Siena Catholic Primary School

Siena Primary School marked the beginning of the Lenten season with two liturgies on Wednesday led by Fr Will. In the homily, Fr Will spoke of the need to turn back to God, with the ashes on our forehead as a reminder that we need the breath of God to live like Jesus in order to make good choices. Starting next week, the children and staff will pause each morning and reflect on a way that they can become better people during Lent. How can I ‘Be the Flame’ to others and be more like Jesus in my daily actions and words?

Each class will write a ‘Goodwill Act’ on a flame, which suggests ideas of how we can be less self-centred and more giving this Lenten season. One flame will be read out each day and the children and staff will reflect on this in their daily interactions.

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Stella Maris Primary School 

Being part of the community in a Catholic school has many blessings. Being able to experience a rich and wonderful religious life is certainly one of these blessings, as the past week has highlighted. While pancakes were a hit on Shrove Tuesday, it was the sharing of our Ash Wednesday liturgies that really touched hearts. Through prayer, ritual, story, music and reflection; students, staff and parents were challenged to use this year’s Lenten journey to become better people. Special thanks to Deacon Isaac for leading, and to all those students and staff who contributed. You made it extra special!

Siena Catholic College  

This week we have been busy preparing for the Lenten Season. On Tuesday, we kicked-off our Project Compassion events with Shrove Tuesday – many thanks to the students of Teresa House who prepared and served a delicious pancake lunch! Throughout the next few weeks, each of the College Houses will strive to raise awareness of the work of Caritas and to raise funds for its many initiatives in the conflicted places of our world. On Wednesday morning, we gathered as a community for our Ash Wednesday liturgy. This solemn occasion challenged us to focus our hearts on prayer, repentance and fasting. In wearing the ashes, we recalled the words of Pope Francis who tells us that they (the ashes) are important because they are a reminder that, “we are the dust of the earth, upon which God has poured out his heaven, the dust that contains God’s dreams.”