HOLY WEEK ~ All year round

Many Christians, who are people who believe and follow the truth of Jesus Christ as the Self-Revelation of God for humanity, are preparing to mark the spiritual journey of ‘Holy Week’. This Sunday is Passion (or ‘Palm’) Sunday, honouring the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem as he faced his ultimate rejection, crucifixion and death (from us) and his ultimate victory of Resurrection (for us) ~which is offered in Divine love to all. That offer is spoken beautifully to us in the Gospel life of Jesus. (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)

Holy Week marks those events which took place in and around Jerusalem – and in eternity.

Holy Week prayers and gatherings of Christ’s faithful are to remind us that every week is truly a holy week – in God’s loving and healing presence with those who ‘live justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with their God.’

Holy Week reminds us that our Creator is concerned for the pain, trials, grief, rejection, loss and sorrows shouldered by good people, every week (the ‘way’ of the Cross). But Holy Week also reminds us of the infinite Love that can overcome every failing or evil caused by the human soul when it has fractured, severed or ignored the call to a ‘holy communion’ with God – who is our source of life and love.

Holy Week reassures the faithful soul that Jesus is our ‘Wounded Healer’.

His love raises us out of the ‘deaths’ we inflict upon ourselves and others – if we recognise the Promise of the Empty Tomb.

Every week is Holy Week …….’read all about it!’

(In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.)

Mons Glynn Murphy PP

Annunciation of the Lord

The Holy Gospel according to Luke 1:26-32, 38

God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David. The angel greeted Mary and said, "You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you." Mary was confused by the angel's words and wondered what they meant.

Then the angel told Mary, "Don't be afraid! God is pleased with you and you are going to have a son. His name will be Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High." Mary said, "I am the Lord's servant! Let it happen as you have said." And the angel left her.

On March 25 we remember God's announcement to Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus. Through Mary's openness to God, the world received Jesus our Saviour.

Loving God,

like Mary, may we say 'yes' to your will

and so welcome our Saviour to the waiting world.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Music Bingo Night

Oh what a night!! Thanks to those who supported our music bingo night last Friday night! What a hilarious night for all who were in attendance. We offer a huge thank you to Tim O'Donnell & Josh for putting on such an amazing show. Special thanks to the families who donated raffle prizes! Congratulations to Ash Dickinson on winning best dressed. We are already looking forward to doing it all again next year!

Cross Country

On Monday our students in Years 3 - 6 will be joining with Nhill College students for their Cross Country running carnival. The event will take place at Nhill Golf Course from 11am. Students will come to school at the normal time and the morning classes will run until the students travel by bus to the course. Students in Years 3 - 6 are permitted to wear their runners to school on Monday.

Parents are asked to please complete the permission slip via PAM as soon as possible. Students who do not yet have consent have been given a green note, which must be returned by Monday morning.

Athletics

Students have been practicing for the upcoming athletics carnival during their PE classes on Tuesdays. The athletics carnival will be combined with Nhill College on Tuesday 20th April. More details to follow next week.

Get Active Victoria

The Get Active Kids Voucher Program helps eligible families get their kids involved in organised sport and recreation activities by reimbursing the cost of membership and registration fees, uniforms and equipment. Eligible children may be able to receive up to $200 each.

Children must be aged 4 to 18 and named on a valid Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card and Medicare card to be eligible. Find out if you can apply, what costs are covered, and how much can be reimbursed, please click on the following link.

Book Fair

Thank you to Emma Dickinson for coordinating the Book Fair throughout the week. There has been a steady stream of visitors to the display in the Hall following the initial display at Nhill Market last Sunday. Thank you also to Annette Hamilton for her assistance at the market.

Book Fair report from Mrs Dickinson

Thank you to those who supported the school at the market morning and at school during the week. Prize winners for the guessing games at the market were - Olive guessed 46 pages (correct answer 48) and Bec (Olive's mum coincidentally) guessed the nearest to 41 marshmallows in the jar.

If you missed the Book Fair and would like to purchase some great books, then you can view the book club catalogue online at Scholastic. New issues are released twice a term and books are delivered to the school. Payment and ordering can all be done through the parents portal.

Project Compassion

As we enter Holy Week, we continue to reflect on the lives of people vulnerable to extreme poverty and injustice and how we can respond through supporting Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion appeal.

Let us take time to remember the life and teachings of Saint Oscar Romero. His many lessons include: live a simple life, commit to bringing peace to the world, speak the truth and of course aspire not to have more, but to be more.

We reflect on some words from what has become known as the Oscar Romero prayer; “We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.”

Thank you for supporting Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion Campaign. Your generosity will work for the freedom of those living in poverty, challenge unjust structures, and empower people to work for a sustainable way of life.

Please return all Project Compassion boxes and envelopes to the school office by the end of term (next Thursday) or donate online via the Caritas website at

lent.caritas.org.au

200 Years of Catholic Education in Australia

This week all students received a prayer card with a picture of Mary and baby Jesus on one side, and the 200 Years - Faith in the Future of Catholic Education in Australia prayer on the other side. We have been using this prayer during our assemblies this year and it will continue to be a feature of our Masses throughout this year of celebration.

ADF Parcels

Late last year our students sent parcels to members of the Australian Defence Force who were serving overseas at Christmas time. We received thank you notes earlier in the year however this week there was a special letter of thanks for one of our Year 6 students from last year.

Mr Henry Berry, President Nhill RSL Sub-Branch, attended our assembly yesterday and presented Mia Braybrook with a Thank You card and message from a representative of the ADF. Enclosed was a special memento from members of the Force Support Element - 13 which provides critical logistics support to ADF personnel deployed as part of Operations Accordion and Highroad in the Middle East.

Parent Survey

Catholic School Parents Victoria are conducting a survey with responses contributing to the formation of key areas to focus their resources on to support you in your most important role to guide your children through their education.

Providing your feedback is important as it allows them to be able to share the key issues that are important to parents with principals and decision makers in education to ensure parent perspective is heard and main areas that require support are raised.

If you would like to do so, please complete the survey by clicking here to contribute your perspective in Catholic education.

Reminders - on-site learning

The following coronavirus restrictions remain in place:

All unwell students must stay home. Parents will be called to collect any students who experience symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat.
Students must bring their own water bottles to school for use (and refilling).
We will continue to provide routine environmental cleaning as well as easy access for hand hygiene (hand washing and sanitiser).
Parents/carers are asked to observe physical distancing measures before and after school by not congregating in areas inside or around the school, including at the main entrance.
Parents/carers can attend the school office if necessary.
Face masks do not need to be worn at school by primary school children, but children over the age of 12 must wear masks when not at school.

Remember to follow us on Facebook

Those who are on Facebook are encouraged to follow our page at St Patrick's School, Nhill. 'Like' our page, enjoy our posts, and share them with your friends. Stay connected through our Social Media page.

Our Josephite Heritage

The Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, often called the "Josephites" or "Brown Joeys", were founded in Penola, South Australia, in 1866 by Mary MacKillop and the Rev. Julian Tenison Woods. In 1949, three Josephite sisters arrived in Nhill to open St Patrick’s School. In 1978, the Sisters of St Joseph informed the Nhill Parish that they would no longer be able to maintain their role within the school.

We endeavour to honour our Josephite heritage through the regular presentation of the Little Joey awards at our assemblies. In support of this we also include a reflection from Mary MacKillop on our newsletter each week.

"With God on our side, what need we fear?" Mary MacKillop, 1893

And what a lovely start to the AFL season with Port Adelaide starting this season in the same position it spent all of the 2020 Home and Away season - on top! Go Port!

God Bless you all.

Kingsley Dalgleish

Principal

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