St Mary's Primary School Newsletter

Religious Education


SCHOOL MASSES

This year we will be having year level masses throughout each term and and whole school masses on special occasions on Thursdays at 9:00am. 

As Fr Desmond is away for a short while, our first mass will be on Ash Wednesday 14 February at 11:45am with Fr Joseph for Years 3-6. The Years 1 & 2 will have a small paraliturgy in the hall after lunch where they will receive the ashes. This day will be the beginning of the Lenten season. 

We will then have our official beginning of the year, Whole School Mass, with Fr Desmond on Thursday 22 February at 9:00am. 

 

 

 

Our school leaders will help with the readings.

Everyone is welcome to join us for this or any mass during the term.

 

Future Masses for this term Thurs @ 9:00am

Thursday  29 February  – Yr 6

Thursday  7 March – Yr 2

Thursday 14 March – Yr 1

Thursday 21 March – Whole School 

 

Pancake Tuesday – February 13th

  • Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday is the last day of feasting before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.
  • Christians would traditionally eat any left-over rich foods on the day before Lent, when ‘fasting’ began. 
  • The most popular way to use up rich foods such as butter, eggs and milk was to make pancakes or omelettes!
  • Today, the Church encourages us to give rather than give up or abstain. 

 

Lenten Activities

The children will be learning about:

  • Pancake / Shrove Tuesday
  • Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent
  • Lent, a forty day period prior to Easter
  • Particular events in the life of Jesus  i.e. Jesus’ forty days of fasting and praying in the desert
  • Related Lenten symbols used by the Church i.e. ashes, the cross and the colour, purple

 

 

 

 

The children will be participating in:

  • The Ash Wednesday Mass or paraliturgy
  • The three traditional Lenten practices of Prayer, Penance and Almsgiving (giving to the poor or helping others)

Project Compassion

Dear Families,

Please note that St. Mary’s School traditionally supports Project Compassion throughout the Lenten season. 

All families and classroom teachers will receive a donation box.

I ask you to please support Caritas Australia’s major fundraising appeal.

Lenten Prayer for Children

Dear God,

 Thank-you for giving us this special time of Lent.

Thank-you for giving us hands to do good things with.

Thank-you for giving us our hearts to love with.

Thank-you, God. Amen.

 

 

Thanking you for your support

Michael Dwyer

Religious Education Leader (Liturgy and Prayer)