News from Early Years Education and Care

A student at Holy Cross Catholic Out of School Hours Care (COSHC), Glenwood, knits a scarf to donate to their local parish of St John XXIII Glenwood-Stanhope Gardens. Image: Catholic Diocese of Parramatta Services Limited.

Lent at Holy Cross

Lent is a period of 40 days, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent is often a time of repentance, fasting, and preparation for the coming of Easter. It’s a time of self-examination, reflection, and focus on one’s relationship with God. Many people choose to give up something, or to volunteer and give of themselves in service to others, during these 40 days.

Throughout our network of 32 early years education and care services, time and space is set aside for our children to learn about the Catholic and other faiths, with a particular focus on Lenten themes at this time of year.

At Holy Cross Glenwood Catholic Out of School Hours Care centre (COSHC), the children participate in a program to give back to our community running over the period of Lent.

Clothing items will be collected by the children to donate to the local St John XXIII Parish, Glenwood-Stanhope Gardens.

The children are also encouraged to take a few moments to clear their minds, reflect on their blessings, think of those less fortunate, and find additional ways to express gratitude.

Only One Said Thank you

Children engage in writing prayers of thanks and explore scripture about being thankful at a Catholic Early Learning Centre in the Diocese of Parramatta. Image: Catholic Diocese of Parramatta Services Limited.

Children of ages 3-5 years in our Catholic Early Learnings Centres (CELCs) across the Diocese of Parramatta are encouraged to write and share prayers.

With the help of their teachers and educators, the children are taught the value of sharing their thoughts, and feelings in order to build their connections and sense of belonging. This also helps the children to be thankful and ask God for help about things that are important to them.

Focusing on the story of Jesus and the 10 lepers (Luke 17: 11-19), the children reflect on the meaning of thank you and why it is important to give thanks.

The Early Years Education & Care enterprise within this new agency is responsible for the Diocese of Parramatta’s network of pre-school, long day care and out of school hours care services co-located with our Catholic primary schools.