St Patrick's Primary School Gundagai
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26 Homer St
Gundagai NSW 2722
Subscribe: https://spg.nsw.edu.au/subscribe

Email: jacqueline.fairall@cg.catholic.edu.au
Phone: 02 6944 1085
Fax: 02 6944 2161

REC News

Shrove Tuesday and the Burning of the Palms

Today is Shrove Tuesday, and this morning the children observed the custom of eating pancakes. Pancakes are traditionally associated with Shrove Tuesday, the day preceding Lent. In years gone by the making of pancakes were a way to use up rich foods such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of Lent, when we try to go without.

This morning we gathered in the amphitheatre to burn the palms that were blessed last year on Palm Sunday. These palms symbolise those that were waved as Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey to prepare for the Passover Feast.

The ashes created from the burning of the palms will be used during our Ash Wednesday Liturgy by Father, who will trace the sign of the cross on our foreheads.

Ash Wednesday – the beginning of Lent

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    ASH WEDNESDAY MASS will be celebrated at 7:45 am in St Patrick’s Church
  • Our school community will observe Ash Wednesday with a Liturgy in the Amphitheatre at 9am.

Lent is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a season of prayer, fasting and charitable works. A time of reflection and preparation, before the celebrations of Easter.

By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days.

During the Season of Lent, the Church calls us to reflect on how we are living our daily lives.

  • How am I being a voice of love and joy in my home, my community?
  • How have I been at the service of God’s word each day?
  • Are others able to see and experience the love and forgiveness of God through my actions?

These questions are challenging at the best of times for adults. 

For children, we discuss Lent as a time to ‘Turn Back to God.’ It is a time of Prayer, Fasting or going without and giving. Whilst prayer is something that children engage readily in, the notion of fasting and almsgiving (giving) can be a more distant and abstract concept for children to grasp.  We need to make these Lenten practices more tangible.

Hopefully the following may provide some practical ways for families to engage in the Lenten Season at home.

Prayer

  • pray for a sibling or family member
  • write a letter of thanks to someone you love
  • pray for someone you dislike
  • spend 5 minutes in quiet prayer as a family
  • read a Bible story
  • pray for those who have no one to pray for them

Almsgiving (Giving)

  • Give to Project Compassion
  • open the door for someone
  • let someone go ahead of you in line
  • do something anonymously for a friend or neighbour
  • do a chore without being asked
  • smile at three people you meet
  • give someone a compliment

Fasting (go without)

  • fast from screen time (tv, computer, video games, iPhone etc.)
  • fast from saying anything negative or nasty
  • fast from a food you really enjoy
  • fast from yelling or fighting

Claiming the date: St Patrick’s Day

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St Patrick’s Parish invites you to attend Mass to celebrate the feast of our Patron Saint.

When: 17th March   Where: St Patrick’s Church  Time: 12 noon

After Mass, please join with our fellow parishioners at the Family Hotel for lunch and celebrations. Lunch will be at your own cost after ordering from the menu.

Picture3.jpgRSVP to Madeline Ryan Parish Secretary "Gundagai Parish Office" Gundagai@cg.org.au by 12th March.

Come, celebrate and enjoy the fun.

Bring a friend or two or three.

Easter Shoebox Activity

All children will need a shoebox for our Easter Activity.  Please start to collect and keep. More information later

Kate Howe 

REC