Education in Faith

Feast of the Sacred Heart 

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The feast is the time to reach out to others, showing the same love and mercy Jesus showed us. Today we celebrate together, especially recognizing the work of St Vincent De Paul and the Mini Vinnies who help the needy people in our community.

Tim Schmalz: Jesus the Homeless

At first glance, you see someone huddled in blankets and clutching at sleep on a cold park bench. At second glance, you think: “It’s a statue.”

At third glance, you notice the holes in the feet - where the nails went in that nailed him to the cross.

It is the work of Canadian sculptor Tim Schmalz, inspired by a glance sideways as he drove along a busy street in Toronto. “I was driving into the biggest city in Canada and along the biggest street. I turned and saw a human form shrouded in blankets in the middle of the day,” he said.

“It just shocked me. In that initial moment my experience was of seeing Jesus there.”

The image stayed with him and he went home and created Jesus the Homeless.

An anonymous Episcopalian benefactor is funding 12 casts of the statue to go to big cities across the world, free of charge.

You walk past people sleeping in doorsteps and on park benches. The marks of the two nails on the feet remind us that Christ is present.

So if you are passing Jesus the Homeless, hopefully you will be reminded that there are others who are in need. It is a reminder that we are called to serve the homeless and to recognise Christ in each other.

On his park bench sculpture, there is a small space - just enough, at a tight squeeze, for one person to sit. 

“I deliberately left a little bit of the bench so that you can sit, uncomfortably, beside it.”

St Vincent De Paul Winter Appeal

Who is experiencing homelessness?

Homelessness in Australia has grown significantly. In 2021 122,949 people were recorded as homeless. Nearly a quarter of all people experiencing homelessness are from 12-24 years of age. People over the age of 55 represented 1 in 7 of people experiencing homelessness. 56% of the homeless population are males, 44% are females, 25% are First Nations and 30% were born overseas. 

What leads to homelessness?

One of the reasons of homelessness is because rental housing is becoming more expensive.Some people with health challenges also don’t have access to appropriate care. For young people homelessness is not a choice, it often happens because of changes in family life or loss. 

What are the impacts of homelessness?

For some families homelessness is a hard time that many families struggle if they are going through it. It can disrupt education, lives and things you enjoy. Studies show that people who experience homelessness die 22 to 33 years before the person with the average household. There is a 63% increase in preventable deaths for people experiencing homelessness. Some households are food insecure so they are skipping meals. They sometimes don’t eat for 2 days so they can keep a roof over their head. Families reduce buying meat and dairy products and cleaning products and toiletries.

How can we help at OLA?

We can help at OLA by donating food to the people who need help. We must be grateful for what we have, because the homeless don’t have a lot of resources to help them. We want to make the human society more helpful to people in need. Things you can donate:

• Pasta
• Rice 
• Canned food or other non-perishable food
• Gloves
• Jumpers
• Blankets
• Toothpaste
• Shampoo
• Deodorant

Please bring any donations to your classrooms by the end of term. 

Prayer Services

Grade 1 and 2 classes have the opportunity to participate in a class prayer service in the classrooms. These prayer services are a wonderful opportunity for our families to come and share in and experience prayer at OLA, being one of the most well attended, supported and heart warming opportunities. 

We celebrated beautiful prayer services with 1/2MV and 1/2CH. The students reflected on caring for God’s world through prayer, song, and art.

First Eucharist Reflection Day

On Monday 1 June our Grade 4 students participated in a First Eucharist Reflection Day. Throughout this day, children engaged in activities to pray, reflect, meditate, explore and discuss what it is to receive the Eucharist.

Grade 4 First Eucharist 

Please keep the following students in your prayers as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of First Eucharist. This is a special day as the children come to the Lord's table for the first time. 

Josy Reeder

Religious Education Leader