment to grow closer to God and live out his calling.

My Invitation to the Iona Community

St Eugene’s example reminds us that Lent is not only a time to reflect on Christ’s suffering but also a time to renew our commitment to serving others and living out our faith more fully.

To support our Lenten journey, I invite and encourage everyone to join us for a special prayer and reflection on the Stations of the Cross every Friday from 3.15-3.45pm for the rest of Term 1.

This will be a time of contemplation, prayer and unity as we walk with Christ on His path of suffering and redemption.

The Stations of the Cross are a powerful opportunity to reflect on His Passion, and through these reflections, we are invited to renew our commitment to living in His love and grace.

I encourage all students, staff, and families to participate in these reflections as part of our Lenten faith journey.

Let us come together as a community, supporting one another in prayer and reflection, growing stronger in faith throughout this sacred season.

May this time bring peace, renewal and deep spiritual growth to each of you, and may we continue to find inspiration in the example of St Eugene de Mazenod.

God bless,

Fr Joe Antony OMI
Rector