Catholic Identity
PRAYER
What is Holy Week
For Catholics, Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter, is a time of solemn reflection and remembrance. During Holy Week we recount the events of the final days of Jesus' life, from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to his crucifixion on Good Friday. This week is a time for us to deepen our faith, reflect on the meaning of Jesus' sacrifice, and prepare for the joy of Easter, where we celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection. By conquering death Jesus gives us all hope that we may one day be with God in Heaven. This year Holy Week is celebrated in the last week of the school holidays.
Prayer for Holy Week
Lord, let everything I do in the coming Holy Week be inspired by You.
Help me to remember that nothing is important in my life unless it glorifies You in some way. It’s so easy to get caught up in the day to day of my life.
Help me to enter fully into your Passion through my Lenten promises and always be reminded that You went to the desert, the garden and the cross for me.
Amen
YEAR 1S PRESENT PALM SUNDAY
The Year 1s are to be congratulated on their wonderful presentation of the Palm Sunday story. They recalled Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where people called out Hosanna and placed Palm branches and their cloaks on the road. Below are some photos from the day and a link to a video of the presentation.
YEAR 4S PRESENT HOLY THURSDAY
Congratulations to our Year 4s, who made a terrific video retelling the story of the Last Supper. Many of the students in Year 4 are preparing to celebrate their First Holy Communion later in the year, and their work retelling the events we recall each Sunday at Mass is a great way to prepare to receive the Sacrament for the first time.
Good Friday
Tomorrow our Year 6s will lead our school community through a live reenactment of the passion and death of Jesus. Students will be presenting the 14 Stations of the Cross and giving other students the opportunity to pray and reflect on the sacrifice made by Jesus for us all.
HOLY WEEK INFORMATION
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2025
All baptised Catholic students in Year 3, 4 and 6 will be preparing to celebrate a Sacrament this year. Students in Year 4 will receive their First Holy Communion in Term 2 and our Year 6 students will be Confirmed in Term 3.
An important aspect of preparing for any Sacrament is to attend Mass each weekend. Fr Albert is encouraging every child in the Parish of St Andrew’s who is preparing to celebrate a Sacrament this year, to attend Mass regularly, to receive God’s abundant graces.
Recently all students who are preparing for a Sacrament received their Sacramental Journal. These Journals are given to all children in the Parish who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, their First Holy Communion or to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this year. The Journal is an easy way for families to record the Masses they attend throughout the year. Please remember to take a pen to Mass so the priest can sign your Journal for you at the end of Mass.
COMMUNITY MASSES 2025
Throughout the year we will be holding a number of Community Masses here in our school hall. These Masses are generally celebrated on the fourth Saturday of the month (excluding school holidays or where the weekend is next to a public holiday). Families with a child preparing for a Sacrament this year received their Sacramental Journal at the February Community Mass. Below is a list of this year’s Community Mass dates, we look forward to seeing many of our families there.
Saturday 24th May
Saturday 28th June
Saturday 26th July
Saturday 23rd August
Saturday 25th October
Saturday 22nd November
Parish Take Away Sheet
SACRAMENTAL DATES 2025
Below are our Sacramental Dates for this year. These dates are particularly important for Baptised Catholic students in Years 3, 4 & 6. Families need to be aware the Sacrament of Eucharist has two important dates coming up in May and early June.
