Lord, as we embark on this sacred journey of Lent, grant us the grace to draw nearer to You. Help us to use this time wisely, to reflect on Your love and mercy, and to seek Your presence in our lives. Guide us in our prayers, fasting, and almsgiving, that they may deepen our relationship with You. Grant us the strength to confront our weaknesses and the courage to turn away from sin. May this season of Lent be a time of renewal and transformation, bringing us closer to Your heart. Amen.

Today is Ash Wednesday which marks the commencement of Lent, a period of time which leads up to Easter. All of us at St John's had the opportunity today to be marked with an 'ash cross' on our foreheads. This ancient ritual is a symbolism of penance and a reminder that we are 'of the earth, a part of God's creation.'

During Lent we are all encouraged to reflect on our lives, and on our relationship with God. We are encouraged to cleanse our hearts and focus on what is important, through prayer, fasting and caring for those in need. I pray that during this time as we journey toward Easter, that you find times of stillness to consider parts of your life which need renewal.

Giving to those in need, or almsgiving, is traditionally a significant part of Lenten practices. Yesterday I had the pleasure of joining our two school captains, Amelia and Kaylee, at the launch of Project Compassion. This annual fundraising activity supports the work of Caritas, a Catholic organisation that supports communities in developing countries. You may want to visit their website to find out more about their work.

I would like to thank the P & F for organising the pancakes for Shrove Tuesday yesterday. They were certainly busy making more than 700 pancakes (surely that is some sort of record!). Sincere thanks to the parents able to help.

Last Sunday Fr John led a beautiful parish Mass to welcome new students and their families to our parish community. He reminded those present that in a faith community it is important that our words and actions must match the values of our faith as Jesus has taught us - values such as welcoming, tolerance, love and forgiveness. I hope our new families get to experience this as they become part of our community.

School Cross Country

You are reminded that our school's Cross Country Carnival is being held next Friday 14 March at Hurley Park. Specific details have been provided via Compass and our Newsletters. While the focus of our sport carnivals is to select a representative team, they also provide a wonderful opportunity to build 'Colour House spirit' and to have children participate in as many activities as possible.

All of our carnivals rely on parents volunteers. If you haven't done so already, please contact the office if you are able to help on the day.