CELEBRATING OUR FAITH 

What is Advent?

A new church year begins with the Advent season, the four weeks leading up to Christmas. This period is a time of preparation, not just for Christmas holidays, but for the great feast of God’s revelation through the birth of Jesus Christ. How privileged we are to live in this age of salvation! For centuries before Jesus’ birth, the Jewish people waited for the coming of the promised messiah as foretold by the scriptures. We find ourselves in a similar position as we look forward to the second coming of Christ at the end of time. Although we do not know the hour nor the day, each Advent we renew our faith in this great promise. 

The Advent Wreath

One way we celebrate Advent is with an Advent wreath. The wreath is a circle, which reminds us that God’s love has no beginning or end. It’s made of evergreen leaves, which stay green all year, showing us that God’s love never dies.

There are four candles on the wreath — one for each week of Advent. Sometimes, there’s a fifth candle in the middle, called the Christ candle, which we light on Christmas to celebrate Jesus’ birth.

The Colours of the Candles

The candles on the Advent wreath have special colours:

1. Three purple candles - Purple is a colour of preparation and hope. It reminds us to get our hearts ready for Jesus.
2. One pink candle - The pink candle is lit on the third week, called "Gaudete Sunday," which means "joy." This candle reminds us to be happy because Christmas is very close!
3. A white candle - If there’s a white candle in the middle, it’s lit on Christmas Day to show that Jesus is the Light of the World.

Each week when we light another candle, the wreath gets brighter, reminding us that Jesus brings light and love to the world. Advent is a time to pray, be kind, and share love with others as we prepare for the special day when Jesus was born!

Year 10's Final Week

Copeton Dam

Our Year 10 students are out at Copeton Dam involved in a retreat style few days. Here they are reflecting on their time together as a cohort, memories, talking about their hopes and fears for the future and they will complete a Friendship booklet for one another. The Year 10 students will also take part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday they will return around 11am.

Graduation Mass Practise

All Year 10 students need to meet at SHC at 9:30am on Thursday 5 December for the Graduation Mass practise. Please bring your item with you that you will bring forward during the entrance hymn.

Graduation Mass

The Year 10 Graduation Mass is on Friday 6th December at 9:30am. Year 10 students are asked to be at the church by 9:15am please. All of our secondary students will be attending the Mass and will catch the bus down after roll call.

Graduation Dinner

The Graduation Dinner Dance will be held at the Inverell RSM from 6:30pm.

Festive Food Drop

Each year we support our local St Vincent de Paul Society by donating money and food items so that they can support struggling families within our community. The Secondary Sleepout and Lap-A-Thon raised money for Vinnies and we also give non-perishable festive food items donated by you, our generous families, to contribute to hampers given out by SVDP to families in our local community in need. We are asking for donations of non-perishable festive food items over the coming weeks. These will be given to SVDP at our Thanksgiving Mass on Tuesday 17 December at 9:15am. Please send in festive food donations with your children to school so we can support families in our local community this Christmas.

Sacred Heart Mass Times

6:00pm Saturday evenings 

9:00am Sunday mornings

Christmas Mass Times

Christmas Eve - Tuesday 24 December

Ashford - 5.00pm

Inverell - 8.00pm

Christmas Day - Wednesday 25 December

Inverell - 9:00am

For the Calendar

Term 4 2024

Mon 2 to Wed 4 December

- Yr 10 Christian Living Retreat at Copeton Dam

Friday 6 December 

- Year 10 Graduation Mass at SHC 9:30am

Friday 13 December 

- Year 6 Mass at SHC 9:30am

Tuesday 17 December 

- Thanksgiving Mass at HTS Hall with our Christmas hamper donations for SVDP 9:15am

Enjoy your week,

God Bless

Mary-Jane Guest

Religious Education Coordinator