St Michael's Primary School - Kaleen
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Tyrrell Circuit
Kaleen ACT 2617
Subscribe: https://stmichaelskaleen.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe

Email: office.stmichaelsps@cg.catholic.edu.au
Phone: 02 6241 4022

Religious Education News - Lisa Mammoliti

Religious Education News

This week we begin the annual observance of Lent.  You may want to consider: ‘How am I to celebrate this season in 2023?’ The word ‘Lent’ comes from the Old English word lencten meaning springtime or ‘the lengthening of days’; it is a time of renewal. In keeping with the season, Lent can be an invitation to our own renewal in the ways of living with and for God; a time to recognise the love of God made visible to us in creation; a time to notice those ways in which we fall short of the desires that God has for each one of us and for our world, and to pray for the grace to live more fully according to God’s ways.

We are familiar with ‘giving up for Lent’: perhaps this year our ‘giving up’ may be of those things in our lives that are getting in the way of valuing all that God has given us, of allowing God to deepen God’s life in us. It may help to take time to notice and to speak with our Lord about what this means for me.  (From Australian Catholics.)

Project Compassion

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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 allow Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.

The theme of Project Compassion 2023 is ‘For All Future Generations’ and reminds us that the good we do today extends to impact the lives of generations to come. It invites us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long-term solutions to global issues.  We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through prayer, fasting and almsgiving in support of Project Compassion. This week 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: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion.

First Week of Lent  (Week beginning Monday 27th February)

We begin our annual Lenten Project Compassion journey by learning about Laxmi, a 16-year-old girl living in Jajarkot, a remote district in Nepal where almost half of the population live below the poverty line.  Tragedy struck when Laxmi was 10 years old and her father passed away. Her father worked hard to pay for his children's education and, after losing him, Laxmi was at risk of falling further into extreme poverty.

With the support of our partner Caritas Nepal, Laxmi joined a child's club at her school where she was encouraged to resume her education. Through the child’s club, Laxmi developed the skills and confidence to become a leader, advocating for clean water taps at her school. 

Laxmi is now excelling in her studies and working towards her dream of becoming a civil engineer. She continues to be involved in the child's club, serving as an advisor and mentoring the next generation of young leaders at her old school.   

Watch a short film about Laxmi’s story here.