From the APRIM - James Lloyd
The Gospel reading in Sunday’s liturgy, told us the story of the Prodigal Son. We heard about a son’s demand that his father gives him his inheritance, and then goes off and wastes all the money. His father missed him terribly, and when he eventually came home, hungry, poor and scared, was welcomed with open arms. What a beautiful image of God – the one who always welcomes us back with open arms. During Lent, we are reminded that God is always present. Lent has been a time to turn back to God and rebuild relationship with each another.
Year 5B/L will be presenting ‘The Passion of Jesus’ musical on Friday 12th April at 11:30am in the hall. This is a whole school event, and you are most welcome to attend. You will also notice that the Stations of the Cross will be placed around the school. Each class will be praying the Stations of the Cross during Holy Week.
If you would like to join me on a meditative Stations of the Cross walk, please meet me in the Courtyard next Monday morning at 9:00am.
Project Compassion boxes can be returned to school from this week. Thank you for your generosity. This week, we learn about Salma from Bangladesh. This is her story:
Salma lives with her husband, Masud, in the rural community of Gazipur, two hours from Bangladesh’s bustling capital.
She was just 18 years old, pregnant and fearful for her life and that of her unborn child, when she featured in Project Compassion 2013.
In Bangladesh, maternal and infant mortality rates are still tragically high. During her first pregnancy, Salma was very sick, she experienced abdominal pain and couldn’t eat. She sought the help of a midwife called Pronoti, trained by Caritas Australia’s Safe Motherhood Program.
Pronoti helped Salma safely through two pregnancies, thanks to her comprehensive training in midwifery, antenatal and postnatal care.
The program has reduced maternal and infant mortality in the area by almost 70 percent. Over 400 women have been trained in midwifery since 2008 – and they have given over 28,000 women antenatal checkups and delivered more than 15,000 babies.
Now 24, Salma smiles as she watches her one-year-old boy and six-year-old daughter play together. She is pleased that they are growing up strong and can focus on their hopes for the future.
“If the Safe Motherhood Program had not trained midwives like Pronoti, many of us would have to go to the private clinics 11 kilometres away.Some of us women and our babies might die because of that.”
“We are poor and so it is easy to get discouraged about the future. However, if we have hope, we have the courage to try and do things that seem difficult or impossible at the time.”