Fourth Week of Lent 

(Week beginning Monday 20th March)

This week through Project Compassion we learn about Thu, who lives in Vietnam. When Thu was 12 years old, he stepped on an unexploded land mine and lost his leg. ​

Living with a disability in rural Vietnam presented many challenges for Thu, who worked mainly as a rice farmer. Thu also took on the role of caring for his wife, Linh, after she suffered a stroke.​

Determined to turn their lives around, Thu and Linh joined the Empowerment of People with Disabilities program, run by Caritas Australia’s local partner in Vietnam, the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD).    

For Thu, the greatest impact the program has had is enabling the change in Linh’s physical and mental wellbeing. With the support of a physiotherapist, Linh can now walk short distances with the aid of a walking stick. 

Watch a short film about Thu’s story here.

Please support Project Compassion: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion

Year 6 students have been attending mass and reconciliation every Tuesday at the Parish mass. Father James has then been coming into the classrooms and co teaching to prepare us for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Thanks Father James for spending the time with us on our journey with Jesus.

God of Love, thank you for all the gifts you give to us,
especially the gift of learning about you and growing in faith here at Good Samaritan.
We pray for the Year 6 students preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Help them to know and love you more and more, and to reflect your love in the way they treat others.
Amen

With Easter almost upon us, supermarket shelves are full with delicious chocolatey treats. The challenge for us as consumers is finding a “good egg” - one that is ethically sourced and manufactured. The chocolate industry has long been tainted by reports of forced labour and slavery, with estimates of 1.56 million children involved in hazardous work in cocoa production in West Africa (which produces most of the world’s cocoa), with many forced to work long hours, use dangerous equipment, and endure physical and emotional abuse.

“Every person ought to have the awareness that purchasing is always a moral –
and not simply an economic – act.” Pope Francis

Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) this year is encouraging Australians to join the campaign for Slavery Free Easter eggs and Chocolate. View the link below for tips and further information - How Sweet Is My Chocolate?

Also, consider not buying something that is overly packaged. Lots of Easter eggs come encased in several layers of foil, cardboard and plastic - each of which come with an environmental and often human cost of their own. Remember to recycle your foil…

PARISH CONTACT DETAILS:

General enquires

Lumen Christi Catholic Parish, Wollongong

Diocese of Wollonong - PO Box 874 Wollongong - 36 Harbour St Wollongong NSW 2500

Phone - 02 42211 0500

Email - wollongong@dow.org.au 

Web: www.lumenchristi.org.au

Office Hours : Monday to Friday (9:00am - 1:00 pm)