Religious Education

Firstly I’d like to congratulate the Year 3 students who celebrated the sacrament of Reconciliation on Tuesday. Students were so reverent and prayerful albeit a little nervous, but Father Andrew, Father Peter and Father Kevin soon allayed their fears with their welcoming words and gift of absolution. It was a joy to see these students receive the gift of forgiveness, and watch their faces light up as they read the precious letters written to them from their parents. God’s love and mercy was certainly evident amongst the Year 3 students at St Louis’ on Tuesday.

It is an understatement to say that 2021 has been a challenging year! We can’t wait to turn the page and move on to a new year. We celebrate the beginning of our liturgical year on the First Sunday of Advent, which is only a few days away, on Sunday November 28th. Advent is the season in which we celebrate new beginnings. It is the season in which we begin the liturgical year and prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Saviour. 

Advent is such a busy time of year. We all know how easy it is to be distracted by the lights and decorations of businesses selling their goods. It’s easy to get caught up in this noise, work deadlines, endless shopping escapades and end of year festivities.  we so easily forget that—at its heart—it is meant to be a time of preparation, waiting and hope for the coming of Jesus into our world and lives.

As the Church, we wait during Advent and look forward to celebrating the fact that God loves us so much that he sent his Son into the world to save us. This waiting is far from empty; rather, it is full of the hope that God promises us as we prepare for Christ in the feast of Christmas.

Advent is always a season of hope, a season that reminds us never to lose sight of the hope we Christians are called to live with year-round. This year, more than ever, we really need to focus on hope! We have been bruised and battered by the COVID-19 pandemic, radical weather conditions, even an earthquake and so much more. In the face of such difficulties, we can easily fall into despair. The message of Advent, however, is that despair will not prevail because of the hope we find in Jesus Christ, our Saviour.

May we also bring some hope this Christmas to those less fortunate than us by helping St Vinnie’s provide Christmas Hampers for needy families. Please assist us by donating some of the items listed in the flyer below. Please send these items to school with you child.