Religious Dimension

This Week's Gospel - Luke 4:1-13

Sunday's Gospel reading tells us about Jesus sacrifice in the wilderness for 40 days and how strong he was to stand up against the temptations presented before him, even though he was hungry, thirsty and tired. The number 40 is significant throughout the Bible. The word "forty" appears 158 times in Bible verses. This breaks down to 134 times in the Old Testament and 24 times in the New. The number 40 generally symbolises a time of testing, trial or probation. It can also symbolise a generation of a person.

 I wonder if 40 days and nights would seem like a lifetime to us? I

I wonder if Jesus felt that it was a lifetime for him?

Last weekend was the first Sunday in the season of Lent. During this season we are called to Fast, Pray, Give to prepare for Jesus' Resurrection. Just as Jesus made huge sacrifices, spending 40 days in the desert, we are also inspired to renew our own lives, enrich our spirituality and make a difference in the lives of others.

I wonder if you have had the chance to ask your family what their Lenten promises are for this season?

Many of our students  have had an opportunity to write their Lenten promises in a very practical way and are storing them in a jar which is kept on the prayer table. Each morning, after our whole school Christian meditation, they will read these to their class and pray for each other to help encourage and remind each other of their promises.

Project Compassion - LENT

Last week, we sent a Project Compassion box home to every family to help us raise money for  those in need and to include us in the journey of breaking the  poverty cycle. The students may add any coins to their large project compassion box in their classrooms after collecting them at home during Lent.   We will also use the money raised from our lapathon on Harmony Day to contribute to Project compassion. 

Could all money be returned to the office by Friday, March 28.

Please watch the link below to find out more about the history and success of Caritas/Project Compassion.

Ash Wednesday Mass - Sunday, 23 February

Last Wednesday, 5 March, our school attended Mass with our parish community, and Father Maurie reminded us in a simple way of the significance of the number 40 in the Bible. While Lent is a time to reflect and take action for change, the reward is that something significantly good will follow. My prayer is that all our students and families were able to find an action that was meaningful to them during this season, so that the joy from it would soon be around the corner.

Our Prep Students are learning about what the ashes symbolised on their foreheads last week at the Ash Wednesday mass. As the students received the cross on the foreheads the words 'Turn back to God' were spoken over them. It was a very special time for all.

Miss Wooley did a wonderful activity with the students after mass to help build understanding and to personalise the meaning of the cross on our foreheads as Catholics for our Prep students.  Here are the self - portraits that the students drew of themselves with the ashes on their foreheads  - Great pictures Preps!

Tuesday Class Masses

Here is a list of our class masses each Tuesday and we would love you to join us to support the students as they connect with our parish community. 

Important dates in Term 1 , 2025

Melinda Buscema 

(Deputy/REL)

mbuscema@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au