LET US PRAY
Lord Jesus, as we enter this holy season, we pray that you send your Holy Spirit upon us that we might prepare ourselves for these coming 40 days of Lent. On Ash Wednesday we wore the sign of the cross on our forehead for everyone to know that we love, believe and follow you. Bless our journey through the desert of Lent. Each day when we make the sign of the cross, let it remind us of your love for each of us. Let us wear the sign of your cross on our hearts and show that all we do comes from the goodness in our hearts. Let us wear the sign of your cross on our lips so that we may only speak words of kindness towards others. Let us wear the sign of your cross on our hands, which enable us to do your work especially for those who need help. Let us wear the sign of your cross on our eyes so that we may really see and be aware of all that is around us. Let us wear the sign of the cross on our hands so we can use them to show gentleness and comfort. Let us wear the sign of your cross on our ears, so that we may listen and really hear what you ask of us during Lent. Lord Jesus may we grow in faithfulness as your friends and that all that we set out to do during Lent be done in your name. May we make a Difference and always remain Anchored in Hope which you give to each of us. Amen
ASH WEDNESDAY LITURGY – THE BEGINNING OF LENT
Earlier this week on Wednesday 5th March we began our Lenten journey with our Ash Wednesday prayer service. At this celebration we received ashes on our foreheads. We “remembered that we are dust and unto dust we shall return.” Fr Ananda and the staff distributed and spread the ashes in a cross pattern with the words: Follow Jesus and remember his love. The Lenten season is a time of preparation for the liturgical celebration of the suffering, Death, and Resurrection of Christ. Lent ultimately calls us to follow in the footsteps of Christ and the ashes mark the beginning of our walk.
The three traditional pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Through the three pillars of Lent we journey to develop a closer relationship to God. It’s a time of preparation to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter. The 40 days of Lent should be filled with reflection, service and time spent with God in prayer..
THE SYMBOLS OF LENT
Ashes: Made from palm leaves of the previous year, ashes can remind us both of the baptismal and penitential character of Lent.
In receiving the ashes, we are saying that we are entering into the time of Lent and preparing for Easter. Many Catholics spend that time on the three practices of Lent: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. We teach our children the importance of thinking of others by doing good deeds. We are embracing Jesus’ journey: the cross of suffering and the promise of the Resurrection. The ashes help us connect the spiritual aspect of Christ’s cross and resurrection with our everyday lives. In addition to the liturgical significance of receiving ashes, we also are called to remember that in our repentance is a call to proper relationship between God and ourselves and between others and ourselves. It is also an opportunity to participate in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.
Purple is the liturgical colour of the season and symbolizes its repentant character, as well as Christ as the King of the world. (Deep purple was a colour reserved for royalty in Jesus’ time.)
The cross. No other sign so clearly symbolises Christianity as the cross. It is a symbol of Jesus’ death, resurrection and victory over death.
The Number 40 The season of Lent lasts from Ash Wednesday until the evening of Holy Thursday. If Sundays are excluded from the count, the season lasts forty days. The forty-day length of Lent is rooted in the biblical usage of the number forty. Forty is typically indicative of a time of testing, trial, penance, purification, and renewal. In the New Testament, forty days is the length of Jesus’ time of trial in the desert in preparation for his public ministry, proclaiming the Gospel.
CARITAS: PROJECT COMPASSION
During Lent, we serve through almsgiving. Almsgiving is the act of donating money or goods to the poor or performing other acts of charity. One way to do this is to support 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 2025 is ‘Unite Against Poverty” and reminds us that the good we do today extend 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. Together we can empower people to lift themselves out of poverty.
The eldest child in each grade has been given a project compassion box for the family. In the past your generosity towards raising funds for Project Compassion has shown the spirit of Saint Augustine’s community. Let us make 2025 another year of generosity. Boxes will be collected next term.
CONFIRMATION MEETING
Our confirmation parent/child meeting held this week was a time to reflect, discuss and acknowledge the power of the Sacrament. Out guest speaker reminded us that through the power of the Holy spirit we each have been given many gifts to share. Let us keep our year 6 candidates in our prayers as they continue their preparation for the sacrament.
REMINDER ATTENDING MASS BEFORE YOUR CHILD’S CONFIRMATION
As part of preparation for Confirmation it is important to attend at least one Mass prior to celebrating the Sacrament. This will take place over three weekends and it begins this weekend. This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to spend time in prayer with their family and the community. Please let Fr Ananda know that you are there for the community to pray for your child.
| Presentation Masses St Christopher’s Saturday 8th March 5.00pm Sunday 9th March 10.30am St Augustine’s Sunday 9th March 9.00am | Presentation Masses St Christopher’s Saturday 15th March 5.00pm Sunday 16th March 10.30am St Augustine’s Sunday 16th March 9.00am | Presentation Masses St Christopher’s Saturday 22nd March 5.00pm Sunday 23rd March 10.30am St Augustine’s Sunday 23rd March 9.00am |
THE JUBILEE
What is the Papal Bull of Indiction and what does the Papal Bull for the 2025 Jubilee Year tell us?
The term ‘bull’ originates from the lead seal, known as bulla in Latin. It refers to a Papal decree which outlines the purpose and spirit of the Holy Year.
The Bull is titled “Spes non confundit” (Hope does not disappoint) and urges us to look for signs of hope in the world around us and work for peace and justice. In the document Pope Francis writes:
“If we really wish to prepare a path to peace in our world, let us commit ourselves to remedying the remote causes of injustice, settling unjust and unpayable debts, and feeding the hungry.” (#16)
