SHOWING THE WAY TO GOD
By Dean Wearmouth
Principal, St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College, Auckland
Last week, it was deeply moving and uplifting to witness the faith of our young people as they participated in the sacred rituals of Benediction and our Ash Wednesday liturgy. These moments are more than just traditions of our faith, they are profound encounters with the Divine, shaping not only the hearts of our students but also reaffirming our own spiritual journeys. They serve as sacred markers in our lives, illuminating our path with deeper meaning, purpose, and a call to Christ.
Each Monday morning, as our students kneel in reverence to receive the Benediction, they are reminded of an eternal truth: they are cherished and loved by God. This simple yet powerful act at the beginning of the school week anchors our students in faith, strengthening their spirits and calling them to share God’s love with those around them. In this act of devotion, they express not only their love for God but also their respect for themselves and for their peers. Through the sacred presence of the monstrance, through the priest’s blessing, and through their own actions of faith and humility, students are immersed in the grace of God, setting the tone for the week ahead.
On Ash Wednesday, as we stepped into the season of Lent, our students embraced the call to deeper faith. With quiet reverence and devotion, they received the mark of ashes, a visible sign of our mortality but also of our hope in Christ. This sacred moment is a testament to the power of faith in action; a call to renewal, to transformation, and to walking ever closer with God. Through these outward signs, we reaffirm our innermost conviction: that we belong to God, that He walks with us, and that we are called to reflect His love in all we do.
These sacred rituals do more than strengthen our faith, they shape us into the people God calls us to be. They nurture not only our spiritual growth but also our confidence, our self-worth, and our ability to see the divine at work in our daily lives. In these moments of grace, when our hearts are open, God can touch us, call us, and transform us. In this transformation, we find our truest purpose and that is to seek and find God in all things.
Banner image: Coompia77, Canva.