GOSPEL:  Mark 1:29-39
And at once on leaving the synagogue, he went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed and feverish, and at once they told him about her. He went in to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to serve them. That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were sick with diseases of one kind or another; he also drove out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was. In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, 'Everybody is looking for you.' He answered, 'Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can proclaim the message there too, because that is why I came.' And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out devils.


REFLECTION
This week in the Gospel, Jesus is ministering to the sick.  The Gospel begins as Jesus leaves the synagogue.  He and some of His disciples were going to Simon’s home. When Jesus arrives at Simon’s house, He is told that Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a fever.  Jesus went to her, took her hand, and helped her up.  And immediately the fever left her!

As sunset was approaching, many people came to Jesus bringing their loved ones who were ill or possessed by demons.  Mark writes that Jesus immediately healed those who were sick and He also drove out the demons.  Very early the next morning, Jesus left and found a deserted place where He prayed.  He must have needed some time to be quiet, to rest, and to be alone in prayer.

If Jesus came into our town our city, would we approach Him and ask Him to heal us?  What is the healing we would hope for?  Would it be a physical illness or a spiritual need?  Would we ask Jesus to heal and restore someone we love?  Would we ask Jesus to heal our world and cleanse us of our need to control or hurt one another?  Today I invite you to reflect on the healing that you desire for yourself and for our world.  God will hear our prayer.  We may not get an immediate response but need to trust that God is at work.  God will respond.  How patient will we be?  (Sr Kristine Anne Harpenau)

SHROVE TUESDAY
On Tuesday we will be celebrating Shrove Tuesday with a pancake recess and our annual Pancake Race after recess. Due to Covid-19 Restrictions it will be an in-school celebration this year with photos of the event to be shared with all families via our Facebook page and in next weeks newsletter.

So why do Catholics celebrate Shrove Tuesday? In Australia and Britain the day preceding Ash Wednesday is popularly known as Shrove Tuesday. It is also frequently called Pancake Tuesday or Fat Tuesday.

But it is the name “Shrove” that shows its religious origins. Shrove is the past tense of the English verb “Shrive” which means to obtain absolution for one’s sins by way of confession and by doing penance.

With Shrove Tuesday taking place before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday, it was the day when Christians were encouraged to go to confession in preparation for the penitential season that would end 40 days and 40 nights later with Easter Sunday.

Dating back to 1000 AD, over the years Shrove Tuesday not only became a day for Confession but a time for Catholics to feast on eggs, sugar and dairy which are traditionally restricted during the Lenten fast.

Not only was Shrove Tuesday a last chance to gorge on such foods but it was also a way to use them up before the fast began.

(https://www.catholicweekly.com.au/shrove-tuesday/)

WHAT DOES A PRIEST DO?
Today Stage One met with Father Peter My to find out what it is that a priest does. Father explained that he was called to his vocation as he wanted to serve the community and could think of no better way of doing so, than celebrating God's love with everyone. His primary role is to provide pastoral guidance for us all and does this by celebrating mass, his involvement throughout the school, his work with the sick and elderly, his work with prisoners and he is also responsible for looking after the entire Vietnamese community in the Canberra-Goulburn Diocese. When he is not working, Father Peter spends time with his mother in Sydney and catching up with his five brothers and four sisters. What an inspiration Father Peter is!