Principal's Panorama

Dear Parents and Carers of Sacred Heart School,

Daily we see the turmoil that is being experienced by Ukrainians and it is unfathomable to comprehend the pain and suffering that is occurring within their country. In today's newsletter I offer Pope Francis's Prayer for Peace, in the hopes that the prayers of peace internationally will be heard and peace will be restored for all of those experiencing conflict. 

Pope Francis' Prayer for Peace

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain.

Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: "Never again war!"; "With war everything is lost". Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace.

Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarrelling into forgiveness.

Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words "division", "hatred" and "war" be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be "brother", and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam!

Amen.

We are currently in our third week of Lent and we have seen our students fundraise for Caritas Australia through gold coin donations for both Shrove Tuesday pancakes and casual clothes for St. Patrick's. This has been a great opportunity for our students to learn about how they can help others through small donations and the difference that contributions can make to the lives of others.

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend our Sacred Heart School Family BBQ and our recent Parent/Student/Teacher Meetings. It has been wonderful to welcome our community back to our school site and we look forward to finding many more opportunities to celebrate as a school community.

Justine

Principal