Religious Education and Social Justice
Project Compassion:
Third Week of Lent
During this third week of Lent we learn about the story of Barry.
Father of four, Barry, embodies resilience and strength. Growing up in a tough environment, he had to look inside himself to make the right choices for himself and his family.
Barry, a Gamilaroi man originally from western NSW, remembers his early years as a time of enormous hardship. He didn’t have a stable home or support network and was mostly brought up by his grandparents.
He became a father in his late teens and was suddenly faced with responsibilities for which he wasn’t ready. He started drinking heavily, behaviour that he’d witnessed previously.
Barry, and others like him, were able to take part in Red Dust Healing – a cultural healing program, which encourages participants to examine their own personal hurt and allows them to heal from within. The program addresses family and personal relationships, and what may have been lifelong patterns of violence, abuse and neglect.
Red Dust Healing Founder, Tom Powell, is humbled that the program has won numerous awards and helped over 16,000 people like Barry across Australia.
“I had to make some changes – not for me, but for my daughters,” Barry said. “I just thought to myself, why keep doing this? That ripple effect will travel, it will flow on to my girls and my grandchildren.”
Today, thanks to the Red Dust Healing program, Barry is an inspirational father to his four girls and a respected leader in his community. He now facilitates Red Dust Healing workshops and helps others through their healing process. A brighter future for men, women and their families can start today. Let’s Go Further, Together.
Watch Barry's story:
Let’s Go Further, Together! Please support the Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au
Prayer for Lent
Almighty and Everlasting God,
You have given the human race
Jesus Christ our Savior as a model of humility.
He fulfilled Your Will by becoming Man
And giving His life on the Cross.
Help us to bear witness to You
By following His example of suffering
And make us worthy to share in His Resurrection.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Your Son.
Amen.
Project Compassion Donations
We continue to encourage children to donate money to Project Compassion through the donation boxes on the prayer tables.
Confirmation Suspended
We have been notified by Bishop Mark Edwards that due to the current situation regarding COVID-19, Archbishop Peter Comensoli has announced that all Confirmation ceremonies in the Archdiocese of Melbourne have been suspended until further notice.
As you are aware our Confirmation ceremony was due to take place on Sunday 26th April. This ceremony has been cancelled and we will have to wait for further direction from the Archbishop as to when it can be rescheduled.
We understand this might cause some frustration for families but it is part of the Archdiocese’s efforts to cooperate with the whole-of-community efforts in working to contain the spread of COVID-19.
In his letter to the school communities Bishop Edwards has asked us all to be mindful of the needs of all during this time:
it is important to recognise that while this is a medical and a social event, it is also a spiritual event amidst which we can tend to the spiritual and pastoral needs of our people. One aspect of this is to pray with and for those who are suffering from COVID-19: as a result of being sick, by physical isolation, through anxiety, or in economic consequences. We also pray for those who have died and those who mourn them. As well, let us ask for success for our medical researchers and for wisdom for our governments.
We will keep you informed when we know more about the Sacrament of Confirmation being rescheduled.
Pope Francis Prays for Coronavirus Sufferers
‘The season of Lent helps us to give an evangelical sense also to this moment of trial’ Pope Francis
Pope Francis has offered prayers for the many people around the world who are suffering from the coronavirus.
“I am close with prayers to people who suffer from the current coronavirus epidemic and to all those who are giving care,” the Holy Father said. “I remembered them a lot in these days of my retreat. I join my brother bishops in encouraging the faithful to live this difficult moment with the strength of faith, the certainty of hope and the fervor of charity. The season of Lent helps us to give an evangelical sense also to this moment of trial.”
During this time of uncertainty let us all make time to pray for those effected by the consequences of COVID-19:
Pope Francis' Prayer to Our Lady
during the Coronavirus pandemic:
O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus' pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Salvation of the Roman People,
know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings
and carried our sorrows
to lead us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection.
Amen.
Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Jane Wilkinson
Religious Education Leader