Our Faith - Religion - Prayer
St Patrick's Church Walcha
For Baptism or Marriage enquiries phone Monsignor Ted Wilkes 67784070.
Monsignor Ted Wilkes would like to invite parishioners to Sunday Mass 10am.
Term 4 Mass Dates
Friday 28th November: Mass at 11.30am
Friday 12th December: End of Year and Year 6 Graduation Mass at 12.00pm
Reflection
The End and The Beginning: Welcoming the Season of Advent
This week marks a significant moment in our liturgical calendar, as it is the final week of the Church Year, culminating in the celebration of Christ the King, which brings the current Liturgical Year to a close.
However, the Church Year quickly begins anew this Sunday, November 30th, as we joyfully commence a new cycle by celebrating the First Sunday of Advent, signaling the start of our spiritual preparation for Christmas.
The word "Advent" comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming" or "arrival," and this special four-week season directs our hearts and minds to a twofold coming of Christ: we prepare to joyfully celebrate the anniversary of His birth in Bethlehem on Christmas Day (the First Coming), and we reflect on Christ's promise to return at the end of time, encouraging us to remain watchful and ready (the Second Coming).
Therefore, Advent is a season of hopeful anticipation and joyful preparation, calling us to focus less on commercial distractions and more on prayer, reflection, and quiet discipline to prepare our hearts.
The traditional colour for Advent is purple , symbolising penance and preparation, much like the season of Lent. A beloved custom during this time is the Advent wreath, a circle of evergreen branches holding four candles (typically three purple and one rose/pink), where an additional candle is lit each Sunday, symbolising the progressive hope and light that grows as we approach the Nativity; the third Sunday, when the rose candle is lit, is called Gaudete Sunday, a break in the preparation to rejoice because the Lord is near.
As we enter this new season, let us embrace the quiet beauty of Advent and use this time to reflect on the immense gift of Christ's arrival in the world, while anticipating His final coming in glory.
Prayer
Thank you for this week,
the very end of our church year.
Help us remember all the good things
we learned and did this past year.
Now, we look forward to Sunday!
That is the first day of Advent,
when the church year starts all over again!
Please fill our hearts with excitement
and hope as we get ready for the coming of Jesus.
Help us be kind, watch for your light,
and prepare our homes and our hearts for Christmas.
Amen.
Mass, tomorrow, Friday 28th November at 11.30am
Please join the students and staff of St Patrick's Primary as we celebrate Mass with Monsignor Wilkes tomorrow, Friday, November 28th, at 11:30 AM.
Everyone in our school community is warmly invited to attend this special celebration. We look forward to seeing you there.
End of Year and Year 6 Graduation Mass -Friday 12th December at 12.00pm
On Friday, 12th December, all staff and students will gather to celebrate our End of Year Mass and Year 6 Graduation at St Patrick's Catholic Church at 12.00pm. We warmly invite everyone to join us for this special occasion.
Year of Jubilee
2025 is a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church.
A Jubilee Year is traditionally proclaimed by the Universal Church every 25 years. It is a particular year set aside to encourage the faithful to embark on pilgrimages, to repent of their sins and forgive the sins of others, and to renew a focus on spiritual life.
The theme is Pilgrims of Hope. Pope Francis has invited Catholics to renew our hope and discover a vision that can "restore access to the fruits of the earth to everyone". We are also invited to rediscover a spirituality of God's creation in which we understand ourselves as "pilgrims on the earth" rather than masters of the world.
You will see this logo often this year...
The logo symbolises unity and fraternity among all of humanity, with four stylised figures from different corners of the earth embracing each other. The leading figure holds a cross, representing faith and hope. The rough waves beneath the figures symbolise life's challenges, emphasising the need for hope in difficult times. The elongated lower part of the cross forms an anchor, a well-known symbol of hope. This image depicts the pilgrimage as a communal journey towards the cross, which reaches out dynamically to offer presence and hope.
Jubilee 2025 - Pilgrims of Hope (Youtube)
The Jubilee Prayer
To pray and download the Prayer for the 2025 Jubilee, click here. Copies of the Jubilee Prayer are available in Braille. Please contact the Office of Deaf and Disabilities Ministry for a copy: specialneedsministry@adw.org or 301-853-4560.