Education in Faith
Project Compassion - Class Challenge (Date Extended)
By popular demand we have extended the date for Project Compassion donations to Monday 29th April - this is Monday next week. Read below for more information.
Project Compassion is Caritas Australia's annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal. Millions of Australians come together in solidarity with the world's poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. The theme for this year’s appeal is For all Future Generations.
This year, the RE School Leaders have set a challenge for each class. The challenge is to show some initiative and organise a fundraiser to raise as much money as you can for Project Compassion. You can do this by yourself, with your family or a group of friends. It might be as simple as asking family and friends for donations because you are committing to giving up something for Lent or a much bigger idea - whatever you like.
This year we have gone hi-tech and created a different website for each class (links below), where your family and friends can go to and donate. If you raise some cash, your parents might be able to take the cash and make the online donation for that amount.
The fundraising target for each class is $20 times the number of students in your class. If you reach the target by Monday 29th April (which is the third Monday of Term 2) your class will get to see your teachers drenched with ice cold water. If you want to see what that feels like - here are the videos from last year.
On the website for each class (links below), you can also see how much money your class has raised so far and how close your class is to the target. There are also posters with a qr code link up on the door to each classroom.
A snapshot of RE Learning in 3/4JW
In Religion we have begun to learn about our faith journey at OHR. During that journey this year, our Year Fours will be making their First Eucharist.
We have learnt that being a part of a faith community means we are a part of a group of people who trust and believe in each other. We also have a similar set of faiths and beliefs with the people in our community.
Students were able to list each of our Gospel Values here at OHR:
- Kindness
- Gratitude
- Acceptance
- Fairness
- Hope
- Persistence
- Courage
- Forgiveness
Students are working on identifying how they demonstrate each of these Gospel Values in their lives, and the people who encourage and guide them to live with these values at their core.
Sunday Gospel
The liturgy of the Catholic Church provides a framework for reflection which is used by Catholics throughout the world. Each week in the Newsletter, you will find the Sunday Gospel as well as some discussion questions to have with your child/ren.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘I am the true vine,
and my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in me that bears no fruit
he cuts away,
and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes
to make it bear even more.
You are pruned already,
by means of the word that I have spoken to you.
Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.
As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself,
but must remain part of the vine,
neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine,
you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me, with me in him,
bears fruit in plenty;
for cut off from me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
is like a branch that has been thrown away
– he withers;
these branches are collected and thrown on the fire,
and they are burnt.
If you remain in me
and my words remain in you,
you may ask what you will
and you shall get it.
It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit,
and then you will be my disciples.’
Discussion Questions
1. What are some types of fruit that grow on vines?
2. Which is your favourite?
3. What do vines look like when they grow?
4. Why do the branches need to be pruned or trimmed?
5. In today’s gospel Jesus tells us that he is the vine and we are the branches. How are we Jesus’ branches?
6. How can we produce lots of fruit?
We produce much fruit when we show that we are Jesus’ disciples and serve others.
We pray that we will never be cut off from Jesus and we will produce fruit that will last.