Religious Education
Shrove Tuesday
Last week we celebrated Shrove Tuesday. Thank you to Miss Myers for making pancakes for us.
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Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday Celebration – ‘Time of abounding Grace’
St Joseph’s Catholic School, Queenstown
Ash Wednesday a significant day in the lives of all Christians which calls every believer to follow the way of God and the life of Grace. It is a time of celebration for the repentance, revival and renewal of our lives with God. As we read in Prophet Joel 2:12-13 “Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God.”
Significance of Ashes : Ashes are placed on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday, in one of the most counter-cultural acts of our faith. It is done for two reasons: a personal act of remembrance and as a sign or a witness for others. The ashes come from the burnt Palms from last year's Passion Sunday celebration, which begins Holy Week. So, these ashes bring us back to our last celebration of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus for us. On this first day of Lent, we begin a journey of renewal - from death to life. This is a joyful season. We will make sacrifices, in order to try to let God reform our desiring, but this is a time for God to be generous to us in outpouring His Grace.
When the ashes are placed on our foreheads, the minister says one of two formulas to help us remember who we are and the mission to which we are sent:"Remember, man/woman, you are dust and to dust you will return." "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel." We are reminded that we are creatures and that our lives were given to us. But, we are also reminded that our lasting home is in eternity, with God. This is not our lasting home.
St.Joseph’s Catholic School at Queenstown celebrated the liturgy with the whole school students on 5th March 2025 at 2.00 pm with the staff to start the season of Lent. Fr.Arokia, the presiding minister began the Liturgy calling everyone to the life of grace by accepting our faults and seeking God’s mercy and compassion. Repentance is the need for a holy life and the acts of kindness like prayer, fasting and almsgiving lead us to God’s kingdom. After the homily, the ashes were applied on the foreheads of students and staff to mark the beginning of lent. The students cheerfulness was one of great signs of grace. The service ended at 2.30 pm with a final blessing and wishes of Happy Ash Wednesday and joyous Season of Lent.
Fr Arokia