Education in Faith
Inviting you to join Altar Servers upcoming Training
Saturday, December 18th at 2pm at St Kevin's Church.
Dear children inviting you all to take this opportunity to become Altar servers in our parish.
If you have celebrated your First Holy Communion or sacrament of Confirmation and have a desire to serve the Lord and His people as an Altar Server in our Parish, please accept this opportunity to attend this training to enrol in this ministry.
There will be an Altar Servers training on Saturday 18th of December at 2pm in the Church.
Parents your support is vital, please encourage your children in their faith journey.
Children, thank you once again for your “Yes” to serve and your commitment to grow in your faith journey.
For any details, you may email to the parish office: HamptonPark@cam.org.au or talk to one of the Priests or the Altar Servers Coordinator Martin Thomas.
With a grateful heart
Fr. Anil Mascarenhas
MINI VINNIES CHRISTMAS APPEAL
The Mini Vinnies Christmas Appeal has now ended. This year all the items and presents we have collected will be going to the St Vincent de Paul Society Conference, Hampton Park based at St Kevin’s.
All hamper items and Christmas presents that have been bought should have been returned to school today. Mini Vinnies will do one last collection on Tuesday December 14th for late items but this will be the last collection as the St Vincent de Paul conference members will be collecting all items on Tuesday December 14th.
A reminder that students will be given House points for each item/gift they bring in. These points will go towards the House Community Spirit Award which will be presented on Wednesday December 15th.
The points at the beginning of the week for the Christmas Appeal were:
1st MacKillop 134
2nd Patrick 120
3rd Bosco 75
4th Teresa 67
I wonder who the winning House will be after our last collection on Tuesday and then after adding the points to previous points already earned by each House through the Caritas Appeal and the Groceries Appeal.
Thank you for your support!!
Giuliana & 5/6 Mini Vinnies
Third Sunday of Advent - Year C
This week the church celebrates this Sunday as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means JOY. Therefore, let us think a bit about what makes us happy and joyful. In the Gospel reading, John the Baptist is preparing people for the coming of Jesus. The people were very excited. He told them they had to change their lives for the better and share what they had with others. The people asked John the Baptist, “What are we to do, to prepare for the coming of Christ?” He answered, “Whoever has two shirts must give one to the man who has none, and whoever has food must share it.”
Some tax collectors came to be baptised, and they asked him, “Teacher, what are we to do?”
“Don't collect more than is legal,” he told them.
Some soldiers also asked him, “What about us? What are we to do?”
He said to them, “Don't take money from anyone by force or accuse anyone falsely. Be content with your pay.”
People's hopes began to rise, and they began to wonder whether John perhaps might be the Messiah. So John said to all of them, “I baptise you with water, but someone is coming who is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He has his winnowing shovel with him, to thresh out all the grain and gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn the chaff in a fire that never goes out.”
In many different ways, John preached the Good News to the people and urged them to change their ways.
Our Gospel passage highlights several Christian values that are learned through our home - generosity, fairness, truthfulness, and contentment with what you have.
At this halfway point in Advent, choose as a family one way you can share what you have with others.
- Something that I have more than enough of is . . .
- I can share the extra that I have with . . .
- Something that is hard for me to share is . . .
Discussion Starters
- What do you remember from the reading today?
- Are you always good at sharing?
- Can you tell me about a time when you did not have something you needed or wanted and someone else shared with you?
- How did you feel when they shared with you?
- When you share your toys or sweets with someone how does it make you feel?
- Does it make you feel happy?
- Can you all tell me one thing that makes you happy?
- How can children learn and practise values through example?
- How can values play a part of a family life as Christmas nears?
Prayer
Generous God, we give you thanks for all the good things that you have given us.
Inspire and help us to share what we have so all people may live a full and happy life. Christ Jesus, as Christmas approaches, we look forward joyfully to your coming.
Amen.
Sacramental News
Sacrament Levy
Please remember to pay your sacramental levy of $15.
If your child has received or will be receiving a Sacrament this year.
As we come closer to the end of this year, it is with a grateful heart that we would like to thank all families for their patience, support and commitment towards our Sacramental Program. It has been a challenging year with several uncertainties. However, we were able to get through six Sacraments.
God Bless
Rozeta Ambrose