LIVING LENT

The students have been learning about the season of Lent and what it means. The 3/4 students and teachers created a display that depicts the students’ footsteps following in the footsteps of Jesus. Each footstep was carefully made and the students shared a Lenten promise to make our world a better place.

Take some time with your family to pray together. You might even enjoy the prayer and action shared today.

"Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life."

Pray: Lord, make me humble and obedient. Help me to grow in understanding your words and help me to live them fully.

ACTION: I will say a kind word to someone today.

The students at St Michael’s are invited to stop and reflect at our 'Prayer Wall' whenever they would like to. They can read the Lenten prayers or take a piece of paper and write a Lenten promise. The promise can be folded into a link and added to the prayer chain.

Did you know that purple (or violet) symbolises repentance and penance. Vestments of purple or violet are used during the season of Lent.

The colour reminds us of the violet flower that bows its head and is a symbol of humility. Lent is the season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is a quiet season of reflection.

Purple or violet dye was very expensive. An early Christian, Lydia from Thyatira, made her living from the purple dye trade and was able to support St Paul in his missionary work (Acts 16: 14-15).

PROJECT COMPASSION

The annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal has begun. 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 for their donations or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: lent.caritas.org.au    

Third Week of Lent 

We are now in the third week of Lent with the Project Compassion

story of Oliva, a 22-year-old woman from Tanzania. She did not have the opportunity to go to school and was embarrassed that she was unable to read, write or count. As an adult, her business was losing money because she couldn’t add up her money and give the right change to customers.

Then Oliva enrolled in Caritas Australia’s literacy and numeracy classes. She also set up a home classroom to teach her neighbours, for free, because they were too shy to attend larger classes.

Oliva has now graduated, attendance at her classes are growing, her kiosk is thriving and she is helping her children with their homework. She aims to become a pastor and run for leadership in the next local election - to help her community to ‘Be More.’

• Approximately 260 million children don’t have the chance to go to school (org)

Watch a short film about Oliva’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 and bring a gold coin donation. 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.

Bridgette McCann Acting REC