Education in Faith

Term 1 - Responsibility

This term, all students are focussing on the theme of Responsibility within their RE and Inquiry lessons. Many conversations will be had in classes about what it means to display responsibility, our role as a member of a group (e.g. how we can be positive learners and encouraging classmates) and how our choices and behaviour can impact other people. This also links well with our yearly theme of 'Peace' and our focus in Term 1 - Student Wellbeing, Engagement and Love of Learning (SWELL). 

2026 Sacramental Program Dates

Please note key dates for the Sacramental Program this year:

Reconciliation (Grade 3)

Reconciliation Parent/Child Workshop – Thursday 5 March 6:30pm

Sacrament of Reconciliation – Thursday 26 March 5pm and 7pm 

First Eucharist (Grade 4)

First Eucharist Parent/Child Workshop - Thursday 14 May 6.30pm

First Eucharist Reflection Day -  Monday 1 June

Sacrament of First Eucharist – Sunday 21 June 9am and 11am

Confirmation (Grade 6)

Confirmation Parent/Child workshop – Thursday 20 August 6:30pm

Confirmation Reflection Day - Monday 12 October

Sacrament of Confirmation – Friday 16 October 5pm 

2026 Class Prayer Services and Participation in Mass

At OLA, Prep - Grade 2 classes host one prayer service for their families in the year, and Grade 3-6 classes Participate in a Mass in the Church and lead the prayers and readings for this day. After each of these opportunities, we welcome parents and other special visitors to join us for some morning tea. All are welcome!

Prep Level

Prep JM - Thursday 10 September 9am

Prep TR - Thursday 17 September 9am

Junior Level

1/2MV - Thursday 4 June 9am

1/2CH - Thursday 11 June 9am

1/2RN - Thursday 18 June 9am

1/2NL - Thursday 25 June 9am

Middle Level

3/4NC - Thursday 29 October 9:15am

3/4CD - Thursday 5 November 9:15am

3/4GO - Thursday 12 November 9:15am

3/4EJ - Thursday 19 November 9:15am

Senior Level

5/6SP - Thursday 14 May 9:15am

5/6MG - Thursday 21 May 9:15am

5/6ES - Thursday 28 May 9:15am

Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday is the final day before Lent begins. Lent is a time when we focus on confession, repentance, and on Shrove Tuesday we use up rich, fatty foods like eggs and dairy before this period. Shrove Tuesday serves as a day of preparation for Lent.

We thank our wonderful P&F Committee for organising pancakes for all students to enjoy. 

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday marks the official beginning of Lent, a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in the Catholic Church. We observe Ash Wednesday by receiving ashes on our foreheads, typically in the shape of a cross, made from burning palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday. 

Lent

The season of Lent began this week. 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 give up something that is special to us. 

Students will participate in Lenten prayer services each week during whole school assemblies on even weeks, and then in classrooms on odd weeks. 

Project Compassion Caritas Lenten Appeal

This Lent, our school community is invited to be a part of something incredible. Once again, we are called to stand hand in hand with thousands of others across the country and Unite Against Poverty by supporting Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion.

Last year, our school was a part of a nationwide movement that raised over $10 million to bring opportunity and change to vulnerable communities across the world. This year, with your support, we hope to have an even greater impact.

By donating money to a Project Compassion box this year, you’ll be answering the Gospels’ call to care for our global family and walk alongside the most vulnerable. Your generosity will enable Caritas Australia to provide life-changing support to communities facing poverty, food insecurity, lack of education and water shortages, while building resilience against future challenges. Donation boxes will be placed in all classrooms and in the Front Office next week. 

Together, through faith and action, we can bring hope and opportunity to those most in need. 

First Week of Lent (week beginning Monday 23 Feb)

In our classrooms, we’ll be sharing four inspiring stories of resilience and strength, showing the kind of transformative change that we can play a part in achieving. As an overview, we'll be introduced to Sisilia, a young student from Tanzania, Monoranjon from Bangladesh, Manaini, a mother of six and a grandmother of two from remote Fiji, and shine a light on frontline staff of Caritas in Jerusalem. 

Second Week of Lent (week beginning Monday 2 March)

This week, we’re introduced to Sisilia, a 13-year-old girl from Tanzania. Sisilia supported her mother by walking long distances three times a day to fetch water. The water was unsafe, causing frequent illness, and the long walks left Sisilia exhausted and struggling to focus on her studies.

Thanks to Project Compassion and the support of schools like ours, Sisilia’s school and village now have safe clean water taps. This means it takes Sisilia just two minutes to collect water, giving her more time to learn so she can fulfil her dreams of one day becoming a pilot. 

Caitlan Taig

Religious Education Leader