Lent 2024

Last week we commenced the most important period in the Liturgical Calendar, Lent, with our Ash Wednesday Mass. During the mass we all received a cross of ashes on our foreheads as a symbol of our regrets, sins and need for reconciliation. The ashes remind us of our connection to Jesus and His ultimate sacrifice for us all to be reconciled for our sins. During the mass Father Thonn focused on three things with the students - prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

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Prayer

Individual prayer is our personal conversation or relationship with God. When we pray to God, we are better able to let the Holy Spirit work through us to achieve greater things. Encourage your child to;

• Pray for those less fortunate than ourselves,
• Pray for forgiveness for the misdemeanours,
• Pray for guidance to walk with the Holy Spirit, and
• Pray for hope and peace throughout the world.

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Fasting

Fasting for primary school students doesn’t mean going without food. It is a time to practice giving up sin and doing good deeds to become closer to God. This Lent please encourage your child to;

• ‘give-up’ a practice that annoys someone else,
• stop complaining about doing a chore,
• help around the home, and
• spend time away from their devices.

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Almsgiving

Almsgiving is a spiritual practice that goes back thousands of years. It is not just giving money, but it also requires us to give our time and talents to honour Jesus, who gave his life for us. Encourage your child to;

• perform random acts of kindness every day,
• share their toys with siblings,
• consider donating money towards Project Compassion, and
• talk to someone new at school.

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Project Compassion

The Year 6 leaders will launch St Joseph’s Projection Compassion project to raise funds to help support Caritas Australia’s annual fundraising campaign.

Project Compassion brings together supporters from across Australia to address the challenges of poverty today and drive lasting change for a better tomorrow.

Join us to help support remote and vulnerable communities across Asia, Africa, the Pacific and in Australia. Your generosity today can help communities access clean water, food security, skills training, health and sanitation and disaster risk reduction training.

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Together with your support, we can create lasting change today, and For All Future Generations.

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Students are encouraged to donate money to project compassion through their project compassion boxes in all classrooms or you can donate directly to St Joseph’s Primary Schools Projection Compassion fundraising campaign using the QR Code below.

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Let’s all come together to make difference For All Future Generations.