RELIGIOUS MATTERS-

Sacrament of Penance - Preparation for First Holy Communion

In the coming weeks, we will begin preparing students for the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation). At St Joseph's,  we believe the journey of faith is a shared experience between parents and children. As such, we invite parents to walk alongside their children during this important preparation.

We will be holding three sacramental family meetings to help guide the students, typically in Year 4 and above, through the process of Reconciliation. The schedule for these meetings will be shared with you soon.

A letter will also be sent to the parents of students who were confirmed last year. If your child has been Baptised and Confirmed and you  would like them to participate in the preparation for Reconciliation, please contact the school office.

We look forward to journeying with you and your child during this special time.

The celebration of the Sacrament of Penance will be held on Wednesday, 2 April  in our church at Woodburn. Everyone is welcome to join us for this special occasion.

Sacrament Of Reconciliation Year 4 - 6 (for those who have been confirmed)	Wednesday 2 April 2025
Sacrament of Confirmation Years 3-6 (for those who have been Baptised)	Wednesday 11th June 2025 Woodburn 6 pm
Sacrament of Eucharist  (Years 4-6 for those who have been confirmed and received the Sacrament of Reconciliation)	Date to be advised     (Term 3)

The season of Lent is just around the corner, beginning in two weeks with Ash Wednesday, which falls on 5 March.  This is a special time for reflection, prayer, and growth in faith for our school community.

We will mark Ash Wednesday with a Liturgy, where students will receive ashes as a symbol of repentance and humility.

Lent is a special time when we try to grow closer to God. During Lent, we think about the ways we can be better and make up for times when we’ve made mistakes. This is called repentance, which means saying sorry for the things we’ve done wrong and trying to do better.

Humility is about being kind, not showing off, and remembering that we need God’s help. It’s about being thankful for what we have and helping others, even when it’s hard.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season, a 40-day period leading up to Easter.

Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, is traditionally a time for feasting and preparing for the fasting and penance of Lent. Families may recognize this day with pancakes, as it’s a time to use up rich foods before the fasting season begins. More information to follow about Pancake Tuesday

Lent is a time for deepening our relationship with God, focusing on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It’s an opportunity for personal growth, helping others, and reflecting on how we can become better followers of Christ.

We encourage families to participate in the Lenten journey together by reflecting on these themes at home and engaging in acts of kindness and service.