RE News

Sacramental Dates 2019

First Eucharist – Sunday, 16th June at 10.30am

Confirmation – Saturday, 7th September at 6.00pm

First Reconciliation – Wednesday, 20th November at 6.00pm

First Eucharist notes will come home with Year 3 students later this week.

Project Compassion Money line is next Wednesday 10th April.  Please bring your project compassion boxes.

Holy Week Liturgy is Friday 12th April at 12.30pm in the Mercy Hall. All welcome.

Fourth Sunday of Lent 

In last Sunday’s Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, we heard the parable of the Prodigal Son also referred to as the Parable of the Forgiving Father. Jesus told his disciples: “A man had two sons. The youngest asked for his share of his inheritance and left. He spent all his money enjoying himself. Soon he was starving. He decided to return to his father and beg him to take him back as a servant. When he was still some way off, the father saw him, and running to him he embraced his son and called his servants to prepare a feast. The older son who has been working hard for his father was angry when he heard the celebrations.”

At the conclusion of the parable the young brother is ashamed and struggling to accept the father’s forgiveness. The older brother is quick to judge the failure of his brother but terrified of making mistakes. Both find the father’s mercy unbelievable and surprising. Jesus teaches us that this is the love our Father has for each of us.

HOLY WEEK

Holy week Liturgy is in Mercy Hall on Friday 12th April at 12.30pm. We encourage families to attend this very important prayer service.

Holy Week will be observed at school next week as it falls in the first week of the holidays. It is the most important week in the Church’s year. It begins with Palm Sunday when we remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. He comes in humility and as a man of peace. Crowds of people praised and honoured him as a king, waving palm branches and laying their cloaks on the ground for Jesus. The people had long awaited the coming of a Messiah who would be a king, a great warrior like King David, who would free the Israelites of the Roman occupation.

Rather, this Messiah came as the humble servant who washed the feet of his disciples and asked them to do the same for others. On Holy Thursday night we remember Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples. Before the meal Jesus washed his friends feet as a sign that he came to serve people not to rule over them. During the meal Jesus changed the bread and wine into his own body and blood. He asked the disciples to remember him in the breaking of bread and sharing of wine.

After the supper, Jesus went to the garden to pray to his Father. There he was taken prisoner. He was put on trial, suffered great pain and was sentenced to death. On Good Friday Jesus carried his heavy cross to Calvary and was crucified.

Jesus had given of himself totally throughout his life. He had touched and healed the unclean, the poor and the sick; he forgave and restored people to their communities. Such actions were seen by some as false teaching, as undermining the Law and as threatening those in power.

Jesus came to proclaim the Good News of the Reign of God. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. His commitment to His Mission led to His crucifixion. Jesus freely chose to continue his work despite the dangers of rejection and death. His life, passion, death and resurrection became our salvation. The Church, filled with the Holy Spirit, continues Jesus’ mission.

Palm Sunday, also called Passion Sunday, highlights the paradox of Christ’s Kingship. From tomorrow we celebrate the Easter Triduum – Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil/Easter Sunday. Let us take the opportunity to make these days reflective and prayerful.

Our Holy Week Prayer

Holy God,

We faithfully remember

The way of love that led Jesus

To lay down his life for us, his friends.

May we always hold this love in our hearts,

And live it in our daily lives,

So that we may follow more closely

The way of Jesus.

Amen.