Catholic Identity 

Pancake Tuesday / Shrove Tuesday 

On Tuesday we celebrated an important event and a tradition in the Catholic community. 

Our Year 6 Caritas Just Leadership Team worked tirelessly delivering the pancakes and toppings to each classroom and collecting and counting the gold coin donations received. This team are proud to announce that Pancake Tuesday raised over $500.00! Congratulations! 

These funds will support Caritas Australia as they support the most vulnerable in our community and world. 

Thank you to our Foundation to Year 2 families for the generous donations of ingredients and toppings. All was gratefully received. 

Thank you also to all parents who volunteered on the day ensuring all pancakes were delicious and large!  

The Season of Lent 

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of one of the most important times in the Church and our Parish.   

Lent lasts for 40 days (not including Sundays) and concludes on Holy Thursday. The 40 days of Lent remind us of the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert in preparation for his public ministry. It is the time that we prepare to enter the mystery of Easter - that Jesus died and that was sad - but it was also wonderful in an Easter kind of way… somehow he was still with his friends, somehow he is still with us! Lent is a time for getting ready for the king who is coming, then going, then coming again.  

The Church encourages us to prepare for the great mystery of Easter in three specific ways: 

Fasting 

Fasting does not have to be about just giving up ‘food’. Fasting is often done by giving up something that you enjoy, certain past times or an event . . . and giving the money you’ve saved to help someone else. We are also invited to ‘give up’ some habits that are not life-giving. Maybe we could consider giving up petty rivalries, jealousy, negativity or impatience.                                                      

Prayer 

Prayer is a central part of the Catholic tradition and is observed regularly. At St Mary’s we begin and end each day with prayer and give prayers of praise before lunch.  

During Lent Catholics are called to continue their prayer life and ‘make space’ for God.  

Almsgiving 

Almsgiving refers to being charitable and sharing what we have with people in need.  

Project Compassion is the appeal run through Caritas Australia which Catholic communities are encouraged to support during Lent. Families are encouraged to donate a gold coin towards each of our weekly Caritas fundraising events, hosted by each Year level. In friendly competition, the Year level which raises the highest amount of funds, will receive Zooper Doopers on the last day of Term 1. 

Caritas Fundraising events: 

To support Caritas Australia as they reach out to those in need, each week a Year level will be responsible for organising a fundraising event where we encourage learners to bring a gold coin.   

All funds will be donated to Caritas.   

Ladies Breakfast: St Mary’s Parish event 

St Mary’s Parish will be hosting a ‘Ladies Breakfast’ on Saturday 28th February @ 9.30am in the Parish Centre.  

You are asked to join together celebrating 140 years of shared history between St Mary’s Parish and St Joseph’s College, honouring the women who journeyed in faith. We celebrate the legacy of the Brigidine Sisters.  

All are welcome! 

Cost: $15.00 

Year Level / Community Mass & Liturgy Timetable  

Throughout the year we will gather to celebrate our faith and learning as a school and as a Parish community.  

This year we have extended some of the significant dates within other faiths. We are blessed at St Mary’s in our diversity of culture and religion, and we believe it is important to acknowledge these important religious feasts and celebrations while at the same time, deepening our understanding and knowledge. 

We have also included opportunities for our Parishioners to join with us for weekday Mass each term. We continue to celebrate ‘G’day Weekends’ and have now included ‘G’day Weekdays’! 

Please mark these dates in your calendar as an opportunity to strengthen our connections and share our lives.