Religious Education with Mrs. Rachael Croker
A warm welcome to St Mary’s School for 2024 to all parents, students and staff. A special welcome to our new Kindies and new families.
Jesus always welcomed EVERYONE without exception. “When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them ...” (Luke 9:11). With Jesus as our example, we should never be shy about welcoming others, whether it’s welcoming friends into our home, visitors into our school and parish, or saying hello to a stranger.
OUR SCHOOL VISION, MOTTO, MISSION and VALUES
Our School Vision, Motto, mission and values remind us to always reach out to each other and to others with a warm, welcoming and loving heart.
Our Vision:
Jesus Christ calls us as an inclusive community to
live our faith,
engage in quality learning
and enrich our world for the future.
Our Motto: TOGETHER AS ONE in TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE encourages us to work together for the good of all
Our Mission is to be…
- Jesus’ hands - offering SERVICE to others
- Jesus’ eyes - seeing the needs of others with COMPASSION
- Jesus’ heart - sharing RESPECT for everyone
- Jesus’ feet - walking the road of JUSTICE
- Jesus’ mind - persevering and striving for EXCELLENCE
Our St Mary’s School Value for Term 1 is RESPECT
What does the word RESPECT mean? The dictionary says…
…to take notice of; to regard with honour and special attention; to regard as worthy of special consideration; hence, to care for; to heed.
As Christians, we are called by Christ to respect ourselves and each other. There are some people we may not like or get along with, be envious of or even angry with. But God calls us to show them respect nonetheless, and this is why…
-every person is made in the image of God. Every person is the clearest reflection of God among us. Every life belongs to God and so every life is holy and sacred.
- To see another human being is to see Christ, therefore to disregard, disrespect or attack another human being is to attack God’s very self.
Jesus Himself said: “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me!”
Therefore we should not treat everyone with respect as if they were like Jesus. We should treat everyone with respect because they are Jesus.
Ash Wednesday – the beginning of the Church Season of LENT
Next Wednesday our school and Parish community gather for Ash Wednesday Mass in the Church at 9.30am. We will receive either a cross symbol with ashes on our foreheads OR a sprinkle of ashes on our heads. The ashes remind us that we are God’s children, created out of nothing but the love of God, and that we are called to lead lives of love and peace. The ashes remind us that we are all only human… we all make mistakes. And that we need to ask God’s forgiveness; and we need to have a change of heart, so that we can live in a good relationship with God and each other.
Following Ash Wednesday, the Church season of LENT begins.
Ash Wednesday begins the Church season of Lent which lasts for 40 days leading up to EASTER. The number 40 is special because it is how long Jesus fasted and prayed for in the desert (cf. Luke 4:1-13) to prepare for his mission to spread God’s Word. The word Lent means springtime. For Christians, the 40 days of LENT are a time for personal reflection and renewal: They might ask themselves… am I really trying to be like Jesus by being loving, kind, compassionate, merciful, forgiving, just and prayerful? For Christians, Lent is a time to turn back to God.
Catholics are asked to practise three things during Lent to get them back on track…
- PRAYING – Catholics believe in the need to become closer to God by praying, reading the Scriptures (Bible), going to Mass, and receiving the Sacraments. Praying is spending time with God.
- FASTING – For Catholics, fasting is a reminder that food and material things alone cannot make us happy. Fasting from things we enjoy can build will-power for the times in our lives when we need it most.
Fast from… TV, computer time; or even things like…overindulgence, gossiping, and selfishness).
- ALMSGIVING – Reach out to help the poor - support Project Compassion; look for works of love and mercy you can do every day; go out of your comfort zone, go over and beyond to spread Jesus’ message of hope, love and joy.
PROJECT COMPASSION … Showing RESPECT through Almsgiving
Lent marks the beginning of the annual Catholic fundraiser for the poor – the Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allow Caritas Australia to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice. As a school community, during the six weeks of Lent, we will be learning about the needs of these communities and giving to this appeal. You can learn more about Project Compassion here - www.lent.caritas.org.au
Our SRC team will be working to help us answer Jesus’ call to give alms (almsgiving). Let us all support PROJECT COMPASSION through raising money for ‘the least of our brothers and sisters’.
Please support PROJECT COMPASSION by sending along ANY change you can spare for the classroom Project Compassion boxes.
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMS ENROLMENT
Please note that enrolment for the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion will be on WEDNESDAY 14 FEBRUARY, 6pm at St Mary’s School. All enquiries to Rachael at rachael.croker@cg.catholic.edu.au.