Dear Families,

This week in the Catholic Church and community, we begin the season of Lent. This is the period of time where we prepare for Easter. Today, being Shrove Tuesday (or Pancake Day), many of the classes will make pancakes. Traditionally, Catholics used Shrove Tuesday to use up flour, milk, eggs and other household staples in preparation for Lent where they may have observed some kind of fasting, like Jesus did in the Desert for forty days and forty nights. Today, we can encourage each
other to use this time to fast in other ways. When I was a child, we were encouraged to give up chocolates or lollies for Lent. However, we can fast in many other ways and it can be so much more than “giving something up”. Maybe we could encourage our children to fast from the amount of social media they use, or fast from complaining or to do something extra for someone else. There are lots of ways that people can use this time to make positive changes and build great new habits.
It’s something we all can do.

Today, February 13, marks the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations, who suffered trauma because of past government policies of forced child removal. Many of these removals occurred as the result of laws and policies aimed at assimilating the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population into the predominately white community. Stolen Generations survivors are some of Australia’s most vulnerable people and many have kept their stories and experiences secret for many years, even decades. Through hearing the resilient stories of Stolen
Generations survivors there is now a willingness for Australians to join in on the healing journey. To be part of solutions into the future. This is the spirit of the anniversary. Together as a school community, we pray for continued efforts towards understanding and healing for Indigenous Australians affected by this devastating part of our Nation’s history.

Next Wednesday the 21st, we have our Sacrament Workshop on at Sacred Heart at 5:30pm. This is for all families who would like their child to participate in the Sacrament Program this year. This is the only compulsory workshop for families making Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation. We will hold other “fun nights” for this throughout the year for whole year levels, not just sacramental children.

Tomorrow marks St Valentine’s Day, a day traditionally devoted to love. I have been listening to a podcast recently where the host of the podcast explained love as, “making others feel important and believing that they can do well”. This is our primary work as a school community and at Lumen Christi we work hard every day to try and achieve this for our children.

Have a wonderful week ahead,
Sally