Religious Education News
Sacrament of Reconciliation
The dates for the Sacrament of Reconciliation are below. Please note that many Grade 3 & 4 students will be making their Reconciliation and First Communion this year. Please keep up to date with communication from the school and the parish.
Wednesday 23rd March - Reconciliation Sacrament
Please stay tuned for more information if your child is making their first Reconciliation in Term 1.
ASH WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday 2nd March, Columba was involved in Ash Wednesday.
Students were involved in a liturgy during which they were able to have ashes put on their hands. We also spread ashes on our precious cross at the front of the school.
WHAT IS ASH WEDNESDAY?
Ash Wednesday is a Christian holiday. It begins the season of Lent, which is 40 days, not counting Sundays, of fasting and repentance prior to the celebration of Easter.
What do people do to celebrate?
Many Christians attend an Ash Wednesday service at their church. During this service the priest or minister may rub the sign of the cross on their foreheads using ashes. The ashes represent mourning and repentance. Sometimes the ashes are gathered from the burning of the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday. Christians often fast on Ash Wednesday. They are allowed to have one full meal and two smaller meals, but many fast for the day on bread and water. They also do not eat meat on this day. Fasting may continue throughout Lent and especially on Good Friday. In addition to fasting, Christians often give up something for Lent as an offer of sacrifice. This usually is something people enjoy like eating chocolate, playing video games, hot water for showers, or even sleeping in a bed.
History of Ash Wednesday
The day of Ash Wednesday is not mentioned in the Bible, but it is in honor of events that occurred in the Bible. The 40 days of Lent are meant to signify the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert getting tempted by the devil. The dusting of Ashes is mentioned in the Bible as a sign of mourning and repentance. The cross drawn on the forehead symbolizes the cross that Jesus died on to cleanse the world of its sins. It is believed that Ash Wednesday was first observed in the Middle Ages around the 8th century. It was first called the Day of Ashes. Since then the practice has become an annual ritual in many Christian churches including Catholics, Lutherans, and Methodists.
