Education in Faith

School Mass and Prayer Opportunities

As we are well and truly into the swing of Term One, I'd like to draw your attention to opportunities for our students and their families to celebrate Mass and prayer at OLA in 2024.

Whole School Mass/Prayer

Term 1

• Lenten Prayer Services
• Thursday 28 March 9am - Holy Week Prayer Service

Term 2

• Tuesday 16 April 10:30am - Easter Alleluia Prayer Service
• Thursday 18 April 9:15am - Opening School Term and Mini Vinnies Commissioning Mass
• Wednesday 24 April 11am - ANZAC Prayer Service
• Thursday 6 June 2:45pm - Feast of the Sacred Heart/Poor Man's Prayer Service

Term 3

• Thursday 8 Aug 2:30pm - Feast of St Mary Mackillop Prayer Service
• Thursday 15 August 9:15am - Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mass

Term 4

• Monday 11 November 10:45am - Remembrance Day Prayer Service
• Advent Prayer Services
• Tuesday 17 December 9am - End of Year Prayer Service

Sacramental Program and Level Involvement

Prep

• Thursday 23 May 6:30pm - Prayer in PJs Parent/Child Workshop

Grade 1 and 2

• Thursday 8 August 6:30pm - Parent/Child Workshop

Reconciliation (Grade 3)

• Thursday 22 February 6:30pm - Reconciliation Parent/Child Workshop
• Wednesday 20 March 5pm and 7pm - Sacrament of Reconciliation

First Eucharist (Grade 4)

• Thursday 18 July 6:30pm - First Eucharist Parent/Child Workshop
• Monday 22 July - First Eucharist Reflection Day
• Sunday 11 August 9am and 11am - Sacrament of First Eucharist

Confirmation (Grade 6)

• Thursday 1 August 6:30pm - Confirmation Parent/Child Workshop
• Monday 12 August - Confirmation Reflection Day
• Friday 6 September 5pm - Sacrament of Confirmation

Class Prayer Services & Participation in Mass

At OLA, Prep - Grade 2 classes host one prayer service for their families in the year, and the Grade 3 - 6 classes participate in a Mass in the Church and lead the prayers and readings for the day. After each of these opportunities, we welcome parents and other special visitors to join us for some morning tea. All are welcome!

Prep Level

• Wednesday 11 September 9am - PCH
• Wednesday 18 September 9am - PEJ

Junior Level

• Wednesday 8 May 9am - 2MV
• Wednesday 15 May 9am - 2EB
• Wednesday 22 May 9am - 1JM
• Thursday 23 May 9am - 1ET

Middle Level

• Wednesday 16 October 9:15am - 3/4TR
• Wednesday 23 October 9:15am - 3/4GO
• Wednesday 30 October 9:15am - 3/4FO

Senior Level

• Wednesday 6 March 9:15am - 5/6SP
• Wednesday 20 March 9:15am - 5/6NC
• Wednesday 27 March 9:15am - 5/6MG

We look forward to celebrating and sharing our faith in 2024.

Caritas Project Compassion Lenten Appeal

The season of Lent began on Ash Wednesday 14 February. This also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. All donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia to work with communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. 

The theme of Project Compassion for 2024 is ‘For all future generations’ and reminds us that the good we do today will extend and affect generations to come. It encourages us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long term solutions to global issues. 

The Grade 6 Social Justice Leaders and Wellbeing Leaders have taken the lead in promoting this within our school, and we thank them for their work so far.

You can donate via the donation boxes that are located in each classroom, or online via the Caritas Australia website. 

Third Week of Lent (week beginning Monday 4 March)

Samoa may be a country surrounded by water, but access to clean drinking water is scarce in some areas, with many families facing extreme hardship as a result.

Leaia lives with her five children, husband, brother and sister-in-law on the island of Upolu in Samoa. Not having access to a reliable source of clean water caused Leaia a lot of worry.

Their home is not connected to a piped water system, so they had to rely solely on rainwater collected in old fridges. When their water ran out, Leaia had to walk with her young children to collect water in buckets and containers from a neighbour down the street.

With the support of Caritas Australia's local partner, Caritas Samoa, a water tank was installed at Leaia's home. She and her family now have a steady supply of clean drinking water at home. Next year, they will also have a toilet built, with the support of Caritas Samoa, which will further improve their health and living conditions.

“We are very thankful and grateful for the water tank. It has helped us so much and made our daily life easier,” Leaia said.

Fourth Week of Lent (week beginning Monday 11 March)

Memory is 26 years old and lives in rural Malawi. As the eldest child in a low-income farming family, Memory had to take on many household chores and farming activities to support her parents. They struggled to pay for Memory’s school fees and school supplies, and Memory often had to walk to school barefooted.  

With the support of Caritas Australia and its partner the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM), Memory was able to enrol at a technical college where she learnt technical skills in carpentry. She undertook a three-year carpentry course, with CADECOM supporting part of her tuition and boarding fees. 

Memory became the first female carpenter from her village. Today, she works as a carpenter at one of Malawi’s largest hydroelectric power stations. With the income from her job, she can provide financial support to her family and inspire other young women in her community so that they may have the opportunity to succeed in a male-dominated industry. 

Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of two sacraments of healing (the other being the Anointing of the Sick). Reconciliation is a sacrament of forgiveness and celebrates God's love and mercy towards us. It is about acknowledging and naming those times when we know we have done wrong, and then making peace and restoring the relationships with those who have been affected by our poor choices and with God.

Our Grade 3 students have been preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We keep these students in our thoughts and prayer during this special preparation time. 

Caitlan Taig

Religious Education Leader