From the APRE desk
….experiencing FAITH in the Mercy Tradition
Dear families
Congratulations to Evee McLoughlin (Yr 3B) on beginning her Sacramental journey! Evee is being Baptised on 15th March with her family and class mates there to celebrate. Congratulations Evee! We look forward to supporting you in your special journey. We also welcome Imogen Williams-Donaldson (Yr 3BH) and William Freier (Yr 3BH) into the Catholic faith community as they will also be baptised next Friday on 25th March and Ivana Haines (Yr 2F) will be Baptised on Easter Sunday! Congratulations to these students and their families as they begin their Sacramental journey.
We are in the Fourth week of Lent and I wanted to share with you one of the reflections that made me think.
There are no shortcuts
It is not easy to show others real mercy without having experienced mercy ourselves. Without the experience of mercy, our attempts to be merciful can become confused with other things we instinctively do – putting up with others, acting kindly but keeping our honest thoughts to ourselves, and being nice to people even though we cannot stand them. The list goes on. None of these is mercy.
The person who has confronted their weakness and inadequacy calls out to God from their heart. The person who receives God’s mercy knows how to show it to others. There are no shortcuts. The season of Lent calls us to confront the reality of our need so that we can truly reach out to the One who is merciful and, from there, learn to be genuinely merciful to others.
Putting the word into practice - Jesus Christ is the mercy of God incarnate. In Jesus, we see the greatest act of mercy and generosity the world has ever known: the Almighty and Eternal God becomes a human being so that we can encounter God in a comprehensible form. God not only becomes one of us but he takes on the human experience of powerlessness and suffering. In doing so, it reveals that in him, powerlessness and suffering are note the last word. This is mercy in action.
As we contemplate this, we learn that we, too, are to be the mercy of God in the world. Not only must we show mercy because we are the recipients of mercy, but we show mercy because that is who Jesus Christ is. We are to reveal the presence of Jesus Christ in the world.
Let us pray,
Jesus, write your wisdom on my heart and empower me to live the joy of the Gospel in our world.
Amen.
Source: Evangelisation Brisbane – Lenten program 2024
It is also fourth week of fundraising for Project Compassion. Thank you for your generous donations. Keep them coming! Click on this link https://schools.projectcompassion.org.au/o/st-saviours-primary-school-toowoomba to make a contribution to the lives of those who are most in need and for future generations.
Harmony day – Will be celebrated at SSPS on Thursday 21st March – The theme for this year is “Everyone belongs” – The 21/3/2024 is also the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. At SSPS we celebrate diversity and embrace all cultures, languages and spiritualities. Harmony day is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Mercy values here at SSPS. Let’s celebrate one of our greatest strengths – our cultural diversity.
Sacramental Program – A number of SSPS students in Yr 4 are currently completing the Sacramental Program and they will begin by receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation next week on 22nd & 23rd March. Congratulations to these students as they continue on their journey towards Confirmation and First Eucharist. We send you our prayers of support and guidance.
Date claimers in March –
Wednesday 27th March : 8.45am End of Term One Awards Assembly & 2.15pm Easter Liturgy
Thursday 28th Holy Thursday : 6pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper at St Patrick’s Cathedral
Friday 29th – Good Friday : 10am Stations of the Cross & 3pm Celebration of the Passion at St Patrick’s Cathedral
Saturday 30th – Easter Saturday : 7pm Vigil Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral
Sunday 31st – Easter Sunday Mass : 7am, 9am & 5.30m at St Patrick’s Cathedral
Thanks for reading. Have a great week!
Regards,
Ann-Maree
APRE