Dear Parents,
Over the years at the beginning of Lent, I have often been asked by parents – 'How do I explain Lent to my children?' This maybe the case for some of our families at this time, so I have shared below my reflection from this week’s Ash Wednesday liturgy.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of the season of Lent. If we look around the church today we see the Lenten colour purple. Gone are all the green banners and flowers of ordinary time.
Lent is a very special time in our lives when we are encouraged to pray, give up things we enjoy and make a difference in the lives of others by doing kind things for others as we prepare to celebrate the Easter. Over the next forty days of Lent we are asked to follow Jesus on his final journey to Calvary where he died on the cross for us all.
Despite all the suffering he endured, Jesus showed mercy and forgiveness to those who sentenced him to his death. During Lent we are encouraged to show the love and forgiveness to others as Jesus did to those who ordered and carried out his crucifixion. During Lent, let's follow the example Jesus showed us during the events of Holy week to help us make good choices and help others whenever we can.
St Matthew in our Gospel reading today is encouraging us during this period of Lent to reach out to others in need, make a difference in their lives without expecting anything in return. Make an effort to do something for someone in need, not because of reward or acknowledgment, but because it is the right thing to do. It is what Jesus would do and what He would want us to do.
The ashes placed on your foreheads this morning are a reminder to us all of the Lenten promises we will make in our lives and encourage us to give of ourselves to others and their needs over the next few weeks.
During Lent, let’s make an effort to pray more and think of others. Project Compassion reminds us of those who don’t have access to basic needs such as water , shelter , food and medicine – things that we take for granted. Let’s think about what we can do to help and ask ourselves how can we make a difference in their lives?
As we journey through the season of Lent, let’s remember the death and resurrection of Jesus during the Easter celebrations.
Let’s do what we can and do it with hope now and for all future generations.
Thank you to parents who continue to test their children using the RAT kits. It is important that children exhibiting flu like symptoms be tested. A reminder that students who test positive are to remain in isolation for seven days. A negative test result needs to be provided after seven days prior to the student returning to school. A reminder that all adults are required to wear a mask when on the school site. Thanks for your co-operation in these matters.
Next week we celebrate Catholic Schools week. We will be holding tours for new parents ONLY whose children will be enrolling at CTK in 2023. Tours will be held in a COVID safe manner next Thursday 10th March at 9am. A reminder to our existing families that we are now taking Kindergarten enrolments for next year. Enrolment packages are available at the school office.
We continue to pray for Mrs Atkinson who is under on going cancer treatment. We also pray for Ashton Bergan [brother of Knox and Clayton ] who continues to improve following his accident several weeks ago. Ashton has regained some movement in his limbs and is gradually improving each day as he continues his rehabilitation in hospital.
Congratulations to our swimming team who braved the wet on Tuesday to represent CTK at the Hills Zone carnival. Special thanks to the parents who stood in the rain and mud to cheer on our swimmers . A special thank you to Mrs Kelly Hoskins who organised and accompanied our team on the day. Congratulations to Michaela Bosci who made it through to the Diocesan carnival to be held next Friday.
Parents who choose to use the drive through facilities in both Burradoo and Statham Ave are to remain in their vehicles as parents getting out of cars is slowing down the flow of traffic. Please have your children organised so they are able to alight from the car independently. Please be reminded that whilst you wait on the drive through pick up queues of afternoon, that you observe all road rules including not queuing across driveways, pedestrian crossings or blocking traffic turning right left into Statham Ave. Police have informed me that it is imperative that parents using the pick up do not obstruct the flow of traffic in Statham Ave in either direction, as people infringing will be booked and the viability of the pickup reviewed by council. The safety of all our community needs to be observed in these matters. Thank you.
Have a great week
Tony Hughes
Principal
