Religious Dimension
Christmas and Advent
At Advent and Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we give praise and thanks, we reconnect with family and friends. Beginning the Church’s liturgical year, Advent, (from Latin adventus, “coming”), is the four week period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas. It starts on the first Sunday, 1st December and ends on the fourth Sunday before 25 December.
What if you’re not religious?
Even though Advent has a special meaning in the Christian Church, it can be celebrated by everyone regardless of your religious beliefs. After all, this time of year can be particularly busy – the Advent celebration may help you to slow down and take a moment to ponder what is important in life. As times have been so difficult recently it has been easy to lose sight of the more important things. Why not use Advent to have everyone in the family remember to slow down, be more grateful and think of others?
St Joseph's Initiative
This year we will have a drive to support the Vinnies Christmas Appeal, with food and Christmas items donated to improve Christmas time for the less fortunate in our community.
Keep a look out for the Operoo with more information to support this.
Advent Wreath
An advent wreath in our home or church is a reminder to prepare for the birth of Jesus at Christmas. When we light the candles on the wreath, it symbolises the coming of light (Jesus) into the world.
- Candle 1 (violet): represents hope
- Candle 2 (violet): represents peace
- Candle 3 (rose): represents joy
- Candle 4 (violet): represents love
The central white candle is lit on Christmas Day and represents Christ.
The Saturday night masses during Advent will be a children's mass at Sorrento at 6pm
CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES
CHRISTMAS EVE:
SORRENTO 6.30pm (Children's Mass), 8.30pm Carols, 9.00pm Mass
RYE 5.30pm
CHRISTMAS DAY:
SORRENTO 10.00am
RYE 8.30am
HOLIDAY MASS TIMES 28th December, 2024 - 26th January, 2025
RYE: Saturday 5.00pm Sunday 8.30am Weekday Thursday 11.00 am
SORRENTO: Saturday 6.00pm 10.00am Weekdays Mon - Fri 9.15am
PORTSEA: 5th January - 26th January, 2025 Sunday 9.30am
Jacqui Hayes