CELEBRATING OUR FAITH 

Year 10 at Copeton Dam 

Next Monday, 29 November, Year 10 students will be travelling to Copeton Dam for the day. Students will depart school on a bus at 9:15 am. There will be more information in a note home.

The day will involve the students 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 led by Fr James.

Year 10 Graduation Mass

The Year 10 Graduation Mass will be on Friday 3 December at 9:30am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Sadly this year due to Covid-19 restrictions, only two people may attend per family. We are sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Please ensure Miss Bailey is aware of the number of family members attending the Mass for Covid-19 purposes. 

We will be having a Mass practise on Thursday morning at the church.

Year 6 End of Year Mass

On Tuesday, 7 December at 12:30pm, Year 6 students will be going to Sacred Heart Church for their End of Year Mass. Sadly this year due to Covid-19 restrictions, only one person may attend per family. We are sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Please remember to be socially distant from others and to sign at the door.

SVDP - Christmas Appeal

Our fundraising for St Vincent de Paul continues this year with the Coin Drop and Christmas Appeal - Festive Foods.

• Coin Drop on Wednesday 8 December - students are asked to bring a gold coin donation 
• Festive Foods - acollection of non-perishable food items are donated and presented to SVDP at our Thanksgiving Mass,  Friday 10 December.

Festive Foods - SVDP

Students at Holy Trinity have been very generous in previous years in supporting SVDP by donating non-perishable food items for Christmas Hampers. This year we have been asked to support those less fortunate in our community by donating non-perishable foods which you would like to eat/have at Christmas or for a festive occasion - FESTIVE FOODS! For example: lollies, chips, bonbons, bottles of soft drinks, popcorn etc.

Families can begin to send festive food items into school which we will donate to SVDP at our Thanksgiving Mass, Friday 10 December. Thank you for your continued generosity and support.

The Season of Advent

Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. The first Sunday of Advent is also the start of each new Church year. 

This Sunday, 28 November, the season of Advent will begin.  Advent is a time for us to prepare for the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ on Christmas day. The word Advent comes from the Latin word advenio, which means 'coming' or 'visit.'  We are called to come to the celebration of Christ's birth at Christmas; we are also called to be aware of the coming of Christ in our lives through grace and the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

Colours of Advent

Advent colours are purple and rose. At Mass the priest’s vestments, altar cloths, and Advent candles are purple, except for the third Sunday of the season, Gaudete Sunday, when the colour is rose, for joy. There is also a white candle for Christmas Day itself, usually in the middle of the Advent wreath.

One of the major symbols of the Advent season is the wreath. The encircling wreath is symbolic of God without beginning or end and the green foliage represents our hope in God. There are five candles in the wreath: 3 purple, 1 pink and a central white candle representing the light of Christ that came into the world.

The first candle, which is purple, symbolises hope. It is often called the “Prophecy Candle” in remembrance of the prophets, especially Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. It represents the expectation felt in anticipation of the coming Messiah.

The second candle, also purple, represents faith. It is called the “Bethlehem Candle” as a reminder of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.

The third candle is rose/pink and symbolises joy. It is called the “Shepard’s Candle,” and is pink because rose it is a liturgical colour for joy and is meant to remind us of the joy that is anticipated in the world experienced at the birth of Jesus.

On the fourth week of Advent, we light the final purple candle to mark the final week of prayer and penance as we wait for the birth of our Saviour. This final candle, the “Angel’s Candle,” symbolises peace. It reminds us of the message of the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.”

The progressive lighting of the candles marks the journey towards the Nativity.

For the Calendar:

Mon, 29 Nov - Year 10 CLD at Copeton Dam

Tues, 30 Nov - Secondary Lap-a-thon

Wed, 1 Dec - Year 10 Assembly

Fri, 3 Dec - Year 10 Grad Mass, SHC 9:30am

Tues, 7 Dec - Yr 6 End of Year Mass 12:30pm

Wed, 8 December - Coin Drop

Fri, 10 December - Thanksgiving Mass and Festive Foods Donation to SVDP

Enjoy the week and God bless, 

Mary-Jane Guest

Religious Education Coordinator