Religious Education 

FIRST RECONCILIATION

Our Year Three First Reconciliation candidates were presented to the community at the parish Mass last Friday. They will continue to prepare for this sacrament over the next few weeks with their classes to be ready for their First Reconciliation on Tuesday 25th March at 1pm.  All family members are most welcome to join us at this special celebration.

FIRST EUCHARIST 

The parish has confirmed the date for First Eucharist. It will take place on Saturday 21st June at 5:30pm. If you wish for your child to talk part in this sacrament, and have not already filled in the form in prior newsletters, please email Sarah.

ASH WEDNESDAY

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.

You may have noticed that your children returned home from school with ash on their forehead last Wednesday.  Classes celebrated with a small prayer service in their classrooms.  Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday. It comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolise the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person's forehead, he speaks the words: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Alternatively, the priest may speak the words, "Repent and believe in the Gospel." Ashes also symbolise grief, in this case, grief that we have sinned and caused division from God. Writings from the Second-century Church refer to the wearing of ashes as a sign of penance.

Priests administer ashes during Mass and all are invited to accept the ashes as a visible symbol of penance. The ashes are made from blessed palm branches, taken from the previous year's palm Sunday Mass.

Sarah, Religious Education Leader