We Are Called
We Are Called
To Parents
Last week, the reflection focused on the first part of the preparation of the Altar and the Gifts during the Celebration of the Eucharist. Before and during the Mass you would have observed where the gifts were placed at the entrance of the Church and who participated in the Offertory Procession. The responses of ‘Blessed be God forever’ would have also been prayed together with all at the Mass.
During the preparation of the Altar and the Gifts we also closely observe and listen as the priest adds a drop of water to the wine. The Priest says:
‘By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.’
The mixing of the water and wine reminds us that we are all joined in Christ and he is one with us, both human and divine.
The Priest also washes his hands during the preparation of the gifts. While washing his hands he quietly says the words:
‘Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.’
This is a symbolic gesture on the part of the Priest as he prepares to pray the Eucharistic prayer.
The priest then invites the people to prayer with these words;
Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours
may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
The people then stand and respond with the following prayer –
May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands,
For the praise and glory of his name,
For our good, and the good of all his holy Church.
This is followed by a short prayer over the gifts prayed by the Priest.
When you and your family are at Mass next time:
- observe when the priest adds the water to the wine and reflect on how the water and wine remind us that we are all joined in Christ and he is one with us, both human and divine.
- observe how the priest washes his hands as he prepares to pray the Eucharistic prayer.
- listen and observe when the priest invites us to stand and respond and pray.
A reflection on the following part of the Liturgy of the Eucharist – ‘The Eucharistic Prayer’ will be shared in the next newsletter.
Project Compassion and Lent
In Australia, Project Compassion has a special place in our Lenten focus. This year the theme of Project Compassion is Give Lent 100%. In giving 100% we reflect on how we can provide hope for the future by supporting those in need through our prayers and also through practical initiatives. As stated by Pope Francis ‘The future does have a name ….and its name is hope’.
The 2019 Project Compassion focuses on our local community of Australia and many countries throughout the world including the Solomon Islands, Vietnam, Zimbabwe, Indonesia and Bangladesh. Projects in these countries highlight how fortunate we are and how our contributions can make a significant impact on their lives and their community.
As a school we will be supporting Project Compassion with various initiatives including
- Year Level and Class Focus for Project Compassion
For the remainder of the term each year level has chosen a project to support during Lent. The children are very excited about how they can be helping others in practical ways and may have already shared their class project with you
Pre-Kindy
Providing a donation for a reliable water tap for a school in the Solomon Islands
Kindy
Providing a donation so that a child in Vietnam has the opportunity to attend group learning activities with other children living with disabilities.
Pre-Primary
Donating funds for six reliable taps and guttering to collect valuable rainwater in the Solomon Islands.
Year One
Donating funds to help families (Mothers and babies) in Bangladesh.
Year Two
Providing a donation so that a child in Vietnam has the opportunity to attend group learning activities with other children living with disabilities; valuable rainwater can be collected in the Solomon Islands by having guttering and providing First Australians with nutritional local foods.
Year Three
Donations to ensure that there is guttering to collect valuable rainwater and there are reliable taps for students in schools in the Solomon Islands and a student in Zimbabwe has school supplies.
Year Four
Providing a donation for a child in Vietnam so they have the opportunity to attend group learning activities with other children living with disabilities.
Year Five
Donations to provide the initial training course for a rural midwife who can help Mums in Bangladesh
Year Six
Providing a donation for a child in Vietnam so they have the opportunity to attend group learning activities with other children living with disabilities.
Please come and have a look in the classes during the term to see how their Project Compassion focus is progressing.
- A Project Compassion box for each family. Children will bring these boxes home today. As a family you can make contributions throughout Lent. At the conclusion of Lent the boxes and the donated funds can be brought to school or to the parish to support the ongoing work of Project Compassion.
The ongoing work of Project Compassion is included for the first week of Lent through the story of Thandolwayo, from Zimbabwe. This story highlights the needs of others and how, through our generosity, hope is given by changing lives and communities.
Thandolwayo, a 12-year-old girl in Zimbabwe, would walk seven kilometres each day to collect contaminated water for her family. She then went to school exhausted from hours fetching and carrying water. It looked like she would never realise her hope of finishing her education and becoming a nurse, until a Caritas Australia supported project created access to clean water helping Thandolwayo to stay at school and achieve a future full of hope.
Please donate to Project Compassion 2019 to provide clean water and a future full of hope for vulnerable communities in Zimbabwe.
- A Calendar for Lent for each family. The calendar has a different focus for each day to help us all prepare for Easter.
iCare: Volunteering at Infant Jesus School
Covering Books
At Infant Jesus School it is our aim to ensure all children become successful readers as reading is also very important for many other learning areas. Reading is also an important life – long skill after children leave school.
i–Read – ‘The Principal’s Challenge’ is a new initiative introduced this year. In this program, all year levels will have a large collection of books.
Children are looking forward to participating in this challenge and are waiting for the books to be covered before being placed in the classes.
We have covered about half of the books for each year level – in the next week we are hoping that nearly all the books can be covered. We are looking forward to lots of help next week so all the books can be covered and placed in the classes for the children to read.
Please see Jenny in the Library if you would like to help.
Parish/School Newsletter Notice
24:7 Morley Youth Group
For all youth in Years 6-12
Meets every Friday, 6pm-8pm at Infant Jesus Parish Hall Morley
Call Roger 0434 988 711 or Steph 0499 547 066 for more information
#ExpectGreatThings
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17 Smith St, Morley WA 6062
Tel: (08) 9276 1769 | Fax: (08) 9276 2998
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