Diocesan Theme - Let Your Light Shine 

Our Diocesan theme unites us across the Port Pirie diocese, guiding us in our Liturgical Year celebrations and everyday interactions with one another. Its purpose is to help us continuously nurture our students' growth and learning. This year's theme is 'Let Your Light Shine', inspired by St. Matthew 5:16. When we shine our light, we demonstrate the character of God. By 'letting our light shine', we allow the light of God within us to shine through. This light fills us and flows from us to others. When we shine our light, we radiate the best versions of ourselves, making the world a better place. Regardless of our religion or personal faith journeys, we all possess a light to shine, and when we let it shine brightly, we contribute to the world that God desires. 

Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday 

Next week, we celebrate the end of Ordinary Time with Shrove Tuesday and the beginning of Lent with our Ash Wednesday Mass. 

Shrove Tuesday is a traditional feast day celebrated right before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. During Lent, which is the 40-day period leading up to Easter, fasting is traditionally observed. On Shrove Tuesday, Christians used to go to confession and were "shriven" (forgiven for their sins). The date of Shrove Tuesday varies every year and falls between February 3 and March 9, as it always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday. Pancakes are the perfect way to use up eggs and fats before embarking on the Lenten fast, and Shrove Tuesday was the last opportunity for people to enjoy them. On Tuesday, February 13, we will be serving pancakes to students during their recess time. We encourage parents to still send in their child's usual lunch and recess items. The pancakes are a small treat to help our students learn about our Catholic history. 

We warmly invite everyone to our traditional Ash Wednesday Mass, which will be held on February 14 at 7:00 am. During the ceremony, we will introduce the school and sports captains and welcome new families into our community. We would be delighted to see many familiar faces of our current students and families at the event. After the ceremony, you are invited to join us for a shared Ash Wednesday breakfast of eggs and toast in the school courtyard. If you plan to attend the breakfast, please respond to the survey Mr. Slagter sent last week via our seesaw app, to help us with the catering arrangements. 

Project Compassion 

Our Lady of the River School is supporting Project Compassion during the Season of Lent. Project Compassion is an initiative by Caritas that aids long-term development programs in impoverished communities in Nepal, Australia, Zimbabwe, Vietnam, and Ukraine. This year's theme aims to remind us that the good we do today will create a lasting impact for generations to come. It invites us to step up and support those who lack essential resources for survival and those whose needs are much greater than ours. By showing our generosity and compassion, we can make a difference today and for future generations. Families will receive a Project Compassion box next week to collect donations. Each Wednesday during Lent, we will dedicate our prayers to Project Compassion, and families are welcome to send in their donations each Wednesday of Lent. 

Southern Cross 

The current edition of the Catholic newspaper put out by the Archdiocese called,' The Southern Cross,' is available at; The Southern Cross February 2024.  

Rosie Perre
APRIM