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
Thank you to everybody who was involved in celebrating our two whole school Masses in the last week. Last Friday, we had a Mass for the Opening of the School Year. The Staff at OHR read our Staff Charter and received a blessing from Fr Brendan. Our Year 6 Student Leaders were then presented with their Leadership Badges, read out their Student Leadership Charter while also receiving a blessing.
On Wednesday we had a Mass to celebrate Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the first day of the liturgical season of Lent. It always falls six and half weeks before Easter, beginning the Lenten season of preparation for Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday dates back to the 11th century. Yet, the tradition of receiving ashes has even earlier roots — to the ancient Hebrew custom of clothing oneself in sackcloth and dusting oneself with ashes as a sign of penance.
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 led all our students in a palm burning ceremony 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).
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 3/4JW
This term our Rich Concept is Belonging. In 3/4JW we have have been learning about communities and the ways in which we belong to them.
Students learnt about the different values we need to be able to participate in our communities. Students were then able to identify what values linked with the communities they were apart of. See some of our learning and work below:
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
The Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness and he remained there for forty days, and was tempted by Satan. He was with the wild beasts, and the angels looked after him.
After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. ‘The time has come’ he said ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.’
Discussion Questions
1. In today’s gospel where did Jesus go for 40 days to pray?
2. Who tried to tempt or test Jesus?
3. What did Jesus say to the people of Galilee after he left the wilderness?
4. These 40 days of Lent are a time when we turn back to God and ask for forgiveness.
In Lent we spend time in prayer and do good works. How can we do this during the coming weeks?