RE News

Key Dates:

March 13th - 20th - Catholic Education Week
Friday March 17th - Catholic Education Week Mass - St Patrick's Cathedral
April 6th - Holy Thursday, Whole school liturgy/stations of the cross
April 7th - Good Friday
April 8th - Easter Saturday
April 9th - Easter Sunday
April 29th - Sacrament of Reconciliation 6:00 pm

Beginning of the Year and Staff Commissioning Mass

Last Friday our school community gathered to Commission our school staff into their roles for the 2023 school year.

We thank Father Chinua for leading us in this Mass.

Catholic Education Week 12-19th March

This year, Catholic Education Week will be celebrated across the Archdiocese of Melbourne from Sunday 12 March to Sunday 19 March.

The week is an opportunity for our school to join all 334 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese to celebrate our distinctive Catholic identity, our achievements, and the role our school plays within our parish and local communities.

The theme for this year’s celebrations is ‘Forming lives of faith, hope and love in the light of Christ’.

Catholic education seeks to provide students with a high-quality education that is inspired by the example of Jesus Christ and fosters the development of the whole person, forming individuals with more than just skills, but with the virtues to live life as transformative agents in our communities.

St Patrick's Mass for Schools

Some of our students will attend the Mass of St Patrick for Schools held on Friday 17 March and celebrated by Archbishop Peter, followed by the Concert in the Park for primary school students.

Creative Arts Exhibition

The Creative Arts Exhibition, which showcases the wonderful artwork of primary and secondary students in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, will run from Tuesday 14 March to Saturday 18 March and is open to the general public. We are lucky enough to have a number of our student's artworks being exhibited this year;

Possum Cloak- 5/6 2022 Cohort
Bunji - The Fire Carriers Network students
Banksia Lino print- Miro Doreleijers
Jumping frogs- Hazel Bijoy
Self Portrait- Picasso - Eli Long

Project Compassion

The theme of Project Compassion 2023 is ‘For All Future Generations’ and reminds us that the good we do today extends to impact the lives of generations to come. It invites us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long-term solutions to global issues. We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through prayer, fasting and almsgiving in support of Project Compassion. Each class has received a Project Compassion box and there are boxes available in the office. If you have some spare change please consider sending it with your child to place in the donation box.

Second Week of Lent

This week through Project Compassion, we learn about Tereesa, a Gamilaroi woman from Western Sydney who struggled with homelessness while raising her four children as a single mother. Seeking a better future for her family, Tereesa joined Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation’s Young Mums and Bubs Group, supported by Caritas Australia. Baabayn helped

Tereesa access housing and psychological

support. Tereesa was also able to hear stories from Indigenous Elders and reconnect with her culture. Today, Tereesa is studying a certificate in Community Services so that she can strengthen her skills and give back to her community. Tereesa now works at Baabayn, supporting young mothers and mentoring the next generation of young people.

▶️ Watch Tereesa’s story here: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/tereesa-story-video

Third Week of Lent

In the third week of Lent, our next Project Compassion story is of Priscilla, who lives with her husband, Charles, and two of their grandchildren in Zimbabwe. Climate change continues to bring unprecedented challenges for people living in Zimbabwe’s most vulnerable and remote communities.

During times of intense drought and food shortages, Priscilla had to commute to the town centre and wait in long queues to collect food. With the support of Caritas Hwange, Priscilla learnt conservation farming skills to grow drought-resistant crops. Priscilla produced a bumper harvest in her first year of practising conservation farming. She used the funds from her harvest to start poultry farming, which enabled her to sell eggs to pay for her grandchildren’s school fees, books and stationery. Poultry farming provides a safety net for Priscilla and her family during times of hardship, like the current drought.

While the situation in Zimbabwe and across eastern Africa remains dire, the work of Caritas Hwange means that Priscilla can learn the techniques, tools and resources she needs to build resilience and support her family during this current food crisis.

▶️ Watch Priscilla’s story here: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/priscilla-story-video

🙌 Support Project Compassion today: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion