FIRST EUCHARIST & RETREAT DAY

Last Friday the Year 5 students participated in our Eucharist Retreat day. Fr Loi spoke to our students and was impressed by their thoughtful wonderings about Eucharist. The students participated reflectively in prayer and unpacked Luke’s Gospel ‘The Feeding of 5000’. We were awed by the beautiful artworks created and all the students enjoyed baking bread. Our Students explored the symbols of Eucharist and designed posters for the ‘Knock On Effect’ as a call to action from St Vinnies to look out for the vulnerable people in our society and raise much needed funds. Thank you to Miss Kapantais, Miss Frogley and Mrs Burns who made this day so special.

Congratulations to our First Eucharist Candidates – Charlize, Santo, Stella C, Katija, Finley, John, Milena, Jordan, Aaron, Cameron, Madison, Tom, Katie, Isaac and Sienna - who celebrated the Sacrament last night. They participated reverently and reflected on their commitment maturely. Receiving communion for the first time affirms our belonging to Christ and our union with God and the Church. We pray for Joel as he makes his First Eucharist on Thursday at St Monica’s. Thank you to Fr Loi, for his presence, time and patience; Mrs Sue Collins, the OLPH School of Religion, our teachers and our parents for their ongoing support and preparations for this celebration.

Thank you to Miss Frogley and 5/6F for their prayerful leadership of Mass last Wednesday. It was a beautiful way to begin this season of preparation. Children have considered what they will be doing to get themselves ready for the death and resurrection of Jesus again this coming Easter.

PROJECT COMPASSION

Ash Wednesday – 17th February 2021

Last week the season of Lent began with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project

Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice.

We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Each family will receive a Project Compassion box and/or a set of envelopes for their donations or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: lent.caritas.org.au    

Saint Oscar Romero is our inspiration for Project Compassion 2021, so in his words let’s “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.”

First Week of Lent  

We begin our annual Lenten Project Compassion journey by learning about the story

of Jamila and her family. Jamila, 22, is a Rohingya woman, living in the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. A single mother, she fled armed conflict in Myanmar to save herself, her elderly mother and eight-month-old baby. 

With the support of Caritas Australia, through Caritas Bangladesh, Jamila was able to access emergency food and shelter. She also received counselling, emotional support and learnt sewing skills, to help her earn an income.  Jamila now feels less alone, with a sense of community around her. She is able to ‘Be More’ to her little family.  

• 860,494 people remain in the densely populated camps, in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, especially due to COVID-19. (UNHCR)

Watch a short film about Jamila’s story here.

 “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.” Please support Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au

VINNIES KNOCK ON EFFECT

The Knock On Effect is a brand-new Vinnies initiative that will replace the Doorknock Appeal. Students are invited to come to school in casual clothes or #DressedbyVinnies. This special day is to raise awareness of the vulnerable people in our society and to fundraise for and support Vinnies and the people and communities we assist.

We will celebrate this initiative on 19^th March.

Vinnies changes lives every day, but we need your help

During the month of March Vinnies is running the Knock on Effect campaign to highlight the knock on effects that donations, fundraising and raising awareness can have.

With over 2 million people living below the poverty line in Australia, including over half a million children, your contribution allows the St Vincent de Paul Society to provide more than immediate help, it provides something much more valuable - the opportunity of a better life.

You may not see the Knock On Effect of your support, but it will be felt by some of the most vulnerable in our community.

Bridgette McCann Acting REC