Our Faith - Religion - Prayer
St Patrick's Church Walcha
For Baptism or Marriage enquiries phone Monsignor Ted Wilkes 67784070.
Monsignor Ted Wilkes would like to invite parishioners to Sunday Mass 10am.
Term 1 Mass Dates
Tuesday 17th March: Mass (Feast of St Patrick) at 11.30am
Friday 27th March: Mass and First Reconciliation after at 11.30am
Heading: A Week into the Journey: Reflecting on Lent
As we near the end of our first full week of Lent, it is a perfect time to pause and take stock of the journey so far. The ashes we received last Wednesday reminded us of our call to turn back to God, but often, the busyness of the term can quickly distract us from our Lenten promises.
How are you traveling this Lenten season?
The late Pope Francis often reminded us that Lent is not just about "giving up" something like chocolate or coffee. It is about making space.
- Space for Prayer: Are we finding quiet moments to talk to God?
- Space for Others (Almsgiving): How are we supporting Project Compassion or helping those in need?
Space for Change (Fasting): Are we fasting from unkind words or impatience, rather than just food?
If your Lenten resolutions have already wobbled a little, don’t worry! Lent is a season of grace, not perfection. We encourage all families to use this weekend to reset and choose one small, meaningful action to carry through the coming weeks.
Prayer
Loving God,
As we complete this first week of our Lenten journey,
we ask for the grace to keep our hearts open to You.
When our promises are hard to keep,
give us strength.
When we are distracted,
gently guide us back.
Help us to use this season to make space for prayer,
to show kindness to others,
and to grow closer to Your love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Join Us for a Twilight Retreat this upcoming Wednesday, March 4th
We are delighted to invite parents and parishioners to join our school staff for a special Twilight Retreat on Wednesday, 4th March. Led by the Spirituality Team from Armidale Catholic Schools, this session offers a valuable opportunity for spiritual renewal and reflection.
The retreat will commence at 3:15 pm and conclude after 90 minutes. We would love for you to be part of this enriching afternoon as we come together in faith. If you wish to attend, please simply contact the school office to register your interest.
First Reconciliation- Friday 27th March
Families of all eligible candidates for the Sacrament of First Reconciliation have received information concerning the preparation program that will be commencing next week. The document detailed all relevant aspects of the program. Should you have any questions or inquiries regarding the Sacrament of First Reconciliation, please do not hesitate to reach out to Mr Hyatt.
Project Compassion
As Lent begins, we also launch the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Contributions to this appeal allow Caritas—the Catholic agency for international aid—to partner with vulnerable communities globally to fight poverty, hunger, and injustice.
In the spirit of Lent, we are invited to show compassion through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. To support this, every student received a Project Compassion donation box earlier in the week. We encourage everyone to contribute what they can to help create a better future for generations to come.
Monoranjon's story, Bangladesh (Project Compassion)
During this period of Lent, let us reflect upon the ways in which we can guarantee our efforts are directed towards benefiting the well-being of all future generations across the globe.
Together, we can make a difference now, and For All Future Generations.
We continue our annual Lenten Project Compassion journey by learning about Monranjon who lives in Bangladesh.
Monoranjon lives in a small coastal village in southwest Bangladesh with his wife and two children. It is a beautiful region, but it is also incredibly vulnerable. Rising sea levels and frequent storms often flood the area, turning the soil salty and making it nearly impossible to grow traditional crops.
For a long time, Monoranjon struggled to provide for his family. With his harvest failing, he feared he would not be able to afford his children's education.
Through the support of Project Compassion, Monoranjon joined a program run by Caritas Bangladesh that taught him climate-resilient farming. He learned how to:
- Grow salt-tolerant vegetables that can survive in his changing environment.
- Raise livestock and farm fish to diversify his income.
Plant mangroves to protect the coastline from erosion and cyclones.
Today, Monoranjon is a leader in his community. He is earning enough to send his children to school and is teaching his neighbours these new farming techniques so they can survive, too.
Thank you to all our families for your generosity. Your donations are directly helping people like Monoranjon build a sustainable future in the face of great challenges.
Looking ahead, Monoranjon sees a future where he continues to thrive as a farmer, guiding others towards a path of sustainable development and resilience.
Watch his story and see how his life has changed, thanks to people like you.
Sacrament Dates for 2026
2026 First Reconciliation: Date has been set for our Catholic students in Years 2, 3 and Year 4 for Friday 27th March 2026.
2026 First Eucharist: Date has been set for our Catholic students in Year 3 and 4 for Sunday 7th June 2026.
Catherine McAuley
Catherine’s spirituality was centred on the mercy of God…prayer in action…action in prayer.