Religious Education
A Week enriched by Catholic Tradition
On Tuesday 16th February the OLOR students got to enjoy a pancake with a simple topping to celebrate our Christian tradition of Shrove Tuesday. Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent begins. Long ago this was a day for feasting and having a good time. The name Shrove Tuesday comes from the idea that people were shriven on this day. People would go to church to confess their wrong doings and they would be would be 'shriven' or forgiven before the start of Lent. Since rich foods such as eggs, flour and milk were forbidden during Lent, one way of using them up would be to make pancakes.
As Tuesday’s weather was quite warm, students could also purchase an ice block as well. Preparing one hundred and thirty odd pancakes was quite a task, however, it was achieved through the terrific help of staff and parent helpers. I wish to thank them for generously giving up their time so that our students could experience, our long standing tradition of enjoying a pancake on Shrove Tuesday.
On Wednesday the Church commenced the season of Lent. Traditionally, many Christians receive a cross of ashes on their foreheads, this year it was a sprinkling on our heads, a sign that has been used by God’s people for many hundreds of years, to show that we are sorry and we wish to be better.
The OLOR community gathered for our annual 7am Mass, distribution of Ashes, school/sport captain badges presentation, welcoming of new families and concluded with an egg and toast breakfast. Thank you Fr Paul, special guest Nathan Hayes Principal of St Francis of Assisi, the staff who assisted, our parent/student helpers in the kitchen. Thank you also to everyone for their attendance, each year our gathering grows, it was heart-warming to share our Catholic story with you.
During the season of Lent Catholics are encouraged to do three things:
- give to the poor,
- pray to God and
- fast
One of the ways the Church promotes giving to the poor is through the Project Compassion Appeal.
Each classroom has a Project Compassion box on their prayer table and we ask that parents remind their children about donating to the poor by dropping a coin or two into the box. Proceeds from ice-blocks sold on Shrove Tuesday will be donated to Project Compassion.
The money is sent to Caritas Australia who works to provide better levels of education, health care, and housing to people who live in countries that do not enjoy the same high levels of living as we do in Australia.
May God’s peaceful Spirit be with you always,
Rosemary Perre
APRIM
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