FAMILY EDUCATOR UPDATE
Welcome back from holiday break, I hope you managed to have some quality time with family & friends.
It's an exciting to start Term 1 of 2024.
This term has a few things happening, such as:
Presentation of the Lord in the Temple – Friday 2nd February
We celebrate forty days after Christmas, marking the day the Mary and Joseph would have bought Jesus into the temple. It shows him to be the firstborn son to belong to the lord.
I 4Give Day - Sunday 6th February
Aims to Increase forgiveness amongst communities.
Shrove Tuesday – February 13th
Next Tuesday is Shrove Tuesday and historically, Church laws on fasting were much stricter than they are now. No oil, butter, meat, eggs, milk or sugar were to be eaten at all during Lent. The tradition of making pancakes on Shrove Tuesday began out of the need to clear the pantry of all the ingredients that were forbidden during Lent, so they would not be wasted.
To commemorate Shrove Tuesday the children will be sharing pre-packaged pikelets in their classes.
Ash Wednesday – Feb 14th
Ash Wednesday is a holy day of prayer and fasting in many Western Christian denominations. It marks the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence before Easter. The ritual burning of the previous year's Holy Week palms, finalizing one's Lenten sacrifice, and the ashes are placed on our foreheads at Ash Wednesday Mass.
Holy week 24th – 30th March
Holy Week is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. For all Christian traditions it is a moveable observance.
Easter Sunday 31st March
Also, called Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD.
Some initiatives that I am holding this term are the Sacred Heart playgroup every Monday fortnight 9am-10:30am and Eat, Pray & Laugh every Tuesday 9:15am.
Please come along, there is always Tea/coffee and lots of chatter.
With Ash Wednesday on 14th Feb, we begin our reflection on the journey of Jesus during 40 days of lent as we lead up to Easter.
The three traditional pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Through the tree pillars of lent we journey to develop a closer relationship to God. The 40 days of Lent should be filled with reflection, service, and prayer. I will be attending this retreat day, and I would love to have you join me. Email me if your interested and we can meet out the front of the Cathedral and sit together. anna.macri@syd.catholic.edu.au
A Lenten Retreat Day with the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia
Women of all ages are invited to join the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia for a Lenten Retreat Day. This day will focus on renewing the foundations of the spiritual life as we strive to live the Paschal Mystery throughout the year. The retreat day will include all day Eucharistic Adoration and Confessions, talks by the sisters, personal testimony, a Holy Hour, and discussion groups. Morning tea and lunch are included. A $20 fee.
https://bit.ly/3RRAKfa
During the 6 weeks of lent we also have:
Fr Mathew from our Holy Family parish will be leading a Lenten discussion group in the parish hall 7pm on Wednesdays starting 14th Feb. The groups will continue for 6 weeks of lent and unpack the steps of Jesus leading to easter.
I will be attending a few of these evenings so please come along if or when you can. CLICK HERE to view the online booklet
All welcome
Cana Farm weekly Tuesday deliveries to Mosman area for veggie boxes & products. Check the website to place your order.
Veggie boxes and products.
Anna Macri, Family & Faith Educator