To succeed in your intentions

entrust yourselves to the Blessed Virgin Mary always

but especially in moments of difficulty and darkness.

From Mary we learn to surrender to God’s will in things.

From Mary we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone.

From Mary we learn to love Christ, her Son and the Son of God…

Learn from her to be always faithful

to trust that God’s Word to you will be fulfilled

and that nothing is impossible with God.

St. John Paul II

Lent

Lent is a time to grow in our relationship with Jesus, to fast and to become more and more generous in meeting the needs of the people around us. It is a time to examine our lives and see what changes we can make to truly become the best version of ourselves - the best spouse, the best parent, the best friend, the best co-worker, the best follower of Jesus.

‘Lord, Let everything I do this day and in this season of Lent

come from You, be inspired by You.

I long to be closer to You.

Help me to remember that nothing is important in my life

unless it glorifies You in some way.

It's so easy to get caught up in the day to day of my life and keep saying,

"Tomorrow, I will spend more time in prayer,"

but now my longing meets Your love and I want to do it now.

Help me to rely on You for help.

Lord,

I know how much You love me.

Thank you for always being with me.

Amen.’

Upcoming Dates:


16/3/24	Women Lenten Retreat
	St Mary's Cathedral Hall
	10am - 4pm (see more info below)
18/3/24	Playgroup for babies, toddlers and preschoolers
	St Martha's Parish Hall
	8:50am - 9:50am (+ morning tea from 9:50am)
	Lenten Program
	St Martha's Catholic Church
	10:30am
	Rosary
	St Martha's Catholic Primary School front office
	2:35pm
20/3/24	P & F Meeting
	St Martha's Parish Hall (entrance from gate next to church)
	8:15am - everyone welcome!
25/3/24	Volunteering - Making Lunches @ St Merkorious Charity
	St Merkorious South Strathfield
	9:15am (see further info below)
	Lenten Program
	St Martha's Catholic Church
	10:30am
	Rosary
	St Martha's Catholic Primary School front office
	2:35pm
7/4/24	Years 3-6 Family Mass
	St Martha's Catholic Church
	10am followed by morning tea
21/6/24	Confirmation
	St Martha's Catholic Church
	6pm

Easter Cards for the Residents of Nursing Homes

This year, once again, we are making Easter cards for the residents of nursing homes. Could you please email elena.razzoli@syd.catholic.edu.au by Monday 18 March 2024:

If you have any relatives / friends who are currently in a nursing home and if you would like some hand-made Easter cards for your relatives / friends and the other residents of that nursing home;
If your children would like to decorate some Easter cards at home. Your children can pick up the printed Easter cards from their classroom teacher and kindly return the Easter cards to their classroom teachers by Friday 22 March 2024, thank you.

Your children can write one of the following quotes inside each Easter card, thank you so much in advance for everyone’s kindness and generosity in making Easter cards for nursing homes’ residents:

‘Jesus told her (Martha),

“I am the resurrection and the life;

whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,

and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” ’– John 11:25

‘The Lord is my rock,

and my fortress.’

- Psalm 18:2

'My heart is glad,

and my soul rejoices.’

- Psalm 16:9

'The Lord is my shepherd,

(..) He leads me beside still waters;

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness.'

- Psalm 23:1-3

‘Surely goodness and mercy

shall follow me

all the days of my life.’

- Psalm 23:6

‘Lord (..)

in Your presence

there is fullness of joy.’

- Psalm 16:8-11

‘The Lord is my helper.’

- Hebrews 13:6

‘Ask,

and it will be given to you;

seek,

and you will find;

knock

and it will be opened to you.’

- Luke 11:9

‘I am with you. (..)

I am your God.

I give you strength,

truly I help you,

truly I hold you firm

with my saving right hand.'

- Is: 41:10

‘I love you, o Lord,

my strength.’

- Psalm 18:1

‘I can do all things

through Christ who strengthens me.’

- Philippians 4:13

‘Cast your cares on the Lord

and He will sustain you.’

- Psalm 55:22

‘Nothing can ever separate us

from God's love.’

- Romans 8:38

‘With God all things are possible.’

- Matthew 19:26

St Merkorious Charity Volunteering - Making Lunches

On Monday, 25 March 2024 (Monday of Holy Week) you are all kindly invited to volunteer at St Merkorious Charity in South Strathfield.

We will volunteer in the kitchen from 9:15am to 1:30pm. Even if you're free to just come and help out in the kitchen for one hour, it would be wonderful to have you join us even for a short time.

Many thanks in advance for your kindness and generosity. It is always a beautiful, very rewarding experience.

If it is your first time volunteering at St Merkorious Charity, here below are the links to the two forms that will please need to be completed prior to volunteering:

https://stmerkorious.org.au/confidentiality-policy/https://stmerkorious.org.au/volunteer-application-form/

If you'd like to volunteer at St Merkorious Charity on Monday 25 March 2024, please email elena.razzoli@syd.catholic.edu.au by Friday 15 March 2024.

Monday Rosaries

On Mondays 18 and 25 March 2024 you are all warmly invited to meet at 2:35pm in the meeting room inside St Martha’s Catholic Primary School (opposite the sign-in desk in the school front office) to pray the Rosary for all of St Martha’s intentions.

As always, babies, toddlers and preschoolers are also most welcome to join in praying the Rosary 🙂

Playgroup

Playgroup at St Martha’s on Monday 18 March 2024 8:50am to 9:50am followed by morning tea. All parents who have babies, toddlers and preschoolers are warmly invited to email elena.razzoli@syd.catholic.edu.au by Friday 15 March to confirm their attendance to playgroup. Feel free to invite your relatives and friends.

Lenten Program

A friendly reminder that you are all warmly invited to our weekly Lenten program at 10:30 - 11:30am at St Martha’s Catholic Church. The program will run every Monday during Lent.

Please feel free to invite any friends and relatives.

Prayer Requests

If you have any special intentions that you’d like the St Martha’s Community to pray for, please email me (elena.razzoli@syd.catholic.edu.au) your prayer requests and we will pray for them. If you’d like, we are also happy to place your prayer requests in our next school newsletter.

Women Lenten Retreat

The Women Lenten Retreat is this Saturday: 16 March 2024. All mothers, grandmothers, aunties and female friends are warmly invited to attend the Lenten retreat at St Mary’s Cathedral Hall, Sydney this Saturday (16 March) at St Mary’s Cathedral Hall, Sydney.

Please email elena.razzoli@syd.catholic.edu.au at your earliest convenience you’d like to attend the Women Lenten Retreat at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney; also, please Reserve your ticket here.

Cost: $20 per person (includes morning tea and lunch).

Many thanks to everyone who has already RSVPed their attendance to this Saturday’s Lenten Retreat, to this Monday’s playgroup and morning tea, and to the volunteering morning at St Merkorious Charity on Monday 25 March 2024.

I look forward to seeing the St Martha’s Mothers, Grandmothers and Aunties this Saturday at the Lenten Retreat at St Mary’s Cathedral Hall.

Wishing everyone a very blessed and fruitful rest of Lent,

God Bless,

Elena Razzoli

Family Educator

elena.razzoli@syd.catholic.edu.au

Happy Birthday!
Eva C	Lucas Z	Gabriella F
Macy T	Beatrix L	Vincent W
Fabian R	Luke B	Hannah N
Matthew P	Thanmai K	Emily B
Megan L	Krishiv G	Obinna O

Awards & Birthdays