Religious Dimensions

Catholic Education Week

Catholic Education week this year will take place from Sunday 13 March to Sunday 20 March. The theme for Catholic Education Week 2022 is The Way of the Gospel, which is based on Archbishop Peter A Comensoli’s Pastoral Letter for Pentecost 2021.

‘The Way of the Gospel’ challenges us to find the living Christ in our midst and to respond and adapt to the questions that are asked in each generation.

• Where do we find the living Christ in the midst of these questions?
• How might our Catholic school communities continue to bring to life the way of the gospel today and in the future?
• How might we continue to invite our students, our families and our staff into the fullness of the way of the gospel?

During this week, classes will explore the importance and the impact of their Catholic Education in their lives. 

Shrove Tuesday

Tuesday 1 March is Shrove Tuesday. Shrove Tuesday is a Christian festival celebrated in many countries across the globe. It falls on the Tuesday before the beginning of Lent – a period of around six weeks leading up to Easter. During Lent, Christians give up luxuries to remember when Jesus went into the desert for 40 days to fast and pray.

Traditionally during Lent, Christians would give up rich, tasty foods such as butter, eggs, sugar and fat. Shrove Tuesday was the last chance to eat them – and what better way to do so than with a delicious pancake!

We thank Mel, Claire and our P&F Committee for organising pancakes for our students. 

Ash Wednesday

Wednesday 2 March is Ash Wednesday, and it marks the beginning of Lent. We call it Ash Wednesday because many Christians around the world receive a cross of ashes on their foreheads. God’s people have used this sign for hundreds of years. This cross of ashes tells friends and neighbours that we are not perfect, and that we know we are not perfect. With God’s help we can try to reach out to others with more love and kindness especially in our own families, our school and parish communities and in our world and think about how we can be better people. The ashes also remind us that God brings new life where before we could see none.

All classes will participate in a prayer service in their classrooms on Wednesday afternoon and the Grade 6 Social Justice Leaders have been invited to represent our school at morning Mass.

Lent

Lent is the period of about six weeks before Easter. It is a time in which we are quiet and thoughtful, preparing for Easter. 

During this time we are invited to pray, show kindness to our loved ones, help out those in need, or give up something that is special to us. This creates a strong link to our yearly theme of ‘kindness’. 

The period of Lent ends at Easter, which is a time of great celebration as we reflect on how Jesus had died on the cross but then rose again from the dead.

Lent is traditionally forty days long. That is because the Bible says that Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness, preparing for his death and resurrection.

Caitlan Taig

Religious Education Leader