R.E. News
By Sonia Costa
RE NEWS
By Sonia Costa
Next week we begin the season of Lent. Lent is a serious time when the Church prepares for the celebration of the great Easter mystery and Lent has many traditions. It is also the season that most people seem to know the most about.
But did you know that during Lent we:
- use the colour purple in our churches and as the prayer cloths on the class prayer tables
- do not say the “Alleluia” at mass until Easter Sunday when we rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus.
During Lent we frequently hear the call to pray, to fast and to give. We are asked to become more prayerful, to make our lives simpler and to share what we have with those who are in need.
At St Kevin’s School the students and staff do this by fundraising for Project Compassion, by attending Ash Wednesday Mass (usually) and by teaching and learning about the meaning of Lent through our Religious Education Units.
Prayer
In the words of Pope Francis:
Fast from hurting words and say kind words
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude
Fast from anger and be filled with patience
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope
Fast from worries and have trust in God
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity
Fast from pressures and be prayerful
Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others
Fast from grudges and be reconciled
Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.
Important Date:
Sacramental Information Evening for the parents of all 2020 and 2021 students making a sacrament.
Guest Speaker - Michael McGirr
Wednesday 10th March 7.30pm
For all Sacramental families - ONLY one parent from each family to attend - no children.
This evening is where families will receive registration and instructions on how and when to book their childrens' sacrament for this year.
Message from the Parish
Fr. Gerry is Retiring: Engaging Discussion Sessions – A Report
90 people gathered last Wednesday night and a further 40 participated on Thursday morning, in response to the invitation to discuss the Parish’s future direction.
In these listening sessions parishioners were asked to identify the things that they valued and wanted to be maintained into the future. While a fuller report of those responses is being prepared, I expect it will include references to the local community friendships and connections that provide a strong sense of belonging and support, the participation in a broad range of parish pastoral groups and activities and the extensive involvement of people in the preparation of vibrant liturgy. (The responses of parishioners in both sessions were a resounding affirmation of Fr. Gerry’s humble, creative and courageous leadership of St. Kevin’s parish over the last 11 years).
Participants were also asked about an emerging proposal to request the appointment of a “lay ecclesial leader”. While it was clear that this proposal needs further development, parishioners generally expressed support for the idea.
A further gathering is planned for Wednesday, 24th February, to which the Vicar General, Fr. Joe Caddy has been invited.
Pope Francis has said that “realities are greater than ideas”(EG 233). This evening will be an opportunity for mutual listening – to listen to the realities that parishioners of St. Kevin’s value and hope to maintain into the future, to listen to the realities of the Archdiocese … and to explore together, through dialogue between the two, what the future might look like for the parish community.
What is certain, whatever path is ultimately taken, is that the Word made flesh will continue to take flesh anew in the life of our community.
Tony Byrne
PARISH LINK:
Please take a look at the Parish Newsletter too. There is lots of great information and inspiration in this document each week.