Lent is a time of preparation for the Season of Easter, it lasts for 40 days.
It starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday.
However, if you look at a calendar and count the days, there are more than 40 days. Lent is actually 46 days, however the six Sundays are not included because there is no obligation to fast on Sundays in Lent.
We have to understand that Lent calls us to do three things:
° Prayer
° Fasting
° Alms giving
For Prayer we can recite the prayers that the children already know every day, they can say the “Our Father”. “The Hail Mary” every day. This can be said in moments of quiet at the start of the day and last thing at night.
For Fasting, we encourage our children to give up something that they would love to have – like chocolate, a tv show, after dinner biscuits or sweets. Ask your child what they can give up!
For Alms giving, donating to the poor, every child was given Project Compassion boxes that can have some small change placed in it by family members. If your child didn’t bring the box home yet, don’t worry it could be in their school tub. These can be returned AT THE END OF THE TERM.
God Bless
Helen Howden
hhowden@smfawknernth.catholic.edu.au
A theme for this year.
Over the last two years we all know how difficult life has been. We have all been challenged in so many different ways.
Some have been challenged by understanding the complexity of a world-wide pandemic and what it really means for each of us.
Some have been challenged by distance learning.
Some have been challenged by being stuck at home, month after month. Some even challenged by those around us.
BUT St Francis de Sales – an unusual saint who had lots of clever sayings that he used in his writings - challenges us even more during these times – to BLOOM WHERE WE ARE PLANTED.
So, what does this actually mean?
I think it means to realize that though we may not be in the ideal place, time or job, we are challenged to still do our best. To show our talents and skills even if we are under pressure, or even disappointed with our lives.
By challenging ourselves, and blooming we can begin to see the good, the wonderful aspects around us that we may not have seen clearly, and in return others around us see the good in our “blooming”.
So this year at St Matthew’s let us all BLOOM, let us all take on the challenges of a post pandemic world, enjoy and take on the challenges in the classroom and in the school yard.
Mrs Howden
Religious Education Leader
When joining the Ritchies Card program you are given the option to nominate your favourite club school or charity (known as Recipients). Each time you scan your card (either physical card or electronic card in the App) when making a purchase at any of our participating stores, the total is recorded to your chosen club, school or charity. At the end of each month, Ritchies will pay your chosen club, school or charity .5% of the total accrued directly into the Recipient’s nominated bank account*.
