A saint from this week's calendar

Blessed Giovanni da Fiesole (Fra Angelico) was commemorated on February 18. Born as Guido di Pietro in 1386 or 1387 in Vicchio, Tuscany. He entered the Dominican Order in 1407 taking the name Brother John of the Angels.

Fra Angelico (Angelico meaning 'Angelic' in Italian) was a Dominican friar renowned for his artwork.The artwork of Fra Angelico continuously shows the goodness of creation, and this is exemplified in his many representations of the Annunciation.

Fra Angelico's greatest complete work was his "Life of Christ," a series of thirty five paintings in Fiesole. They began with the vision of the Prophet Ezechiel and ended with the lovely "Coronation of the Virgin". These pictures hint to us that Brother John of the Angels was a capable theologian and a Scripture scholar.

He was also a devoted son of St Dominic, whom he loved dearly and never tired of painting.Fra Angelico was beatified 3 October 1982 by Pope John Paul II, and in 1984 the Pope declared him patron of Catholic artists.

See more prints and more information at The Artcyclopedia.

Lenten Links

Personal Program for Lent
Importance of a Personal Lenten Program It should not be enough to slide through Lent by just observing the fast and abstinence laws or giving up chocolate. We should all undertake a Lenten program, an inward cleansing and purification, for oneself and the family. The program needs to be planned and organized. Ask the question: What shall I and my family do this year for Lent? Goals and activities should be realistic and reasonable, and parents should make sure that their children know why these practices are being adopted, rather than merely forcing them upon them.
After deciding our goals, both individual and family's, we need to arrange our schedules, plan the different events and make adjustments to our life to put these resolutions into practice. Our daily life doesn't stop just because Lent is here. The challenge is to observe the spirit of Lent and perform the works of Lent while living in a secular culture, to remain in the world but not become a product of it.

Ash Wednesday
Attende Domine - Hear, O Lord
This penitential hymn is based on a 10th century Mozarabic Litany for the Lenten Season.
Directions
R. Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon us, who have sinned against Thee.
King, high exalted, all the world's Redeemer, to Thee we lift out eyes with weeping: Christ, we implore Thee, hear Thy suppliant's prayers. R.
2. Right hand of Godhead, headstone of the corner, path of salvation, gate of heaven, wash away the stains of our sin. R.
3. We, Thy eternal majesty entreating, with Thy blessed ears hear our sighing: graciously grant pardon to our sins. R.
4. Humbly confess we, who have sinned against Thee, with contrite hearts we reveal things hidden; O Redeemer, may Thy pity grant forgiveness. R.
5. Led away captive, guiltless, unresisting, condemned by false witnesses unto death for sinners, Christ do Thou keep us whom Thy blood hath ransomed. R.
Attende Domine R. Attende Domine, et miserere, quia peccavimus tibi.
Ad te Rex summe, omnium redemptor, oculos nostros sublevamus flentes: exaudi, Christe, supplicantum preces. R.
Dextera Patris, lapis angularis, via salutis, ianua caelestis, ablue nostri maculas delicti. R.
Rogamus, Deus, tuam maiestatem: auribus sacris gemitus exaudi: crimina nostra placidus indulge. R.
Tibi fatemur crimina admissa: contrito corde pandimus occulta: tua Redemptor, pietas ignoscat. R.
Innocens captus, nec repugnans ductus, testibus falsis pro impiis damnatus: quos redemisti, tu conserva, Christe. R.

Today's Meeting

Planning for the new year.

Children playing.

Sharing food and conversation.

And a blessing for the start of the new school year. Thank you, Fr.!

BREAKING NEWS!

www.mathematics.com.au

This Maths website is very beneficial to secondary students.  Previously it was $30 per month to subscribe.  During 2009 it will be available at no cost, because McDonald's is sponsoring its use.    It's for Maths students in Stages 4, 5 and 6.  It not only provides hundreds of worksheets, but also has lessons with voice-over instructions.

A GREAT resource for homeschoolers!!

January Meeting

A meeting to plan our year and to receive a blessing for the new school year.

Tuesday January 20, at Danielle's house.Meet at 10.30 a.m. for morning tea, play for kids, planning for mums. Bring any liturgical year calendars and your diary!

A priest will be be there at 11.30 a.m. to give us a blessing for the school year.

Today's Advent/Christmas Party

Our English Christmas

Dear All,

As you are enjoying your days at the beach, we are filling our short days and long nights preparing for our English Christmas. We have not had any snow, yet, but lots of frost and it is very cold.

We have been studying our Salvation History through the Bible, using a Jesse Tree. We are also reading, "The Christmas Mystery", by Jostein Gaarder. It's a terrific Christmas read.

Nathan, Ted and Denise (our landlords) made some lovely Yule Logs. They cut up some logs, bored holes for candles and painted them white. Then they decorated them. We made some pomanders, using oranges that we then stuck cloves into. The oranges will shrink and the pomanders will last 100 years! We also dried slices of oranges and cranberries in the oven. We put them all in a dish, with cinnamon sticks and pine cones and put the dish next to the fire. When they heat up, the give off the most delicious spicy smells!

Once a week, Nathan and I put on our wellies and walk the 50 metres to our brook, where we cut long lengths of holly for our mantle piece. It looks like plastic, but the real stuff is prickly and sharp!

We hope you have a happy and holy Christmas and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

Lots of love,

Nathan and Christine