Religious Education News 

It was with great delight that the students from Prep, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4 enjoyed pancakes as they learnt about Shrove Tuesday in preparation for Ash Wednesday and Lent. Thank you to Holly, Jade, Amy, Charmaine, Karen, Diana, Louisa, Haywell and Erica sharing their pancake skills with our children. 

Traditionally the expression ‘Shrove Tuesday’ is derived from the old middle English word ‘shriven’, which referred to going to confession to repent for the things you have done wrong. Because Lent always starts on a Wednesday, people would go to confession the day before. This became known as Shriven Tuesday, which then evolved into Shrove Tuesday.

Why do we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday? Shrove Tuesday comes from the old English custom of using up all the leftover fattening ingredients in the house before Lent, so that people were ready to fast. The ingredients that people tended to have in their houses were eggs and milk.

To ensure that these ingredients didn’t go to waste, pancakes became the perfect way of using them up, by simply mixing them with some flour.

Last Friday a Project Compassion Box was sent home with the oldest child in each family. The theme of ‘For All Future Generations’ explores the work that Caritas does to support local communities around the world, to empower these communities and work in partnership with them. If your family would like to contribute these boxes will be collected in the last week of term. There will also be a box in each classroom and you can support through this if you prefer. 

Each week there is a focus on a local community and below you have the opportunity to learn about Anatercia and Biru. Each week, the students will focus on these people and their stories and how we can enable and support them. 

Ash Wednesday – 2 March 2022  (Week beginning Monday 28th February)            This week the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.  The theme of Project Compassion 2022 is ‘For All Future Generations’ and reminds us that the good that we do today will extend and 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 your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Each family will receive a Project Compassion box and/or a set of envelopes for their donations or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: lent.caritas.org.au

First Week of Lent  (Week beginning Monday 7th March)           Photo: Emidio Josine/Caritas Australia We begin our annual Lenten Project Compassion journey by learning about Anatercia, a 12-year-old girl living in a small village in southern Mozambique. She began to take on more and more adult responsibilities as her mother has chronic health issues. She did most of the household chores and had to travel up to five hours every day to collect clean water. Water scarcity also meant that harvests were poor and there was never enough to eat. With your support, Caritas Australia’s local partner, Caritas Regional Chokwe, was able to help Anatercia’s family to irrigate their farm to improve their food security. They also improved water access for households in the village, delivered sustainable farming training, and provided Anatercia with essential school supplies.  Anatercia’s health, education and quality of life have improved, along with the outlook of her whole community for all future generations. Watch a short film about Anatercia’s story here. Please support Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au

Second Week of Lent  (Week beginning Monday 14th March)           Photo: Sameer Bara/Caritas Australia This week through Project Compassion we learn about Biru who lives in a rural village in India’s east. He lost mobility in one of his legs, after contracting polio as a child. Biru worked as a shepherd, looking after other people’s cattle, to support his wife and four daughters. Keeping up with the cattle was a challenge. Biru taught himself how to repair bicycles by watching other people, but he never dreamed of using those skills to start his own business. With your generous support, Biru was able to access an entrepreneurship and livelihoods training program, run by Caritas Australia’s partner, Caritas India. He gained the support and skills he needed to start his own bicycle repair business. Now, Biru earns enough money to support his family. Watch a short film about Biru’s story here. Please support Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au

Lent is a time where we as people of faith can reset and turn back towards God. God is there always, it is us who can ebb and flow in our daily life. This year we are all invited to live this year's focus of Hope in Action. Working together for justice and dignity. 2022 Lent can be a time for going without and challenging ourselves,  but also a time for supporting others modelled on Jesus’ work. Within the family setting, this can be children putting dishes in the dishwasher without being asked, trying really hard not to argue with their siblings etc. When we are in positive relationships with others we are opening ourselves up to be in a deeper relationship with God. What will your Lenten promise(s) but this year? How could you enact Lent this year? 

Dear God,

This Lent, we are encouraged to make simple lifestyle changes and act with care for each other and our environment. Our challenge is to respond with love and hope, now and for all future generations.

We ask this in Jesus’ name.

Amen

Important dates coming up 

The week beginning 13th March to Sunday 20th March, we celebrate Catholic Education Week - The Way of the Gospel. There will be more information about this in the next Newsletter.

For our Year 3 & Year 4 students making their Sacrament of Reconciliation, could we please ask families to keep the evening of Wednesday 30th March 5-6pm free. Together with Father Jerome we are designing this evening and will provide more information in the next newsletter. 

Lent reflections from Year 4M

“Some of the things we are giving up for lent are Playing Roblox, all video games, dessert after dinner, chocolate, playing on our ipads, all screens, asking for stuff, butter, pasta and cakes. Giving up these things will help us make us closer to God during Lent.”

Reflection on Shrove Tuesday by Isabella N

Reflection on Shrove Tuesday by Nicole L