Religious Education and Catholic Identity Update
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. And, we here at St. Benedict’s gathered together as a whole school community to participate in this very special event. I would like to thank the students of 4 Black and their teachers Miss Power and Mrs Jeans for preparing and presenting our Ash Wednesday Liturgy.
After our Liturgy students particpated and grade appropriate activities to build their understanding of this very special day in the Catholic Churches year. Thank you to Mrs Greaves and 2 Black for these great photos of your Ash Wednesday Activity.
The key theme of this season is repentance, and it is a time to say sorry for all those things that have spoiled our lives, hurt others and broken our relationship with God. Only through repentance can friendship with God be restored and Christians be ready for the mystery and miracle of Easter.
Some of the palms from the previous year are carefully burned to create ash. During the ceremony, people are signed with an ash cross on their foreheads as a sign that they truly want to repent. In Baptism, Christians are signed with a 'water' cross on their foreheads. That marks a new beginning in Christ. The cross of ashes on the forehead marks a decision to say sorry for what has been done wrong and to get ready to make a fresh start with Jesus again.
Here is a prayer for Ash Wednesday based on references and allusions to dust and to ashes found in the Bible.
Lord God,
Although we are no more than dust and ashes,
We know that you love us
And that you offer:
To lift us up from the dust
And sit us on thrones;
To give us beauty instead of ashes
And clothe our weakness with honour;
To offer us a future that is beyond imagining,
In which this dust will praise you.
And this is all because Jesus died for us
In the place of dust and ashes at Golgotha.
Lord God, we thank you.
Amen.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Students from St. Benedict's have commenced their Sacramental Preparation. We ask that you keep these students in your prayers as they prepare for their sacraments over the coming terms.
Project Compassion
Project Compassion Money Boxes have arrived in classes and are now taking pride of place on class sacred spaces. If you have any loose coins at home please send them in with your child so they can "deposit" them into their class Money Box.
