Mission & Religious Education News
Prayer For the first week in Advent (thanks to Mercy Partners publications)
In his beautiful prayer The Canticle of Creation, St Francis reminds us that all of the created world is a herald of God’s love and abiding presence.
All praise be yours, my Lord,through Sister Moon and Stars;In the heavens you have made them, bright and precious and fair.
The star that St Francis called Sister, was a miracle, its radiance travelling for many light years to shine brightly in our skies and to guide those journeying from afar to the birth of Jesus. The Christmas Star shines a light on this fundamental truth that every life is sacred, every human birth is a sacrament of love, every moment is a gift (Newell. 2014. 122).
This Advent we are invited to be open to the blessed light, which comes through all of creation, the light of God’s presence and grace in our lives.
May we this day turn ourselves toward it.
May we lift our faces to let it find us.
May we bend our bodies to follow the arc it makes.
May we open and open more and open still to the blessed light that comes.
(Jan Richardson. Circle of Grace. Wanton Gospeller Press: Orlando. 60)
Holy One
Essence of Kindness
As we journey through this Advent Season
Inspire us to be bearers of love
through our messages of hope
our shared smiles
our generosity and forgiving hearts
our listening ears and words of understanding.
Help us to be living signs of your love dwelling amongst us.
Amen
CARITAS AUSTRALIA Advent Resource - Primary Schools - Secondary Schools - Parish Groups
This resource invites participants to explore Advent themes of hope, peace, joy, and love over four weeks, reflecting on Scripture and global stories. Emphasising justice and integral ecology as highlighted by Pope Francis in Laudato Si’ (2015) and Laudate Deum (2023).
https://www.caritas.org.au/advent/
NCEA Advent Resource
The National Catholic Educational Association is providing free Advent resources via their website. Resources include, research-based strategies, publications, websites, and tech tools for celebrating the season with students. It groups its resources in three categories: ‘For Teachers’, ‘For Families’ and ‘For Anyone’. These resource are American produced so you might need to check some spelling.
https://ncea.org/NCEA/NCEA/How_We_Serve/Resources/Advent/Advent_Resources.aspx
The Heights
Please look out for a newsletter in your inbox called The Heights. It is a joint venture between Armidale Catholic Schools and the Chancery. This edition has information and resources on the season of Advent. Future editions will be a great resource informing readers of school and parish events and goings on across the diocese. It is due to be sent out this Friday.
FAQs! Why do we use an Advent wreath?
The use of the wreath and candles during Advent are a longstanding Catholic tradition that was originally adopted by Christians in the Middle Ages as part of their spiritual preparation for Christmas. The wreath itself signifies continuous life as the circle has no beginning or end, the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life we find in Christ.
The candles each hold their own significance. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent, and one candle is lit each Sunday. Three of the candles are purple because the purple signifies prayer, penance, and sacrifice. The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete (Rejoice or pink) Sunday. On this day we celebrate that our waiting for the birth of Jesus on Christmas day is almost over with a pink candle.
The first candle (purple) - symbolises hope.
The second candle (purple) - symbolises faith.
The third candle (pink) - symbolises joy.
The fourth candle (purple) - symbolises peace.
A white candle is placed in the middle of the wreath and lit on Christmas Eve. This candle is called the “Christ Candle” and represents the life of Christ. The color white is for purity—because Christ is our sinless, pure Savior.
Upcoming Feast Days
December 6 St Nicholas (bishop)
December 7 St ambrose (bishop, doctor)
December 8 The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary