WHOLE SCHOOL FOCUS

The Whole school focus theme for this year is ‘Do small Things with Great Love’ and the Bible reference that supports our theme is Ephesians 2:1, in which St Paul says:

“We are God’s work of art,

Created in Christ Jesus to live the good life

As from the beginning he had meant us to live it.”

Focus Assembley

Our value for this week is: Inclusion

At Mother Teresa we are going to show inclusion towards those we meet in our class and on the playground by:

• Including others and inviting them to join in
• Listening to others and letting them have their say
• Ensuring everyone feels that they belong.

Thank you, Mrs Matchett along with 1 Topaz for presenting a wonderful Focus Assembly on Inclusion. What a great way to end our Harmony Week celebrations. The students did an amazing job at presenting what inclusion at MTS looks like using our school motto ‘Do Small things With Great Love’.

LENT & PROJECT COMPASSION                

At Mother Teresa School, we are trying to reach out to others and bring hope to those who are less fortunate than ourselves during this time of Lent by raising money for Project Compassion.  We encourage you to talk to your child about the importance of giving to those in need and to give generously.  Each class has a Project Compassion box available for the children’s donations. 

We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. This week we raised $243:00 a great effort from everyone.

The students have been looking at the case studies of where their money is going this week it is going to Rosalie, from Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rosalie's story

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

From her life as a former child soldier in the DRC, Rosalie is a now a business owner, a community leader and a role model for other ex-combatants seeking to readjust to civilian life.

Rosalie had a tough childhood. Her father passed away when she was just two-years-old and her mother struggled to look after the family on her own.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, women are traditionally responsible for household tasks, with limited employment opportunities outside the home. Rosalie's mother found it difficult to afford food and clothing, let alone school fees, and Rosalie had to drop out school.

Then, when she was just 15 years old, Rosalie was forced to join the army. In recent decades, the DRC has experienced ongoing political instability, violence and conflict, and the recruitment of child soldiers is all too common.

Confirmation 2022

Please pray for our Year 6 Confirmation Candidates, their teachers, and families as they embark on this important time in their faith journey. Thank you to all our Year 6 students who are showing their commitment towards their Ministry Masses. Hopefully all our families have enrolled in the confirmation Mass and identified their sponsors’ name and their name in confirmation. Don’t forget to bring your item of food for the ‘Food Pantry’.

"Your brother here was dead and has come to life."

Year C | Sunday 27th March | purple

Today’s long gospel story is about God’s enormous love and compassion for us.

The Scriptures

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke    15:1-3, 11-32

Your brother here was dead and has come to life.

Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus. So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, "This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them." Then Jesus told them this story:

"Once a man had two sons. The younger son said to his father, 'Give me my share of the property.'  So the father divided his property between his two sons. Not long after that, the younger son packed up everything he owned and left for a foreign country, where he wasted all his money in wild living. He had spent everything, when a bad famine spread through that whole land. Soon he had nothing to eat.

"He went to work for a man in that country, and the man sent him out to take care of his pigs. He would have been glad to eat what the pigs were eating, but no one gave him a thing. Finally, he came to his senses and said, 'My father's workers have plenty to eat, and here I am, starving to death! I will leave and go to my father and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son. Treat me like one of your workers." '

"The younger son got up and started back to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him. The son said, 'Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son.'

"But his father said to the servants, 'Hurry and bring the best clothes and put them on him. Give him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. Get the best calf and prepare it, so we can eat and celebrate.

This son of mine was dead but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found.'

And they began to celebrate.

"The older son had been out in the field. But when he came near the house, he heard the music and dancing. So, he called one of the servants over and asked, 'What's going on here?' The servant answered, 'Your brother has come home safe and sound, and your father ordered us to kill the best calf.' The older brother got so mad that he would not even go into the house. His father came out and begged him to go in. But he said to his father, 'For years I have worked for you like a slave and have always obeyed you. But you have never even given me a little goat, so that I could give a dinner for my friends. This other son of yours wasted your money on bad women. And now that he has come home, you ordered the best calf to be killed for a feast.'

"His father replied, 'My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we should be glad and celebrate! Your brother was dead, but he is now alive. He was lost and has now been found.' "

​The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Something to Think About

Imagine you are the youngest son from the story. How would you have felt as you made your way home, preparing to see your father again after wasting all his money? When your father came towards you with a loving smile and open arms were you surprised?

Maybe you prefer to imagine yourself as the older son. How would you have reacted if your younger brother came back after making lots of bad choices and he was welcomed with a party?

Do you find it hard to believe the amazing love of the father?

Peace and Best Wishes.

Anne Leet (Religious Education Co-Ordinator)