Easter is the celebration of Christ's resurrection from the dead. It is celebrated on Sunday, and marks the end of Holy Week, the end of Lent, the last day of the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday), and is the beginning of the Easter season of the liturgical year. As we know from the Gospels, Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day following his crucifixion, which would be Sunday. His resurrection marks the triumph of good over evil, sin and death. It is the singular event which proves that those who trust in God and accept Christ will be raised from the dead. Since Easter represents the fulfillment of God's promises to mankind, it is the most important holiday on the Christian calendar.

In the Gospels, the precise details of the Easter narrative vary slightly, but none of these variances are critical to the main story. In fact, it is argued that the variances are simply matters of style and not substance. Despite the variances, the key aspects of the Easter story all match. Above all, they agree that the tomb of Christ was indeed empty, which is the most essential fact.

Based on direct evidence from the mid-second century, it is believed that Easter was regularly celebrated from the earliest days of the Church. Following Easter Sunday, the season of Easter begins and lasts for seven weeks, ending with Pentecost.

Wishing you and all your loved ones a very Happy Easter. May the risen Christ bring you and your family abundant happiness.

Mrs Natalie Shelley

Religious Education Coordinator

Father, 

Help us to be like Jesus. Change our selfishness into self-giving and bring us to eternal life.

Amen.

Today 31 March and Thursday, 1 April we will gather as a community to remember Jesus’ journey through Holy week and the joyous celebration of his rising at Easter. Some of the activities will be for Kindergarten or staff and students only. For some activities the whole school community is invited. Any limitations on parent participation are due to COVID-19 restrictions and while we love having our parents gather with us we are still bound by the square metre rule in how many people we can have indoors. 

Please look below to see what is planned for our children and which activities some or all of our parent body are able to attend

Thursday 1 April

9:15 Kinder Craft Morning 

Participants - Students and 1 parent from each family

Location - Kinder rooms

The day begins for Kindergarten and their parents with a Kinder craft morning commencing at 9:15am in the Kinder classrooms with one parent per child allowed to attend due to COVID 19 restrictions.

Thursday 1 April

11:40 Holy Week Liturgy

Participants: Students and staff only

Location: St John Vianney’s Church

The focus of the liturgy will be on Jesus' actions at the Last Supper when He demonstrated to the disciples how He wanted us all to live as people of service. He demonstrated this by washing the feet of his disciples. Jesus asked them, 

“Do you understand what I have done?” 

Go and do the same

Thursday 1 April

12:30 Easter Hat Parade

Participants: Students, parents and staff (weather permitting)

Location: Under the shade cloth on the primary playground

Get your creative ideas flowing. We had such a lovely time with our drive through hat parade in 2020 that we wanted to share in the fun again. All parents are invited to celebrate with us. Please don’t go to too much expense. This is just for fun. Each class will have the opportunity to parade their hats in front of the school.

Sunday 28 March - Sunday 4 april

Holy Week In Our Parish and Pastoral Region

Holy Week began last Sunday with Palm Sunday. You are welcome to join your parish or any Church in your Pastoral Region to remember and pray the journey of Jesus during this week. 

Please see the times below.

Celebration	St John Vianney’s  Co-Cathedral  Fairy Meadow	St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral Wollongong	St Brigid’s Gwynneville	Mater Dolorosa Balgownie
Palm Sunday	Mass:   8:30am Mass: 10:00am (Italian Mass) Mass:   4:30pm (Vietnamese)	Mass:   7:00am Mass: 10:30am MAss:   5:00pm	Mass: 9:00am	Mass: 10am Mass: 11.30am (Syro-Malabar)
1 April Holy Thursday Mass of The Lord’s supper	Mass: 6:00pm	Mass: 7:00pm	Mass: 5:00pm
2nd April Good Friday Stations of the Cross	Liturgy: 9:30am	Liturgy: 10:00am	Liturgy: 9:00am
2 April Good Friday Passion of the Lord	Liturgy: 3:00pm	Liturgy: 3:00pm	Liturgy: 3:00pm
3 April Easter Vigil	Mass: 6:00pm	Mass: 7:00pm	Mass: 5:30pm
4 April Easter Sunday	Mass:   8:30am	Mass:   7:00am Mass: 10:30am Mass:   5:00pm	Mass: 9:00am	Mass: 10am

Parish_Bulletin_Palm_Sunday_28.03.2021.pdf

Parish_Bulletin_Palm_Sunday_28 _03 _2021 _pdf 1.11 MB