Family and Faith

Dear Parents/carers and children,   

Did you know that Easter is not a single day? - it is a season! Easter begins with the Easter Vigil and continues for 50 days – that’s seven full weeks - not just one day!  The SEASON OF EASTER is the most important season of the Christian Calendar! 

A Prayer for Mothers

Dear Lord,

I am blessed with a loving mother,

As you were.

Help me to remember to honor and care for her as she has cared for me since the beginning of life.

I cherish my mother as you have cherished our Blessed Mary.

Please keep us both close in your loving embrace, protect us always.

Amen.

Celebrating Mary in the Month of May

Invitation: To SPaRs in the Church      

In the month of May, K - Year 3 parents and carers have been invited to a SPaR (Stop, Pray and Reflect) in the Church to pray to Mary with their child and class. Years 4 - 6 classes will be honouring Mary by attending the Feast Day Mass on Tuesday 13th May at 9.30am.

Traditionally the month of May is dedicated to praying to Mary, Our Holy Mother. We also celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima during this month (13th May) and this is one way to honour her.

Our Parish Church has designated a special area in the foyer in which to pray to Mary and the SPaRs that have already taken place show many beautiful offerings of flowers and greenery as the children are encouraged to bring a flower or piece of greenery to place in front of her statue during the SPaR. The prayer session takes approximately 20 minutes. Each class teacher will be contacting you about the date and time of the Church SPaR.   

Parents are welcome to meet at the Church and participate in prayer with their child and class.

Here is the timetable for the remaining K- 3 classes for next week.  

A Garden for Mary

Also in the month of May we devote our prayers to her and participate in saying the Rosary. 

Why not consider planting a garden in her honour at your home?. As Christianity spread, in recognition of God’s presence in and through the glory of nature, missionaries ‘christened’ many flowers with themes that related to Mary, Jesus and holy places. 

For example, the medieval names for ‘Baby’s Breath’ was ‘Lady’s Veil’, ‘Impatiens’ was ‘Mother Love’ and ‘Jonquil’ was ‘St Joseph’s Staff’. The symbolism and Christian associations of these flowers are powerful reminders of the profound truths of our faith as well as being a delightful and joyous expression of devotion.

Plants and Flowers: Plant flowers whose names reflect various devotions to our Lady such as Marigold (Mary’s gold), Morning Glory (Our Lady’s Mantle), Petunia (Lady’s Praise), Snapdragon (Child Jesus’ shoes), Tulip (Marys’ Prayer), Zinnia (the Virgin), Begonia (Heart of Mary), Calla Lily (St Joseph’s Staff), Daffodil (Mary’s Star), English Daisy (Mary Love), Maiden Hair (Our Lady’s Hair), Forget-me-nots (Eyes of Mary), Gladiolus (Twelve Apostles). 

Meditation opportunities: Think about how you might use your garden. Will it simply be something that you and others admire from the side, or will it be a space that you can use for prayer? Think about placing a garden seat for easy contemplation and prayer, stepping stones or a spiral pathway upon which one can make a mini-pilgrimage.

The Rosary means ‘crown of roses’ and it is said that each time we pray a decade of the Rosary, we add a rose to Mary’s crown. Different colour roses are associated with different qualities of Mary – White is for her Purity, Red for her Sorrow, Gold for her Glory.

Click on the link for more details on a Garden for Mary:

Family Mass Invitation

All OLF families are kindly invited to attend the next Family Mass hosted by Year 3 families to be held on Saturday 17th May at 5.30pm. As many of the Year 3 students are preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation this is a great opportunity for them to share their faith commitment with the parish community. Please come along and join in this beautiful Parish school celebration of the Eucharist.                                

An invitation from the Family Educators of the Shire.

I am inviting you to a Women’s Event organised by the Family Educators in the Sutherland Shire on Monday 26th May from 7pm - 9pm.

Chat, unpack, feel heard and supported as we listen to guest speakers share how they manage the mental load (and laundry loads) of womanhood and motherhood. The power of a supportive sisterhood over a competitive one. The importance of taking time out for ourselves and moving away from comparisons. Celebrating being ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ Psalm 139:14 and perfect in the eyes of our God.

Relay for Life 2025 

Last weekend the Sutherland Shire Relay For Life was on and it was amazing to see so many OLF families supporting this event and raising vital funds for the Cancer Council’s research, prevention and support services. It was a chance once again for the community to celebrate cancer survivorship, remember loved ones we have lost and unite our community and fight back against cancer. 

Thank you to the following families I was lucky to meet on the day who participated and apologies to the families I missed:

An invitation from our Parish priests and catechists

Fatima Friends Invitation: 

Come and join in the fun!                           

Fatima Friends will continue this Term 2 on the following dates:

Week 3: Easter fun! (Did someone say Easter Egg Hunt?)

Week 4: Easter fun! (Did someone say Easter painting?)

Week 5: Sporty fun with our Year 5 friends!

Please note there are no Fatima Friends sessions in Week 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10 because I am off to Fatima Portugal (via the west coast of Africa) on a personal pilgrimage! But I will be back in Term 3!

The Feast of Our Lady of Fatima Mass

St Mary's Cathedral for Mass - Tomorrow night, 10th May at 6pm

Happy Mother's Day

Wishing all our mothers, nannas, mother figures a wonderful Mother’s Day and for all families continued joy in this Season of Easter.

Tracey Bowler | Family Educator        

tracey.bowler@syd.catholic.edu.au