Term 1 Week 10 - Thursday 30 March 2023
Notes from the Principal
Next week is Holy Week, the culmination of the Lenten season and the highlight of the Church’s year. To honour Holy Week and to prepare for Jesus’ death on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter Sunday we will commemorate Jesus’ passion on Holy Thursday. In Week 1 next term we will have a liturgy celebrating the Resurrection.
I wish to let you know that next week I will be on leave. I am travelling to Dublin with some other Principals of Mercy schools to participate in a pilgrimage to Catherine McAuley’s home and city. We are looking forward to learning more about how Catherine lived and shaped the important Mercy work of reaching out to the poor and walking alongside them to improve their lives, and I look forward to letting you know more about this when I return.
Ms Grigson and Mr Hall will oversee things at school in my absence. As always, if you would like to communicate with anyone at school, please contact the relevant teacher in the first instance.
Enjoy your week.
Mary Refalo
Principal
News from the Director of Formation and Mission
This Sunday, 1st April 2023 is the Solemnity of Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord.
As the people of God, we are entering into Holy Week. Throughout the Season of Lent, we have been graced with the opportunity to ‘reset’ our relationships with each other and with our loving God, so that we can truly celebrate the Risen Christ on Easter morning.
At the beginning of Mass once the palms have been blest, we will hear Matthew’s account of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As Jesus enters Jerusalem on a humble donkey, he is greeted by shouts of praise, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord'' (Matt 21: 9). Then after the Solemn Entry, we will listen to the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and be reminded that the joy of the crowd has turned into anger and hatred against Jesus. When Pilate asks the crowd which prisoner to release (as per the custom at festival time), the crowd shout the name of a notorious prisoner, Barabbas (Matt 27: 15 - 22).
Barabbas, a convicted terrorist and threat to the Roman Empire, gains his freedom and Jesus, The Prince of Peace, carries his Cross to Calvary, his place of execution. During his public ministry, Jesus only showed his love and concern for all and was fulfilling the will of God, even to death on a Cross. We pray that during Holy Week, that we may pause and reflect upon the great love that Jesus has for us especially when for love of us, he outstretched his arms and died on the Cross.
And yet ours were the sufferings he bore,
ours the sorrows he carried.
Yet he was pierced through our faults,
crushed for our sins.
On him lies a punishment that brings us peace,
and through his wounds we are healed.
(Isaiah 53:4-5)
Genevieve Banks
Director of Formation and Mission
Pray With Us
News Articles
This Week on Social Media
Follow Catherine McAuley Westmead on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for regular updates. One of the posts from this week is shown below:
AROUND THE CLASSROOMS - Year 11 Textiles and Design students of Ms Mani are making a bag that is inspired by a historical, contemporary or cultural aspect. The students created a mood board first and are now using that for inspiration as they design their bags.
Need To Know
Upcoming Fortnight
Term 1 Week 11
- Year 12 Half Yearly Assessment Block
- Lenten Liturgy
- NSWCCC Touch Football Championships
- Term 1 Ends
- Good Friday
Term 2 Week 1
- Staff Professional Learning Day (Pupil Free Day)
- ANZAC Day
- Easter Liturgy
- Years 11 and 12 Drama Workshop
- PDSSSC OzTag Gala Day