Ash Wednesday
On Wednesday we gathered as a school to begin Lent with a special Ash Wednesday liturgy. Fr Damien joined us to lead the liturgy with the support of our Year 4 students. Due to COVID-19 restrictions ashes were sprinkled on the heads of each child by the teacher as instructed by the Pope.

Children and Lent
We adults sometimes think that children can’t understand spiritual concepts, but children have an innate spirituality and curiosity about God and spiritual things. To help children to understand what Lent is, you can tell them that it is a special time in the church year when we focus on spiritual things and do things that bring us closer to God.
Years ago, when children were introduced to the season of Lent, there was a big emphasis on “giving something up,” usually a favourite food or perhaps a pleasurable activity. There’s nothing wrong with suggesting that children give something up for Lent, as long as they understand why they’re doing it and do it in the right spirit. So it’s important to explain that giving something up for Lent can help us focus on God and that depriving ourselves of something we like gives us an appreciation for all we have.
It’s also a good idea to have the children do something positive related to what they’re giving up. For instance, if they’ve given up lollies or chocolate for Lent, then they could take the money they would have spent on the candy and put it in a jar to be used for Project Compassion which helps children in need. If they’ve decided to give up watching television one day a week, then they could use the time they would have spent watching TV helping someone or praying.

Lent for Adults
It's the sacred season of Lent. Recall that the three disciplines of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Lent is also a penitential season in which we strive to atone for our sins and purify our lives in preparation for the celebration of Christ's glorious rising from the tomb on Easter Sunday.
A summary of current practice: On Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all Fridays of Lent: Everyone of age 14 and up must abstain from consuming meat. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday: Everyone of age 18 to 59 must fast, unless exempt due to usually a medical reason.

Project Compassion
This year the Caritas Australia Lenten season is themed “Be More”.
As Saint Oscar Romero said, “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.”
Through your generosity and by aspiring to “Be More”, you are assisting some of the world’s most vulnerable people build better futures for themselves, their families and their communities.
The money we collect in our classrooms this term will support Project Compassion that is organised by Caritas Australia.

On Tuesday 16 February, Mrs Davidson and our Year 5 and 6 students and their teachers participated in a national virtual Project Compassion launch, that included stories and details about projects that Caritas supports as well as an inspiring liturgy.
Please visit the Caritas website for further information website. https://lent.caritas.org.au/

Sacraments
The enrolment forms for Sacraments will be given to students in Year 3 and 6 as well as the state school children in the coming weeks.
Fr Damien is very keen to have the sacraments celebrated this year at the following times.

At this stage, these are the proposed dates (except for Confirmation) and times and details will be subject to COVID restrictions.
When forms are sent home for Sacramental programs please return these to your child’s class teacher.