Education in Faith

Reconciliation

Last week we held our Reconciliation Parent/Child Workshop with our Grade 3 students and their families. Thank you to all those who came along and shared in this special evening, learning a bit more about the Sacrament of Reconciliation and completing some family chats and activities. 

We pray for the following students who will make their Reconciliation next week:

Catholic Education Week

This week we celebrated Catholic Education Week - this is an opportunity for all Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne to celebrate our Catholic identity and the role we play within our local community. May all our students be inspired by St Patrick and strive to grow in faith, hope and love.

The theme for Catholic Education Week 2025 is ‘Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you (Is 60: 1)' which draws from the motto of the Holy Year, the Year of Jubilee, and the Australian Catholic Youth Festival’s theme – ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.

St Patrick's Day

Monday 17 March was the Feast of St Patrick. Thank you to those who wore a touch of green. 

Lent

The season of Lent began with Ash Wednesday. Lent is the period of about six weeks before Easter. It is a time in which we are quiet and thoughtful, preparing for Easter, During Lent, we are invited to pray, show kindness to our loved ones, help those in need, or ive up something that is special to us. 

Students will participate in Lenten prayer services each week during whole school and level assemblies. 

Project Compassion Caritas Lenten Appeal

The season of Lent began on Ash Wednesday 5 March. This also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. All donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia to work with communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.

The theme of Project Compassion for 2025 is ‘Unite Against Poverty This Lent’ and reminds us that the good we do today will extend and affect generations to come. It encourages us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long term solutions to global issues.

The Grade 6 Community Leaders have taken a lead in promoting this within our school.

You can donate via the donation boxes in each classroom, or online via the Caritas Australia website.

Third Week of Lent (week beginning Monday 24 March)

Lam is 27 years old from a small village in rural Vietnam who faced significant challenges due to his short stature. Growing up, Lam often felt isolated due to limited job opportunities and difficulty moving around his community. While his friends started jobs after high school, Lam stayed home with his parents, unsure if he could ever achieve his dream of becoming a graphic designer.

Everything changed when Lam joined the I-SHINE program, supported by Caritas Australia. Through this initiative, Lam completed a six-month course developing his graphic design skills. Along the way, he built confidence, made friends and gained a sense of connection.

Today, Lam runs a successful freelance graphic design business from home, serving clients worldwide and earning a steady income. Lam hopes his story will encourage other young people with disabilities to overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams.

Lam’s journey shows how your support of Project Compassion empowers individuals to break barriers and transform their lives. 

Fourth Week of Lent (week beginning Monday 31 March)

Irene lives in a remote village in the Kongolo Region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 

Life hasn’t been easy for Irene. After losing her father in a war, Irene and her family were forced to flee their home. Life became even more challenging when her husband left, leaving Irene to raise her 2 children alone. Without finishing her education and with few job opportunities in her village, she struggled to provide even the basics for her family.

Things began to change when Irene joined the Youth Capacity Strengthening Program (YCSP), run by Caritas Kongolo with the support of Caritas Australia. Through the program, Irene learned sewing skills and was provided with a sewing machine and fabric. Irene also gained farming skills. Now, she grows enough food to feed her family and even shares her sewing knowledge by mentoring other women in her community. 

“Before, women depended on men's income, but now, with our sewing skills, we can take care of ourselves,” Irene said.

Your support of Project Compassion helps women like Irene to create brighter futures for themselves and their families.

Caitlan Taig

Religious Education Leader