Education in Faith
Reconciliation Reflection Day
On Friday the 16th of March the Year Three students and several candidates from our local community met at Galilee to partake in their Reconciliation Reflection Day. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the sacraments of healing and restoration. It celebrates the endlessly forgiving mercy of God and the change of heart of all those who turn back to God after sin. It celebrates too all the efforts at reconciliation inspired by God’s grace in which we are engaged throughout our lives with family, friends, and others.
The candidates discussed the four steps involved in the sacrament which include:
contrition – regretting or being sorry for destructive thoughts, words or deeds;
confession – naming,admitting and acknowledging them;
absolution - being granted forgiveness;
satisfaction - repairing or making up for wrongdoing.
Students had a lovely day and enjoyed sharing the day with Fr. Dean.
Sacrament of First Reconciliation
We would like to congratulate our Year 3 students on preparing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation this term. We witnessed half of the group participate in the Sacrament on Tuesday evening at Ss Peter and Paul and we are excited to witness the remaining students tonight at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the parents, teachers, Religious Education Leaders, Parish educators and Parish Priests for preparing the students to receive this special sacrament of healing.
Fifth Sunday of Lent Scripture Reflection
Readings: Yr B: Jer 31:31-34; Heb 5:7-9; Jn 12:20-33
The readings remind us that our relationship with God is one that is deep and lasting – at least from God’s viewpoint!
The prophet Jeremiah speaks of the emergence of a ‘new covenant’ and offers us these words: “Deep within them, I will plant my law, writing it on their hearts.”
Let's pause for a few seconds and reflect on the implications of these words.
God calls us into a mature and deeper relationship that will grow as we grow. The Gospel story has Jesus speaking to two of his disciples, Andrew and Philip of his own imminent death. He uses the image of the grain of wheat which must die to yield a rich harvest.
Together these readings can help us appreciate and understand the depth of love and faithfulness required to live in right relationships with God and others.
The weekly Project Compassion Lenten story from Caritas Australia this week revisits Ditosa’s story from 2013. With your contributions to Project Compassion, Caritas Australia was supporting the Matuba Children’s Centre in Mozambique which provided vulnerable children with study help, food, and training in activities such as sewing and growing vegetables. Five years on, Ditosa is now 17, has completed her education and is looking forward to a bright and just future.
This program reflects the strength of Caritas’ long term commitment and willingness to allow ‘new green shoots’ to ‘yield a rich harvest’- which is so obvious in the changes in Ditosa’s life and the maturing partnerships which began five years ago.
For Ditosa and many other young people, a just future started with education.
A thought to take away. What seeds lie dormant in each one of us and within our communities that could grow into a new harvest yielding a more just and peaceful future?
This is the last week for collections for Caritas Project Compassion. Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal, Project Compassion brings thousands of Australians together in solidarity with the world's poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.
To see the difference Caritas is making for Ditosa from Mozambique please see the video below.