Principal's Message
Dear Parents / Carers,
As you are aware this year Holy Week began last Sunday with Palm Sunday. The following
information may help you and your family come to understand the meaning, customs and
traditions of Holy Week more fully, resulting in a deeper readiness for the Easter Season.
HOLY WEEK
Holy Week includes the last 5 days of Lent and the Easter Triduum. During this week, we
reflect on the events of the last days of Jesus’ life and how it leads into the celebration of the Resurrection of His life, which begins the 50 days of the Easter season.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Holy Week begins with Palm/Passion Sunday and concludes before the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday.
• The Paschal or Easter Triduum refers to the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy
Thursday, Christ’s suffering and death on Good Friday and His triumphant resurrection on Easter Sunday.
• The traditional colours used during Holy Week events are red (Palm Sunday and Good
Friday) and white/gold (Mass of the Lord’s Supper and Easter Sunday).
• Receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation before the Holy Triduum begins, renews our
hearts and our minds, allowing us to focus on the celebration of the Paschal Mystery
(the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ.)
Passion/Palm Sunday
• On this day we recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. People yelled out
“Hosanna” and laid down cloaks and palm branches on the ground for Him to walk over. He was treated with all the respect and dignity that a King deserved.
• The word Hosanna means, ‘Save us.’ Hosanna was a prayer that could only be
said to God. People heard of the stories and miracles Jesus had shared and they believed he was the Son of God and the one who would lead them to salvation.
•The people wanted Him to save them, but they had no idea that it would take his death to
do that.
• For the Jewish people, a palm was a symbol of prosperity, beauty and victory.
Holy Thursday/ Maundy Thursday
•Holy or Maundy Thursday is the day we recall the last meal Jesus shared with the
disciples. This is why it is called the ‘Last Supper.’
• The word maundy is derived from the Latin word for “command.” The “Maundy” in
Maundy Thursday refers to the command Jesus gave to the disciples at the Last Supper, that they should love and serve one another.
•This meal was a celebration of the Jewish Passover.
• It is this special event that we recall in the Liturgy of the Eucharist each Sunday at Mass.
• After dinner, Jesus wanted to show with his actions, the importance of the act of humility
and service to others – a sign of love – by washing their feet. This was a very significant
act, as in the Jewish culture, it was a slave’s job to wash the feet of others: An inferior would wash the feet of a superior, a disciple the feet of the master, a lowly person the feet of a king. Never would a king kneel down in front of one of his subjects, nor a teacher before his disciples.
•Jesus was setting an example that we should humbly love and serve one another.
• During the Mass of the Last Supper, the hosts used for the Good Friday
service is consecrated, as masses are prohibited on Good Friday.
Good Friday
• On Good Friday, we recall the hours leading up to Jesus death.
• Good Friday is the commemoration of the passion and death of Jesus Christ. This
is the most sorrowful day in the church. It is the day that Jesus who was innocent and without sin died on the cross for the sake of our sins. “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.” (John 15:13).
• No masses are celebrated on Good Friday. Instead we attend services for the Stations
of the Cross or Celebration of the Lord’s Passion. The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
includes the Veneration of the Cross. To venerate means to respect or greatly honour.
Why do we venerate the Cross? In venerating the cross we do not adore the cross, but
rather what the image of what the cross represents. In kneeling and venerating the cross
through touch or kiss we are paying honour to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
• On Good Friday, Catholics between the ages of 18 and 60 are required to fast. And
those who are over the age of 14 are required to abstain.
On behalf of all our staff here at St. Patrick's Sutherland, I wish you a wonderful Easter season and, for the children, a relaxing and safe school break.
WINTER UNIFORM
Just a reminder that the students begin wearing their winter uniform on the MONDAY AFTER MOTHER'S DAY (11 May).
VOLUNTEER INDUCTION TRAINING
I will be conducting two more of these sessions on TUESDAY 21 APRIL which is in the first week back at School next Term.
If you would like to attend the morning session (9:30 am) please add your name here.
If you would like to attend the evening session (7:00pm) please add your name here.
Both sessions will be online, using ZOOM.
Just a reminder that you are unable to assist as a volunteer unless you have attended this training, obtained your Working With Children Check number and registered with Sydney Catholic Schools.
How to do this will be explained during the training.
MOVIE NIGHT
What a terrific night this turned out to be! It was wonderful to see the community come together and enjoy the very first 'Movie Under The Stars'.
My thanks to all the parents / carers who organised this or helped out on the night;
(Paula Duffin,Kath Gorman, Katrina Dugan, Nicole Hudson, Elizabeth Wilson, Nikki Blanche, Manisha Dhummi, Jocelyn Copp, Jennaya Lee and Beth McLeod.)
We look forward to our next event, the School Disco on FRIDAY 1 MAY.
TERM 2
All students begin Term 2 on MONDAY 20 APRIL.
There will be a Staff Development Day on FRIDAY 24 APRIL so the School will be closed on this day. On this day the teachers will be working with the teachers from the neighbouring Catholic Schools to look at how we can successfully implement the teaching of English through the outcomes of the syllabus.
Just a reminder that the following Monday, 27 April, is now a Public Holiday.
SCHOOL DISCO
St Pat's Primary Parent Group are organising a school disco for Friday 1st May. This year we are charging $10 entry per family to raise funds for a new shade cloth for the Quad and new sports equipment.
Details:
- Entry fee includes a free glow stick (you will be asked to indicate how many children are attending on the order form.)
- BBQ orders need to be pre-ordered
- Session times K - 2 (6:30pm - 7:30pm) & 3 - 6 (7:45pm - 9:00pm)
- Tickets and BBQ orders need to be purchased by 24th April
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ENTRY TICKETS AND BBQ PACKS.
To help us run this event we will be seeking volunteers from year 3 and year 5 with 20 people in total required from each grade. If anyone else from another grade is interested in helping as well, we would love to have you.
Positions that need to be filled include, BBQ, Security, scanning tickets on arrivals, selling items (lollies, chips etc), selling raffle tickets and help with set up/pack up.
If you are interested in helping, please email Nikki at luckeynm@gmail.com with your preferred session time and role.
Also, just a reminder that all children attending need to be accompanied by a parent/carer
We look forward to seeing you there!
SCHOOL UNIFORM
Yeronga School Uniforms will be opening their store doors at Sutherland, Shop 1 23- 29 Gray Street(Cnr Park & Gray Street) for the parents / carers of St Patrick's from next Tuesday. They have informed the School that the products in stock and online on 7th April include the girl's tunics, boys trousers, boys long sleeve shirts, trackpants, girls peter pan shirts, tights and knee-hi socks.
Products in store on or before 14th April include the jackets, skorts and shorts.
A copy of the price list in included with the Newsletter.
LANGUAGE CLASSES
Bookings for Term 2 Inter Flow Languages classes are now open!
Spanish and Italian classes will continue, however there will be NO French classes due to the departure of the teacher at the end of Term 1.
More information, including how to book a place, can be found on COMPASS.
Kind regards,
Steve Darcy (Principal)