Catholic Identity
Shrove Tuesday
This coming Tuesday, 13th February, our school will be celebrating Shrove Tuesday. Shrove Tuesday comes from an old English word meaning “to confess,” since it was customary to go to confession before the beginning of Lent. It was also customary to use up meats, fats, and dairy products before entering the Lenten period of fasting; this led to the day’s nicknames: Mardi Gras (French for Fat Tuesday) or Pancake Tuesday.
As part of this celebration we will be having some of our Year 6 students and parents cooking pancakes for all students to eat during recess. If your child has any food allergies please let their class teacher know. We will be providing gluten intolerant pancakes as well.
Ash Wednesday Mass
Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday 14th February 2024 and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.
As a school we will be attending Ash Wednesday Mass at 9.30am at St Joseph’s Church. All parents and friends are invited to attend and celebrate this important season in our Church calendar.
Project Compassion
This week, the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allow Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.
Please give generously to Caritas Australia this Lenten season and help vulnerable people around the world, now and for all future generations.
With your support, Caritas Australia has been able to assist communities around the world through income generation, water and sanitation, food security, education and disaster risk reduction programs.
Project Compassion 2024 reminds us that the good we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come. Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow.
You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes, which will be sent home with each family on Wednesday 14th February and/ or online by visiting caritas.org.au/project-compassion or by calling 1800 024 413.
St. Joseph's Award
During weeks 1, 2 and 3 we have focused on the St. Joseph quality: Acceptance.
A student that shows accepting qualities must be patient with others. They must be willing to be with, listen to, learn from, or embrace someone who may not believe or see things the way you do. Therefore, arriving at acceptance can take some patience. During next week's assembly students from each class who have shown these qualities will receive the St Joseph’s Award for Acceptance.
Parents will be notified if their child is receiving an award.
