I am so overwhelmed by the warm welcome I have received from the St Francis of Assisi Community. From day one I realised that this school is the place for me and I am so excited to be part of the St Francis Family. Thank you to the students and families that have made the effort to come and chat to me and help me settle in. My goal is to learn all of the students names by the end of the year!
Last week our community embarked on our Lenten Journey with an Ash Wednesday Mass and Liturgy. The students reflected on how we spend the forty days of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus. Lent is a special time for growing and changing as we get ready for Easter. It is a time when we try hard to be good, to help others, to be sorry when we hurt others and try to forgive as God forgives us. Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and giving to others. When we pray, we come closer to God so that we are better able to realise our baptismal promise to live justly as Jesus teaches us. Fasting helps us remember the needs of the poor, who often have no choice but to go without basic needs such as food, water and shelter. Giving to the poor, or ‘almsgiving’, is a sign of our commitment to justice. It reminds us of our blessings and allows us to give thanks for all that God has given us.
You may have noticed our new signage on the balcony which is our Vision statement at St Francis.
“Empowered by Hope, Inspired by Curiosity”
To have hope is to believe in good and know that God is always with us. We are empowered throughout faith in Jesus and each other. As a community we are inspired to seek truth and show love. To be curious is to always be open to learning new things and to trust in God’s guidance.
Your children would have brought home Project Compassion boxes during the week. This year Project Compassion’s Lenten Appeal theme is to “Be More”.
“Aspire not to have more, but to be more.” – Saint Oscar Romero
We have spoken to the children about what it means to be more to others this Lent, to be more to God and to be more for themselves. I am so delighted to already see some class Project Compassion boxes filling up. The generosity of the SFOA community is much appreciated by Caritas.
I am currently in the process of gathering Wellbeing Leaders for 2021 to work on some Wellbeing initiatives this year. It is important for students to have a voice in our school and for us to nurture the gifts of our children and their leadership skills and aspirations.
Thankyou again for the warm welcome to SFOA and I look forward to meeting many more of you in the coming weeks.
God Bless
Melissa Canil
APRIM
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