Education in Faith
As we continue through the season of Lent we have much to reflect on and be grateful for!
St Patrick's Day and Catholic Education Week
Today serves as a fantastic opportunity to reflect on Saint Patrick, as well as Catholic Education week. Saint Patrick taught about Christianity in the same spirit reflected in modern day through our churches, parishes and schools. For that reason today we pray for all those special individuals that make these groups; members of the clergy, leaders, teachers, workers and volunteers of the parish, staff, parents and students.
Project Compassion
Throughout the school we continue to remind students of our current fundraising initiative, raising money for Project Compassion. Students are regularly reminded of where these valuable donations are sent, and how Caritas is changing the lives of people around the world. Please watch below to learn about one such person, Thuy in Vietnam.
Near the conclusion of the term we will gather as an entire school for our Coin Line and Towers. We thank all those who have generously donated so far and look forward to gathering more coins for our classroom Caritas Boxes.
First Reconciliation
Students in Year Three are at the moment preparing for a Sacrament with First Reconciliation taking place on Thursday the 30th of March. All students in Year Three and Four learn about the Sacrament, as it neatly fits in with the stories and themes of Lent.
Next week we will look forward to celebrating with families at our Family Activity Night, followed by our student retreat and the Sacrament itself the following week. We ask that you keep these students in your thoughts as they learn about the valuable process of asking for forgiveness in the presence of God.
Sunday's Gospel
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
The blind man went off and washed himself and came away with his sight restored.
As Jesus went along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. He spat on the ground, made a paste with the spittle, put this over the eyes of the blind man and said to him, ‘Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam’ (a name that means ‘sent’). So the blind man went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored.
His neighbours and people who earlier had seen him begging said, ‘Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some said, ‘Yes, it is the same one.’ Others said, ‘No, he only looks like him.’ The man himself said, ‘I am the man.’
They brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. It had been a sabbath day when Jesus made the paste and opened the man’s eyes, so when the Pharisees asked him how he had come to see, he said, ‘He put a paste on my eyes, and I washed, and I can see.’ Then some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man cannot be from God: he does not keep the sabbath.’ Others said, ‘How could a sinner produce signs like this?’ And there was disagreement among them. So they spoke to the blind man again, ‘What have you to say about him yourself, now that he has opened your eyes?’ ‘He is a prophet’ replied the man.
‘Are you trying to teach us,’ they replied ‘and you a sinner through and through, since you were born!’ And they drove him away.
Jesus heard they had driven him away, and when he found him he said to him, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ ‘Sir,’ the man replied ‘tell me who he is so that I may believe in him.’ Jesus said, ‘You are looking at him; he is speaking to you.’ The man said, ‘Lord, I believe’, and worshipped him.
Notes
- We can straight away think about the concept of the 'blind man' and we discuss with students how not being able to see may also relate to people making poor choices, or not thinking about others.
- Another thing that is commonly unpacked with students is those who were ill or sick in the Bible. Science has come a long way since the time of Jesus where these people were thought to be cursed for their sins. We explain to students how Jesus' concept of loving everyone and helping where there was a need was quite strange to some at this time.
As we draw closer to the events of Holy Week we continue to reflect on Lenten promises and the ways in which we can turn towards the Lord. Take care everyone.
Tim O'Mahoney
Education in Faith Leader