LET US PRAY
Good Friday Prayer
Dear God, we remember the pain and suffering of the cross, and all that Jesus was willing to endure, so we could be set free. He paid the price, such a great sacrifice, to offer us the gift of eternal life.
Help us never to take for granted this huge gift of love on our behalf. Help us to be reminded of the cost of it all. Forgive us for being too busy, or distracted by other things, for not fully recognizing what you freely given, what you have done for us.
Thank you, Lord, that by your wounds we are healed. Thank you that because of your huge sacrifice we can live free. Thank you that sin and death have been conquered and that your Power is everlasting. Amen
End of Term One
As we near the end of term 0ne we have much to be thankful for. There has been new learning and many adventures for all at St Augustines. We will end the term by entering Holy Week, an emotional week for Christians, but one that anticipates the hope and glory of the resurrection of Christ at Easter, which is at the heart of the Christian Gospel and the centre of Christian faith and worship.
Palm Sunday – Entrance into Jerusalem
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, when Christians commemorate Jesus’ ‘triumphal entry’ into Jerusalem where the Gospels tell us he was greeted with crowds waving palm branches and crying ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ (Mark 11:9-10).
(Ironically, these same voices that greet Jesus as Messiah and King will be the same voices that shout ‘Crucify him!’ just a few short days later on Good Friday.)
Traditionally, worshipping Christians will receive palm branches or palm crosses on Palm Sunday as a tangible sign of Jesus’ ‘triumphal entry’ into Jerusalem. And in some churches, Palm Sunday is also known as the Sunday of the Passion, when one of the Gospel passion narratives is read aloud during the liturgy.
Holy Thursday – The Last Supper
Holy Thursday marks the Last Supper that Jesus shares with his disciples, his betrayal by his disciple Judas Iscariot, and his arrest at the Garden of Gethsemane.
Often Holy Thursday services will include an act of foot washing, which commemorates Jesus washing the feet of his disciples as an act of service on the night of his arrest (John 13:1-20).
Holy Thursday reminds participants of the ‘new commandment’ that Jesus gave his disciples to love one another as he has loved them (John 15:12) – a love that is most readily seen in Jesus willingly giving up his life on the cross on Good Friday.
Good Friday – Jesus’ agony on the cross
Good Friday commemorates Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate, his sentence of death, his torture, and his crucifixion and burial. It is called ‘good’ Friday in the obsolete sense of the word ‘good’ – implies something ‘holy’ or ‘pious’ (‘Holy Friday’), which is striking as ‘Good Friday’ is the most somber day for Christians, when the agony, death and burial of Jesus is remembered. For many Christians, Good Friday is a day of fasting, with the faithful attending a church service where they will meditate on and venerate the cross of Christ.
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday is one of the most festive events among Christians worldwide. It commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from death, as written in the Christian bible. On Easter Sunday we recall the enthusiastic shouts of ‘Hosanna’ on Palm Sunday to the sharing of the body and blood of Jesus on Holy Thursday, to the horrors of the agony and death of Jesus on Good Friday, to the joyous celebration of the first Eucharist of Easter. Christians glorify and give thanks for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. After His crucifixion, death, and burial, Christ rose from the grave three days later. By this, He conquered death and ensured eternal life for all.
We have much to give thanks for.
Catholic Education Week
On Friday the 15th March our Student Leaders and members of the Student SRC Team attended the annual St Patrick’s day mass as part of Catholic Education week. The students had the opportunity to celebrate mass in the cathedral with Archbishop Peter Comensoli, Bishop Terry (who will confirm the students) and other visiting clergy. It was a joyfyl time. Our school captains Logan and Millie proudly walked into the cathedral with our school flag. After mass the students walked to Treasury Gardens where they were entertained with a concert and games.
Confirmation
Congratulations to our candidates who will be confirmed this Friday 22nd March. Bishop Terry will lead the ceremony and Fr Peter will concelebrate. It is an important step in the faith life of the candidates which began at their Baptism. They will commit themselves to living a Christian way of life and will be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit to help them in that mission. St Augustine’s rejoices with our year six candidates.
Project Compassion Boxes
Thankyou again for your support of Project Compassion. As we near the end of term please send your boxes to school. However, if you need more time these can be sent at the beginning of term two.
HAVE A BLESSED AND HOLY EASTER.
ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS
Mrs Barone
