Catholic Identity

Beginning of Year Mass

This week we gathered as a School Community to welcome the 2025 Jubilee Year at our Beginning of Year Mass.

The SRCs presented their beautiful class prayer cloths which will be used for daily morning prayer, serving as a symbol of faith and unity. 

Congratulations to our St. Mary's Choir on their first performance of the year. The choir beautifully performed "This Little Light of Mine," reminding us of the message in Matthew’s Gospel to let our light shine before others.

Thank you to Mr. Anderson who warmly announced the roles of Year 6 school leaders and to Father Martin for blessing our Year 6 leaders and Student Representatives. We pray that this special blessing has brought a sense of purpose and inspiration to these young individuals as they step into their new roles. 

A special thank you to our PnF comittee for organising our lovely welcome event at the Hampton Bowls Club! 

As we begin the new year together, let us reflect on the words of Pope Francis that, “with the Jubilee, we start a new life, a new phase, we begin again.” 

Let us go forth from here sharing the light of hope and message of God’s love in all that we do and say. We pray together, 

Lenten Season - KEY DATES

TUESDAY 4th March — Shrove Tuesday (Pancakes Tuesday) 

This special day, also known as Pancake Day, is traditionally observed before the season of Lent and is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about its history and enjoy some delicious pancakes! 

As part of our celebrations, we will be gathering as a school for prayer and a pancake picnic in the oval. Please kindly review the pancake ingredients below and inform your classroom teacher if you do not give us permission to offer pancakes to your child/ren. 

As we journey into the Lenten Season together, our school is supporting Caritas Australia's Project Compassion to help those facing poverty. We invite families to contribute by bringing a gold coin donation, which will go towards making a real difference in the lives of those in need. We thank you for your generosity and support!

INGREDIENTS:   Wheat Flour, White Sugar, Buttermilk Powder (Milk), Canola Oil, Raising Agents (500, 541), Whole Egg Powder, Soy Lecithin (322), Emulsifier (471), Salt, Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate, Natural Preservative [234]), Vanilla Powder.

All students are asked to still bring their normal packed lunch on this day which they can bring along to our picnic. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to a fun and educational celebration!

WEDNESDAY 5th March — Ash Wednesday Liturgy 2:15pm

We invite all families to join us for the Ash Wednesday Liturgy to be held at our St. Mary's Church; a sacred day marking the beginning of Lent, where we reflect, repent, and receive ashes as a sign of our commitment to spiritual renewal.

Sunday Gospel Reflection — Family Connection

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Join me in taking a moment to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.

“Going the Extra Mile”

It is easy to choose to be with others when they are acting politely and respectfully but children do not always act this way, especially with other family members. We can probably all recall a family meal in which such behavior was not observed yet we probably chose to sit through the meal anyway. We regularly give our children second chances—and often third and fourth chances—hoping that our generosity will be rewarded. That is how God acts with us. The ethic that Jesus describes seems like an impossible task: to give when asked and to do good to those who hate us. Yet family life is filled with opportunities to act generously and to love without measure. This is what we parents try to do every day. This is what we ask our children to learn. We are reminded that, when we love generously and gratuitously, we love as God loves us — this is the meaning of mercy.

As you gather as a family, identify some things that family members are expected to do each day (prepare meals, go to school or work; complete homework). 

Discuss whether it is easy to live up to these expectations. Why or why not? Then discuss the meaning of the phrase “go the extra mile” and what it would mean to go the extra mile in the expectations you identified. 

Introduce today's Gospel: In today's Gospel reading, Jesus describes how we are to act toward one another. What he says may sound like what we mean by the phrase “going the extra mile.” Read aloud today's Gospel, Luke 6:27-38. 

Discuss whether the actions Jesus describes are easy and consider why we might act in these ways if they seem difficult. Observe that today's Gospel challenges us to make choices based on God's standard; God loves us all the time by going the extra mile for us. 

During a time of quiet reflection, invite each family member to choose an action for the week in which he or she will go the “extra mile” for the family. Conclude in prayer by praying together St. Ignatious's Prayer for Generosity.

Thank you for your continued support and participation in our school's faith journey. 

Your presence at our school events and encouragement enrich our community, and we are grateful for the blessings we share together.

Warm blessings, 

Veronica Del Castillo

Religious Education Leader