Prayer for Lent & Easter

Dear God,

During this time of Lent, help us to grow in love and hope.

As we walk with you, fill our hearts with kindness and care for others.

Help us to be pilgrims of hope, sharing your love with everyone we meet.

As we celebrate Easter, remind us of new beginnings and the joy of your love.

Bless our time during the Easter break and bring us back ready to learn and grow in faith.

Amen.

Holy Week Information

🌿 Holy Week – A Journey of Love and Hope

Holy Week is the most sacred time in the Christian calendar. It helps us walk with Jesus through the final days of His life, leading us from the joy of Palm Sunday to the glory of Easter Sunday. It is a time of prayer, reflection, and great meaning — a chance to talk as a family about love, sacrifice, and hope.

Here’s a simple guide to the most important days of Holy Week and what is celebrated in each Mass or service:

🌿 Palm Sunday – Jesus Enters Jerusalem

Mass Time: Regular Sunday Mass times.

What It’s About: Palm Sunday begins Holy Week. We remember when Jesus entered Jerusalem and was welcomed by crowds waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna!” At Mass, palms are blessed and we hear the story of Jesus’ Passion — His journey to the cross. It’s a mix of joy and reflection, marking the beginning of Jesus’ final days.

🍞 Holy Thursday – The Last Supper

Mass Time: Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper (usually around 7:00 pm).

What It’s About: On Holy Thursday, we remember the night Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples. He washed their feet to show us how to serve others with love and humility. At this special Mass, we also remember the gift of the Eucharist and the call to love one another. After Mass, we quietly watch and pray with Jesus, just like His time in the Garden of Gethsemane.

✝️ Good Friday – Jesus Dies for Us

Mass Time: No Mass is held. A Solemn Liturgy is celebrated (usually at 3:00 pm).

What It’s About: Good Friday is a solemn and sacred day. We remember Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross. During the liturgy, we listen to the Passion story, pray for others, and venerate the cross — a moment to show love and gratitude for Jesus’ sacrifice. Even in the sadness, we remember His deep love for us.

🕯️ Holy Saturday – Waiting in Hope

Mass Time: No daytime Mass. In the evening, we celebrate the Easter Vigil (usually around 7:30–8:00 pm).

What It’s About: Holy Saturday is a day of quiet and waiting. Jesus’ body lay in the tomb and His followers waited in faith and hope. The Easter Vigil begins in darkness and moves to light — a powerful symbol of Jesus rising from the dead. It includes readings from the Bible, beautiful music, and celebrations of Baptism and the Resurrection. It’s the most important celebration of the year!

🌅 Easter Sunday – Jesus Is Risen!

Mass Time: Regular Sunday morning Mass times.

What It’s About: Easter Sunday is a joyful day — Jesus is alive! We celebrate His resurrection with hope, joy, and gratitude. It reminds us that even in sadness or difficulty, new life and light will come. It’s the heart of our faith, and a beautiful time to celebrate as a family.

The Triduum (Holy Thursday night to Easter Sunday) is a very special time — not just remembering events from long ago, but entering into the mystery of God’s love for each one of us.

We warmly encourage families to join in these celebrations and take time to talk, reflect, and pray together at home.

Sacramental Program

The St Kilian's Parish and St Peter's Primary school will be offering the sacrament program this year. If you would like to complete any of the Sacraments please contact the school office or Jake Wilkinson.

Baptism:

is the introduction of a person into the Church community. Through the waters of Baptism the person enters into the life of God - Father, Son and Spirit. He or she is dedicated to God and all that is good. Information session will be held in Term 2.

Reconciliation:

The sacrament of Reconciliation is a special time when we talk to a priest about anything that we have done wrong, say we are sorry, and ask for Gods forgiveness. It's like getting a fresh start, knowing God always loves us and helps us to do better. Information session will be held in Term 3

Eucharist and Confirmation:

For those students who have completed the sacrament's of Baptism and Reconciliation: Confirmation is a special sacrament where you receive the Holy Spirit in a deeper way. It strengthens your faith and helps you live as a true follower of Jesus.

Holy Communion is when we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus in the form of bread and wine. At Mass, the priest blesses the bread and wine, and they become Jesus' real presence. Information session to be held in Term 2

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 - The Prodigal Son

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Then Jesus told them this parable:

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father."

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

The key message of the story

This story shows us that God always forgives, no matter how far we’ve gone. God is like the father, full of love and ready to welcome us back when we turn to Him.

Reflection Questions

Can you think of a time when you made a mistake and said sorry? How did it feel to be forgiven
Have you ever felt like the older brother—doing the right thing, but feeling unseen or unappreciated?
What does this story tell you about God's love and forgiveness

Prayer for Pope Francis

St Kilians Parish

Wellbeing

Kristy Dupille, Maddi Hall & Sherree Jorgensenwellbeing@spbendigo.catholic.edu.au

Kristy Dupille, Maddi Hall & Sherree Jorgensen
wellbeing@spbendigo.catholic.edu.au