Family and Faith
News from our Family Educator - Ms Tracey Bowler
Stations of Cross at Woronora Memorial Park Sutherland
Parents and carers are invited!
Why not join the Family Educators from the Sutherland Shire Catholic Schools for Stations of the Cross at Woronora Memorial Park Sutherland for a true Lenten experience. I am one of the leaders and I would love you to join me. Thank you to the parents and carers who have already registered.
OLF Stations of the Cross Invitation
Tuesday 1st April AND Thursday 10th April 2025
9.15am - Parents and carers only (No K - Yr 6 children)
2.15pm - Parents, carers and children from Years 3 - 6 (No K-2 children)
Meet me on Burns Paddock for a meaningful prayer service praying at the Stations of the Cross with adults only in the morning or your Yr 3 - 6 child(ren) in the afternoon. Please email your interest.
Kindy Classroom SPaRs - Stop Pray and Reflect
Parents and carers of Kindergarten students are invited to a SPaR in the classroom with their child(ren). Babies, toddlers, and preschool children are also invited. Invitations were sent out this week to Kindy parents.
KG: Friday 28th March at 12.45pm
KB: Thursday 3rd April at 12.45pm
KW: Thursday 3rd April at 2.15pm
Kindy Coffee Connect - Got 10 minutes?
Kindy parents are invited to have a coffee and connect with other kindy parents at Coffee Club in the Library on Mondays at 9am. Share stories and ideas and make new friends. I’d love to have a chat with you!
All welcome including babies, toddlers and pre-school children.
The Season of Lent - Spiritual Spring Cleaning
Lent is a wonderful season in the Church calendar – time set aside to renew and prepare ourselves to receive the fullness of life in the resurrection. It’s a time for a bit of a spiritual ‘spring-clean’. After all, the word ‘Lent’ means ‘springtime’. Just as a ‘spring-clean’ in our homes gives us a renewed sense of order and purpose, a spiritual spring-clean lifts our spirits, sweeps out the bad habits and creates space in our lives for God.
Top Ten Lenten Promises - Things to Surrender
Grumpiness – irritability is a choice. We can choose to be grumpy and hang on to our right to be foul-tempered, or we can choose to be pleasant and good humored.
Blame – when things go wrong, stop looking for a scapegoat. Practice acceptance and responsibility.
Superiority – A judgmental attitude is like a rotting corpse – it spreads it’s bile over everyone in criticism and put downs.
Gossip – resist taking delight in someone else’s failure. Protect their reputation and let the bad news stop with you.
Vanity – give up self-obsession and the fantasy that the world revolves around you. Start revolving your life around God and you’ll find more joy than you ever dreamed.
Self-pity – everyone has to deal with setbacks and disappointments. Self-pity won’t change your circumstances; it just makes you feel powerless.
Resentment – unforgiveness and resentment hangs over a person’s life like dark thunder clouds. It makes your life gloomy and your presence unpleasant. It’s not worth the cost.
Tiredness – if you’re always tired, go to bed early. Be self-disciplined and resist the TV, internet or other recreation that steals your sleep. And if you choose not to, then at least stop whining about how tired you are! (Parents of young children are exempt!)
Busyness – you have all the time you could ever need for the things that are important to you. Stop using a lack of time as an excuse for neglecting relationships or your health.
Cynicism – it’s easier to be cynical than it is to be optimistic and hope-filled. Take the path less travelled.
Things to Embrace
Tongue biting – practice restraint and humility. Let the criticism die in your month, let someone else speak first, give others space to voice their opinion.
Early Rising – If your day is too busy for God, rise early to enjoy a few quiet moments together.
Half-serves – we really don’t need nearly as much food/clothing/music/TV/stuff as we think. Practice taking half serves and let hunger bite occasionally.
Secret Giving – there are so many in need – be generous, then double it …and enjoy God’s blessings.
Apologise – seek unity in all circumstances. Apologise when you have wronged someone… even when they started it!
Forgive and let live – set yourself free. Forgive someone against whom you hold a grudge. Let them go. Let yourself go. And start living again.
Gratitude – give thanks every day, all day. Thank God, thank others. Gratitude is one of the most effective ways to lift your spirit and increase your awareness of God’s presence.
Blessing – bless those you love. Bless those you dislike. Bless those you envy. Bless God for the joys. Bless God for the sorrows. In all things, bless.
Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) – nothing will inspire more delicious delight than doing an RAK – compliment a stranger, assist an elderly person, top up the parking meter, bring sunshine into someone’s life.
Listen – stop talking and listen…to your spouse, to your children, to the lonely neighbour.
Australian Catholic Religious Against the Trafficking of Humans
“How can I eat and dress myself knowing that behind that food or those clothes, there are exploited children who work instead of going to school?” The knowledge about what we buy is the first act in not being complicit. Look at where those products come from.”
Pope Francis - 15 January, 2025
From ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans)
Don’t forget to buy slavery-free chocolate Easter Eggs!
Slavery-free chocolate is chocolate that is certified. Look for chocolate with one of the four logos (below) on it – Fairtrade, UTZ or Rainforest Alliance.
Read here for more: Chocolate under the supply chains spotlight - ACRATH
Donations for the Easter Egg Parish/School Raffles
The parish and the school are having Easter Raffles and we are seeking donations of chocolate Easter eggs and Easter confectionery. Please drop off any donations to the Church parish office (Tuesday - Sunday) or the School Office. Please ensure they are slavery free chocolate donations.
Thank you for your support!
Fatima Friends Invitation
- Come and join in the fun!
At our first session we made friends with developmental play and prayer and last week we made Lenten Prayer Wands. Check out our photos!
Fatima Friends
Who: Pre-schoolers, toddlers and babies are welcome with parents and carers
With: Tracey Bowler Family Educator/Teacher
What: Fatima Friends involves participating in a 30/40 minute teacher-directed lesson which includes activities such as praying, singing, free play, gardening, talking, dancing, movement, craft, visiting the resident chickens, sport and games.
Where: Meet in the Mercy Library after Assembly Prayer on the playground.
When: Fridays at 9.00 am - 9:40 am. Please refer to the school calendar for dates.
NB: No Fatima Friends on Friday 4th April or 11th April
Stations by the Sea
Also come and join my Family Educator colleagues and their parent communities at the Stations by the Sea at Elouera Beach on 2nd April.
Wishing you quality time with your family to reflect on your Lenten promises.
Tracey Bowler | Family Educator
tracey.bowler@syd.catholic.edu.au