OUR FAITH

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I ask for Your peace as our students and all the skilled, helpful adults in our school embark on this journey. Today, as we take the first small step on the road of the new academic year, remind us of Jesus’s call for us to wash each other’s feet. As we grow together on this path, may we cast aside our pride and open our hearts and minds to you. May we seek ways to uplift each other. May we build Your kingdom together.

Amen

We pray ...

for.....our St Nicholas students and families, especially our new Kindergarten students and those students and families who are new to our school;

LITURGY NEWS

Beginning of the School Year Mass (Years 1 - 6)

Thank you to all our families and friends who were able to attend our Opening School Mass last Friday week. What a wonderful and fitting way to begin our school year. A special thanks to Fr Chris for presiding over our Opening School Mass with us and for making this a special occasion for all, especially our leaders. Thank you also to the altar servers and readers.

Family Masses

Our Family Masses have become an important part of our School culture and these are usually held on the first Sunday of every month of the school term. Therefore our first Family Masses for this term will be held on Sunday 2nd March (Kindergarten and Yr 6) and Sunday 6th April (Yr 1 and Yr 5) at St Nicholas Church at 9.30a.m. These masses are an opportunity for our school community to come together with our Parish Community to celebrate the Liturgy of the Word and to share a ‘cuppa' and morning tea afterwards.

SHROVE TUESDAY - 4th MARCH - PANCAKES!!

With Shrove Tuesday taking place before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday, it was the day when Christians were encouraged to go to confession in preparation for the penitential season that would end 40 days and 40 nights later with Easter Sunday. Dating back to 1000 AD, over the years Shrove Tuesday not only became a day for Confession but a time for Catholics to feast on eggs, sugar and dairy which are traditionally restricted during the Lenten fast.

Shrove Tuesday 4th March – Pancake Day at school.

The PT&F needs assistance with cooking all the donated batter on the BBQ’s plus extra jobs like setting up, guiding the Yr 6 volunteers with pancake toppings and giving out fruit kebabs to the students with allergies. An hour is appreciated but if you can stay longer then type your name in multiple time slots (click on the link below).

- Rebecca Johnson PT&F Representative (I’ll be there on day to assist!)

Please consider volunteering to help with Shrove Tuesday. Click on the link below if you are able to help. Many hands make light work!

https://signup.zone/RnnSou8Su8rssjunr

What better way to prepare for the start of Lent than with a fundraiser for Caritas!

Pancakes and fruit sticks will be served to St Nicholas students on Tuesday 4th March for a gold coin donation to Caritas.

ASH WEDNESDAY

Ash Wednesday Mass - Years 3-6 – Wednesday 5th March

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent. To mark this occasion Years 3-6 will attend mass in the Undercroft area beginning at 9.30am. Sport Uniform to be worn for this Mass. Parents and friends are warmly welcome to join us at this Mass.

Ash Wednesday Liturgy - Kinder - Year 2

Kindergarten, Year 1 & Year 2 will receive the Ashes in a small Liturgy in the Auditorium beginning at 11.45am. Parents and friends are warmly welcome to join us for this liturgy.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. The practice of administering ashes on this day dates back to the Middle Ages. Ashes are intended to remind us of our human condition and that the things of this world are transitory. They are also a sign of repentance. The Ashes are made from burning the dry palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday and are placed on the foreheads in the sign of the cross with the words: “Repent and believe in the Gospel.”

All students will receive the Ashes unless parents otherwise communicate with their child's class teacher prior.

Project Compassion

Project Compassion Boxes

Each family will be receiving a small Project Compassion box to keep in their home during Lent. The theme of Project Compassion 2025 is ‘Unite Against Poverty’ and reminds us that the good that we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come. It invites us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long-term solutions to global issues.

We are particularly encouraged during Lent to give greater attention those who might be in need. One way we are able to do this as a Catholic Community is by supporting Project Compassion run by CARITAS Australia and over the next forty days of Lent we should be looking to make monetary contributions (big or small) to these boxes.

We are aware of many local families doing it tough given the current circumstances so prayers for those in need and random acts of kindness that don't cost money can be just as good as a monetary contribution!

Pastoral Care

As a school community we often include the needs, sorrows and joys of our families in our prayers. This is done through class prayer, whole school prayer and intentions mentioned in our weekly newsletters. If you experience the loss of a loved one, the anxiety of someone suffering ill-health or the joy of a new addition to your family, please let us know here at school so efforts can be made to include these intentions in our prayers.

Our Pastoral Care is vital in our commitment to show care, support and compassion for those families or individuals who may be experiencing difficulty or suffering through grief, loss or other personal issues. Simple support from others such as the cooking of meals, babysitting children, picking up and dropping off children or other chores such as ironing and shopping are some practical ways the load can be lightened. If you or your family are in need in any way throughout the year and would like support, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Dunst or Mrs Daley.

SACRAMENTS

This year our Year 3 and Year 6 baptised Catholic students will be involved in receiving the Sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion (First Eucharist) and Confirmation respectively. These are important events in the life of our students, school and Parish and we look forward to sharing these occasions with our students.

For any new students beginning at St Nicholas in 2025, if there is a Sacrament that they have missed receiving please contact Mrs Dunst as soon as possible rdunst@arm.catholic.edu.au

The following dates have been set aside for these special events;

First Reconciliation: Wednesday 18th June 2025 - St Nicholas Church 5.30pm

First Eucharist: Weekend of 21st/22nd June 2025

Confirmation: Weekend of 13th/14th September 2025

SCHOOL AGED BAPTISM

School - Age Baptism is being offered at St Nicholas Parish for children in Kinder to Year 6 who would like to be baptised.

Parent Information Session: Thursday 27th March, 4pm, Parish Meeting Room

School Age Baptisms: Saturday 5th April at 10am, St Nicholas Church.

Pamphlets are currently available at the back of St Nicholas & St Mary’s Churches or for more information please contact the Parish office on 67662228

JUBILEE YEAR

2025 is a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church

A Jubilee Year is traditionally proclaimed by the Universal Church every 25 years. It is a particular year set aside to encourage the faithful to embark on pilgrimages, to repent of their sins and forgive the sins of others, and to renew a focus on spiritual life.

The theme is Pilgrims of Hope. Pope Francis has invited Catholics to renew our hope and discover a vision that can "restore access to the fruits of the earth to everyone". We are also invited to rediscover a spirituality of God's creation in which we understand ourselves as "pilgrims on the earth" rather than masters of the world.

You will see this logo quite a bit this Year

The logo symbolises unity and fraternity among all of humanity, with four stylised figures from different corners of the earth embracing each other. The leading figure holds a cross, representing faith and hope. The rough waves beneath the figures symbolise life's challenges, emphasising the need for hope in difficult times. The elongated lower part of the cross forms an anchor, a well-known symbol of hope. This image depicts the pilgrimage as a communal journey towards the cross, which reaches out dynamically to offer presence and hope.