Family and Faith
News from our Family Educator - Ms Tracey Bowler
Family Mass - All Welcome!
You are kindly invited to attend the Kindergarten and Year 6 Buddies Family Mass to be held this Sunday 16th March at 9.30am in the Church. You are invited to bring a plate to share after Mass in the Church foyer to celebrate friendships and new beginnings.
This is the first Family Mass of the year and it is a great opportunity to share our faith and pray together in this Season of Lent . Everyone is invited!
At this Mass the Kindy children will be given a small momento in celebration of their first year at big school - the much loved The Our Lady of Fatima Storybook.
Please come along and join in this beautiful celebration of the Eucharist.
Kindy Coffee Connect
Got 10 minutes?
Kindy parents are invited to have a coffee and connect with other kindy parents at Monday’s 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!
The Season of Lent
Wednesday 5 February, 2025 - Thursday 17 April, 2025
Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms, and we practise self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, but we are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout the season.
Here is a great video from the Sydney Catholic Schools Team. It has some practical ideas for your family. Click on this link: Faith Fun Celebration Lent
Also here is an excellent Lenten Calendar for your family to follow during this season. 2025 Daily Lent Reflection Calendar
Don’t forget when buying chocolate Easter Eggs to buy slavery-free ones!
“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)
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
We buried the “Alleluia!”
Dating back to the 13th century, the church has abstained from saying “Alleluia” during the Lenten season. It is a way we remember with our words that we are in a season of repentance, of turning from and putting to death our sins. We stop saying Alleluia because we are saving up all of our joy and praise for the Lord on Easter Sunday.
On Shrove Tuesday the Year 6 captains got a shovel and dug a hole big enough for the Alleluia to be buried. We will dig it up again on Easter Sunday (or after the Easter break!) when we once again can say the Alleluia at Mass.
Stations of the Cross at Woronora Memorial Park Sutherland
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.
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.
Please let me know if you would like to come along! I’ll come too!
Fatima Friends Invitation - Come and join in the fun!
Pre-schoolers, toddlers and babies along with their parents and carers are warmly invited to
attend Friday Fatima Friends in the Library on Friday mornings after Prayer Assembly.
Who: Pre-schoolers, toddlers and babies are also welcome and parents and carers
With: Tracey Bowler Family Educator/Teacher
What: Toddler Tales 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.
Began today Friday 14th March!
Upcoming Feast Days
- 10 March - St John Ogilvie
- 11 March - St Aengus
- 17 March - St Patrick
- 18 March - St Cyril of Jerusalem
- 19 March - St Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Women's Lent Retreat:
Who do you say that I am?
Women of all ages are invited to join the Dominican Sisters of aint Cecilia and the Catholic Women’s Network for a retreat day including Mass, Eucharistic Adoration and confession, talks by the Dominican Sisters, breakout sessions, morning tea, and lunch.
Date: Saturday 29 March 2025
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Venue: St Mary's Cathedral
Cost: $50 per person or four tickets for $180
I wish you time with your family to reflect on the true message of Lent - Give Up (fast), Give Out (almsgiving), Give In (prayer).
Tracey Bowler | Family Educator
tracey.bowler@syd.catholic.edu.au