Education in Faith
Burning of the Palms & Ash Wednesday Mass
Unfortunately woth Tuesday being a day of total fire ban, the Burning of the Palms had to be cancelled.
Thank you to everybody who participated or helped plan at our Ash Wednesday Mass. Using ashes obtained by burning palms from the previous Passion Sunday provides a wonderful life-death-life symbol of the paschal mystery to explore. The palms are a symbol of Christ our triumphant king (life); that triumph turns to ashes at the crucifixion (death); being marked with those ashes signifies our commitment to journey to the font at Easter (life).
There will be one more Whole School Mass this Term. This will be the Closing of Term One Mass - Friday 27th March @ 9.00am. Family and friends are more than welcome to join the students and staff at any of our Whole School Masses, which are always in the OHR Church.
Project Compassion
Project Compassion is Caritas Australia's annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal. Millions of Australians come together in solidarity with the world's poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. The theme for this year’s appeal is Unite Against Poverty.
During Lent our RE Year 5/6 Student Leadership Team will be selling Zooper Dooper icy poles for 50c after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 - 3:30pm at the tuckshop window. This will start on Thursday 19th February. All money raised will be donated to Project Compassion. If anybody would like to donate a pack (or more) of Zooper Doopers please bring them to the office. We can look after the freezing for you‼
Rite of Christian Initiation of Children
Invitation for Primary School Families. Does your child want to become a Catholic?
The parish is offering a Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC) for primary school–aged children. See flyer below.
Sacramental Dates for 2026
Please see the letter from the Parish linked below in regards to Sacramental dates for 2026. Further details can be found on the Parish website.
Nick Byrne
RE Leader
RE Learning in PMD
In Prep, students are learning about God’s family and how we are all part of a caring and loving community. Through stories, discussions and simple activities, they are beginning to understand that God’s family includes everyone and that we show this through kindness, respect and helping others. Students are encouraged to make connections to their own families and experiences, noticing how love, care and belonging are important at home, at school and in the wider community.
Prep students listened to the story of Gabriel visiting Mary. We learn that Jesus was the Son of God and son of Mary. This means that Jesus was human like us; he was born, had a family, friends and feelings.
A Prayer for My Family:
May God bless us and keep us.
May God’s face shine on us.
May God be good to us.
May God look kindly on us and give us peace.
Amen.
Prep students talked about the special things they do together with their families and how their family shows God’s love for us. They displayed their thoughts in their own ‘Map of my Heart’.
Sunday Gospel
The liturgy of the Catholic Church provides a framework for reflection which is used by Catholics throughout the world. Each week in the Newsletter, you will find the Sunday Gospel as well as some discussion questions to have with your child/ren.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, after which he was very hungry, and the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to turn into loaves.’ But he replied, ‘Scripture says:
Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
The devil then took him to the holy city and made him stand on the parapet of the Temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down; for scripture says:
He will put you in his angels’ charge,
and they will support you on their hands
in case you hurt your foot against a stone.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Scripture also says:
You must not put the Lord your God to the test.’
Next, taking him to a very high mountain, the devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. ‘I will give you all these’, he said, ‘if you fall at my feet and worship me.’ Then Jesus replied, ‘Be off, Satan! For scripture says:
You must worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.’
Then the devil left him, and angels appeared and looked after him.
Discussion Questions
1. Why did Jesus go into the wilderness?
2. What did the devil try to tempt Jesus to do?
3. What did Jesus say to the devil?
4. In Lent we also have to make some choices. We prepare for Easter by praying and doing good works. What are some of the things you could you do in these next weeks of Lent?