Dear Families,
It was wonderful to see so many families joining us for our first whole school Mass with Fr Peter. We welcomed our new students to the Tenison Woods community and our staff, School Board and Parent and Friends representatives were offered a Commissioning Blessing as a way of acknowledging our call to service this year.
Term Masses
A Mass for Ash Wednesday will be held in St Aloysius Church on 6 March at 9:00am. All are welcome. This is a full Mass with the inclusion of the Blessing and Distribution of Ashes. The person distributing the Ashes marks cross on our forehead and says, “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” To which we respond, “Amen.” The cross symbolises that we are entering into the Season of Lent. Please note that the invitation to come forward and receive the ashes is extended to everyone. Lent is a time where we learn to pray for others, consider others in our global community our and either go without or take up something to help others (like cleaning our room).
We will also offer a Mass to celebrate The Feast of St Joseph’s in Aloysius Church on the 19 March at 9:00am. We celebrate St Joseph as part of the Josephite Community. I will provide further information regarding this Mass in the upcoming newsletter.
Project Compassion – Give Lent 100%
A significant focus for our Tenison Woods community during Lent in Caritas’ Project Compassion. Project Compassion is a fund raising and awareness raising appeal that supports communities around the world.
Following Ash Wednesday and with the support of Caritas online resources, each class will learn about needs within our global community. Our Year 5/6 leaders, will engage each class in the themes of poverty, justice and dignity.
In response to Project Compassion each student also receives a cardboard Project Compassion money box. The boxes will be sent home in Week 6. Families are asked to generously donate any spare coins in these money boxes. On Thursday 11 April, we will hold a Community Caritas Carnival. The aim of the day is for students to bring along their money boxes and spend their coin donations on interactive class stalls designed to raise awareness.
Further information regarding our 2019 Community Caritas Carnival will be provided in upcoming newsletters.
Sacramental Program
Fr Peter is in the process of confirming the 2019 Sacramental Program dates with Catherine Birchmore (St John Bosco) and myself. In preparation for our 2019 Sacramental Program, you are welcome to email an expression of interest at mharrison@twcs.catholic.edu.au regarding Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Eucharist. As I receive expressions of interest, will check to see if the school has a copy of your child’s Baptismal Certificate.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Matthew Harrison
APRIM
