If there ever is a day of the year when Catholics are visible at a glance, it is on Ash Wednesday. It is the one time when Catholics literally wear their faith on their foreheads.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. The ashes we receive on our forehead, traditionally in the shape of a cross serve as an outward sign of our sinfulness and the need for penance. The ashes also symbolise our mortality, a reminder that one day we will die, and our bodies will return to dust. The tradition of receiving ashes has its origins in the Old Testament, where sinners performed acts of public penance by wearing sackcloth and covering themselves with ashes.

For Christians, Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, a self-imposed time of fasting, repentance, prayer and almsgiving. It is symbolic of Christ's 40 days of temptation in the desert, allowing 40 days to prepare for the celebration of his passion, death and resurrection. Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. Lent is an invitation to confront our own weaknesses, for getting rid of ways of life that are between us and the person we ought to be. It is a time to look inward, but also outward, toward works of service for others.

The imposition of ashes — of dust — is a reminder of our death. It is a symbol of sorrow for our sins. The symbol of dust that comes from the Book of Genesis: "You are dust and to dust you will return."

Lenten ash reminds us to transform the dust in our life. Generosity to the poor reminds us of almsgiving. Seeking a true sense of purpose reminds us of fasting. Praying reminds us to turn away from temptation.

As we commence the season of Lent I thought I would share an article that was sent to me. In considering the Lenten promises we may make in the coming weeks this article may help to broaden the view of the possible ‘elastic’ spiritual promises we could consider that could help during the season of Lent to shift our focus back God. 

"The best resolutions are elastic – they cannot be broken with a single act. If you swear never to touch red meat, one burger ruins the resolution. If, on the other hand, you pledge to eat healthier food, each day you have a chance to fulfill the resolution anew.

Below are five elastic, spiritual resolutions that can carry you through the Lenten season, but also throughout the year.

Engage with people more than pixels - Looking at a phone is quick and undemanding. Texting is easier than talking – it gives you intimacy without danger. During Lent, resolve to spend more time looking into someone's eyes when you communicate with them. Replace an extended exchange on text with a meeting for coffee. Make a promise of presence.

Take your soul seriously - It is easy to pretend that what we watch and how we speak has no effects on us. But the constant pounding of hatreds and dehumanisation that marks so much of our media have consequences for our character. Part of who you are is the sum of the influences you choose what you watch, who you associate with, how you speak about others both publicly and privately. Life is a continuous journey of soul shaping, and this Lent, resolve to keep your deep journey in mind. Turn away from something seductive but corrosive – Social Media rants full of negativity, or people who continually insult those around them, or depictions of violence that take savage delight in suffering. You only get one soul; don't squander it in things unworthy of its majesty.

Increase your kindness - If you wish to feel kind, do something good. The great secret of moral growth is that it often begins from the outside. Rather than your joy leading you to smile, your smile can lead you to joy. Behave generously even when you do not feel like it and the habit will grow as will your innate quality of kindness. The act can be small or large; it can be a charitable contribution or a gentle word or help with a heavy bag on an airplane. As the slogan says, just do it.

Choose someone to forgive - All of us have legitimate grievances in our lives. Some people are very hard to forgive but you need not begin with the toughest cases. Small acts of grace will grow. Forgive the person who cut you off in the street; after all, you have cut people off as well, on purpose or inadvertently. Forgive the person who made an unkind remark about you. Choose a place to begin. The more you forgive, the less the world can injure you; forgiveness is a soft shield for your soul.

In forgiving, include yourself - Fight against perfectionism. Leave a dropped stitch in the knitting of your life. There will always be more possibilities to get something wrong than to get it right. Allow yourself the latitude of mistakes, without self-punishing. God is supposed to be perfect, not human beings. Have expectations of yourself, but don't enforce them with a hammer.

As Lent begins make sure you have not wasted a single day of the season. See it as a chance to live purposefully. Will you achieve this every day? Of course not! (see # 5 above). The key resolution is not to triumph or to always succeed. Resolutions of the spirit come down to one thing: striving to grow each day."

David Wolpe is the Max Webb Senior Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles

Wishing each of you the companionship of Christ in the Lenten journey ahead.

Tina Murray

Principal

A huge thank you to the members of the Parents and Friends Association for the time and effort invested in the planning, organisation and delivery of thousands of pancakes to our students during yesterday’s Shrove Tuesday celebrations. We are extremely grateful for your support and dedication.

ATTENDANCE - Regular school attendance is essential for all children to achieve their educational best. When your child attends school every day, learning becomes easier and your child will build and maintain positive friendships. To ensure students do not miss out on essential learning activities it is important that all children arrive at school prior to the first bell at 8.23am. Arriving to school prior to the bell helps students learn the importance of punctuality and routine and gives children an opportunity to greet their friends before class. It is essential that if your child is absent from school a verbal or written note explaining the absence is provided to the school within 7 days of the day of absence. If your child is absent from school for 3 consecutive days, your child’s class teacher or a member of the School Leadership Team will contact you to discuss the absence. Education is a sequential process and absences often mean students miss important stages in the development of topics, causing them to find ‘catching up' difficult. Appointments should be scheduled outside of school hours where possible. Below are some very interesting figures regarding the impact of days and minutes lost.

Tina Murray

Principal