Education in Faith
Sacramental Program for 2024
The letter linked below about the Sacramental Program for 2024, from Fr Brendan, indicates the celebration dates for 2024 and informs parents about the changes to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
If you have any questions about the information, please do not hesitate to contact the Parish Office.
Whole School Masses
This term, we have three Whole School Masses planned. The times and dates are as follows:
Opening of the School Year Mass (including the blessing of our 2024 Year 6 Student Leaders) - Friday 9th February @ 9.00am
Ash Wednesday Mass - Wednesday 14th February @ 2.00pm
Closing of Term One Mass - Wednesday 27th March @ 2.00pm
Family and friends are more than welcome to join the students and staff at any of these Masses, which will be held in the OHR Church.
Together at One Altar (https://www.togetheratonealtar.catholic.edu.au) a resource from the National Catholic Education Commission has drawn on Church documents when describing the Mass as having many purposes, some of which are outlined below.
Burning of the Palms
On Tuesday 13 February at 2.00pm, Father Huang will lead all our students in a palm burning ceremony outside in preparation for Ash Wednesday. 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). Everybody is most welcome to come along.
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 For all Future Generations.
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 Tuesday 20th 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‼
RE Learning in 1/2GC
In 1/2 GC, we're diving into the idea of 'Belonging'. We're pondering questions like where we fit in and what belonging really means. Taking cues from Jesus and his call to his followers, we're exploring the passage from John 1:35–45. Here are some photos of our thoughts on it!
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 Mark
A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you can cure me.’ Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘Of course I want to!’ he said. ‘Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, ‘Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.’ The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him.
The Gospel of the Lord
Discussion Questions
1. In today’s gospel who came to Jesus?
2. The man had a sickness which made him an outcast. What does it mean to be an outcast?
3. What did Jesus do when he met him?
4. Jesus showed compassion and kindness when others would have sent the man away.
What did the man do when he was cured?
5. What would it be like to be an outcast or an outsider?
6. Jesus asks us to be kind to outsiders. How can we show kindness to people who do not feel included?
We pray that this week we will look out for ways we can show kindness to people in need.