The Gospel for the third Sunday of Lent describes the meeting between Jesus and a Samaritan woman beside a well.  In Jesus’ time, the Samaritan’s and Jews hated each other but Jesus spoke to the woman kindly. This story reminds us that God loves all people no matter where they are from.  God asks us to be like Jesus and to respect and care for all people no matter who they are.  

This week at Holy Spirit, we value self-discipline.  This is often seen as the ability to do what you know you should do, when you should do it, whether or not you feel like it.  Self-discipline can be witnessed when we are able to control impulsive behaviours and take responsibility for our actions. During this time of Lent, we encourage children to be conscious of their behaviour and endeavour to do the right thing.

This week our Project Compassion feature story is Sakun from  India.  Thirty-two-year-old Sakun lives in a village in central-east India.  She developed polio as a child and has difficulty walking. Until now Sakun, an indigenous Gond woman, has been isolated in her community, unable to earn a livelihood and without knowledge of government schemes that could help her.  Sakun lives with her sister in a rural area of Chhattisgarh, India’s poorest state, home to 26 million people, with 10 million living in poverty. Life is hard in this region, and even harder                                     for the state’s indigenous people.

Sakun belongs to the Gond tribal community which is amongst India’s officially designated Scheduled Castes and Tribes.  Historically disadvantaged, they suffer higher poverty rates than other parts of India.

In 2018, Sakun joined a Caritas Australia-funded program which is implemented by Caritas India and its local partner, Samarthan.  Through their strategic guidance and support, Sakun learned new skills and gained important mobility. 

Sakun now earns her own income and makes a small profit which goes towards her family’s basic needs.  She is more resilient, more confident and more independent. 

With your help, Caritas Australia can help uplift vulnerable communities and support the right of indigenous peoples around the world. A brighter future for women, men and their families can start today. Let’s Go Further, Together.

For more information on Sakun, please visit https://lent.caritas.org.au/page/week-4 

Tomorrow, 19th March, is the Feast Day of St Joseph.  St Joseph was the husband of Mary and the foster-father of Jesus.  We know Joseph loved Jesus and when Jesus stayed in the Temple, Joseph (along with Mary) searched with great anxiety for three days for him.  We also know that Joseph treated Jesus as his own son for over and over the people of Nazareth say of Jesus, "Is this not the son of Joseph?" Joseph teaches us forgetfulness of self in the service of others.  He is the patron saint of fathers and workers.

Have a great week.

God bless

Caroline Fuller