Education in Faith News 

Reconciliation 

Congrats to our Year 3 and other Sacred Heart students who made their Sacrament of Reconciliation with Fr Dean and Fr David. A big thank you to Miss Healey and Mrs Tucker who prepared the students so beautifully. 

Stations of the Cross

The Year 5 and Year 6 students will be coming together on the last day of school to portray a traditional and a recontexualised version of the Stations of the Cross. This will be the first time we will be bringing the Stations of the Cross into a modern sphere and we are excited to see what the students have scripted. 

Please see booklet attached on the scenes 

Stations of the Cross will take place from 9.30-10.30am on Thursday 6th of April. Attached is the timetable for the drama. 

Easter Celebration for families 

The week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, Holy Week, is the most sacred time of year. During this special time, we enter into the passion of Christ — his crucifixion, death and resurrection — through liturgical celebration and personal conversion. While the season of Lent is a very important time in the Church, it is helpful to remember that our Lenten practices (prayer, fasting and almsgiving) are meant as preparation for the three days of the Triduum.

What Is the Triduum?

The three days of the Triduum are counted as the Hebrews counted their days, from dusk to dusk. Lent officially ends and the Triduum begins at dusk on Holy Thursday and continues through dusk on Easter Sunday. Because we cannot separate Jesus’ death from his resurrection, the Church teaches that the Triduum is really one celebration that lasts for three days. However, in the liturgy, each day has its unique qualities and different focuses.

Holy Thursday

So when he had washed their feet [and] put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you?” ~ John 13:12

The evening Mass on Holy Thursday begins the Sacred Triduum. On this night we remember the Last Supper and celebrate the institution of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Holy Orders. At the end of the liturgy, the sanctuary is stripped clean in preparation for the most sombre of feasts, Good Friday.

Family Faith Activity: Talk about how Jesus is really present in holy Communion and how sharing in his body strengthens us to become the Body of Christ and to follow him each day.

Good Friday

He said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. ~ John 19:30

Good Friday is a sombre remembrance of Jesus’ crucifixion and death on the cross. It is a day of fasting and penance and a time to examine all of the places in our lives where we fail to follow Christ and fall into sin. Good Friday is not merely a commemoration of a historical event; rather, Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross, along with his glorious resurrection, comprise the heart of the Christian faith.

Good Friday is not a Mass; holy Communion that is distributed had been consecrated on Holy Thursday and kept in the tabernacle for adoration. Also, many parishes offer Stations of the Cross on Good Friday.

Family Faith Activity: Pray the Lord’s Prayer at bedtime on this night in remembrance of Christ’s gift for all of salvation.

Easter Vigil

Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there. ~ John 19:41-42

The Easter Vigil is the restoration of the early Church’s tradition as the great celebration of adult baptism and confirmation. It is the high point in the liturgical year. The vigil begins in darkness (usually outside) and the long procession of candlelight that enlivens the church reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world who has conquered all darkness and death. The Paschal candle that is lit at the Easter Vigil will remain in the church throughout the year as a sign of Christ’s death and resurrection.

Family Faith Activity: During the day on Holy Saturday, spend some time as a family talking about the Paschal Mystery — Jesus’ crucifixion, death and resurrection. Take a walk around your neighbourhood looking for signs of new life in springtime. Talk about how Jesus rising to new life is truly transformative and life-changing.

Easter Sunday

Celebrate the risen Lord at Mass with the singing of the Gloria and alleluias, the renewal of baptismal vows, a sprinkling with Easter water and receiving the Eucharist. The time you spend on your Holy Week preparations will make Easter Sunday more meaningful for the whole family!

3 Simple Ways to Celebrate Holy Week

1. Give yourself (and your family) the gift of quiet time for prayer and reflection in front of your home altar early in the morning or late at night.
2. Move your crucifix to the front door (or the door you use most) as a remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
3. During Holy Week, turn off your car radio and pray silently while driving.

https://www.teachingcatholickids.com/walking-through-holy-week-as-a-family/ 

Confirmation Information for Families 

Visits to Fernhill 

The Year 5s will be visiting Fernhill retirement home in term 2 on Wednesday mornings to meet with the residents. 

Lent Basics (The Cheat Sheet) 

Before going into all the fancy “extra” stuff you can do during Lent, I am going to list out the basics for anyone just starting out or not wanting to forget everything. These things are not necessarily required of every age or ability group, so you research further to make sure you’re meeting Lenten requirements, but you can start here. 

The first thing to understand is that Lent is its own season, it is very different in feel and observances than Easter. Easter is also a season that lasts for 50 days, but it doesn’t start until Lent is over. So I fully recommend observing Lent first, and trying some of these Lenten activities rather that going straight for the Easter stuff during Lent. Here is an article I wrote on observing Lent first and then celebrating Easter. 

• “Give Something Up”– I really prefer to call this a “Lenten Resolution” because sometimes it’s better to add extra things rather than only taking things away. I do have several posts to help you set Lenten resolutions including sacrifice ideas from the Catholic Icing community, another article with 50 thoughtful ways to fast technology, and also a sacrifice activity for small kids. 
• Meat Free Fridays! Jesus died for you on a Friday, so every Friday during Lent the Catholic church asks you to abstain from meat as a special sacrifice for him. I have a list of 25 kid friendly and normal meatless meals here. 
• Fasting– Fasting is required only for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
• Add Extra Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving– these are kind of the 3 “buzz words” of Lent. 
• Purple– the liturgical colour of the season! 

Printable Lenten Calendar For Kids

This has been the most popular Lenten resource here for a decade now, so if you would like to print one, you can download yours for free here.

Message from the Parish:

CAN YOU HELP WELCOME NEW PARENTS SEEKING BAPTISM FOR THEIR INFANTS?

 There are around 200 young infants each year in the Bayside Catholic Mission (BCM) whose parents want them to be Baptised. Their parents can register their interest on the BCM website outlining family details, when and at which church they would like their child to receive the sacrament of Baptism.

The preparation process is for the families to attend one of the presentation Masses which are held monthly (initially on Sunday at Stella Maris Church) and are followed by a welcoming Morning Coffee and a brief outline of parish life and the background to the sacrament.  

Our BCM priests are seeking the assistance of 4 or 5 parents from each school community to assist in welcoming these parents into the life of their chosen school and parish. The priests are hoping that from the seven primary schools in the Mission around 30 generous volunteers will come forward. The resulting commitment from each volunteer would be to be rostered 2 or 3 times a year for the morning coffee session, chatting about how the school and parish communities work, and then to stay in contact 3 or 4 new families for a couple of months until the Baptisms occur.

If you can help or have any questions, please contact the School Office or Jim Smith (the Sacred Heart representative on the BCM Formation Team) on 0417 343 739. Thank-you

Listed below are dates for your 2023 diary as well as some interesting information on all things Religious Education at Sacred Heart. 

Dara Blake 

Religious Education Leader