Religious Education
Mr Ray Hickey
THE FOUR WEEKS OF ADVENT
The Catholic season of Advent has four weeks, each with a special theme to prepare for Christmas: week one is hope, week two is peace, week three is joy, and week four is love. During this time, families reflect, pray, and light candles on an Advent wreath, symbolizing the journey toward Jesus' birth.
Some information for Weeks One and Two.
Week 3: Joy
This week is all about the joy of Jesus' coming.
Light the third candle, known as the "Shepherds' Candle". This Sunday is often called "Gaudete Sunday," which means "rejoice".
This is a super happy week! We light the third candle and remember the joy the shepherds felt when they heard about Jesus. It's a day to be joyful.
Week 4: Love
This final week celebrates God's love and the love we should share with others, while still preparing for Christmas.
Light the fourth candle, the "Angel's Candle," which symbolizes the message of "peace on earth and goodwill to all" from the angels.
We light the last candle to remember God's great love for us. We think about how much we love Jesus and how we can show love to others.
It is pleasing to see the banners along High Street proclaiming the four themes for Advent - hope, joy, peace and love.
Well done Boroondara Council for putting !
Christmas collection for Vinnies
Thank you for the donations to the Vinnies Christmas Collection.
Over the Christmas and summer holiday period it is a good time to clean out the wardrobe.
If you have clothing that "no longer gives you joy" and is still in very good condition then consider donating to Vinnies or other opportunity shops to aid in supporting others.
Caritas Australia's Global Gift Cards
This year, Caritas Australia has launched a refreshed range of Global Gift cards for Christmas 2025, offering Australians a meaningful way to celebrate the festive season while embracing the true spirit of giving.
Featuring beautifully illustrated designs that reflect the tangible impact of each donation, every card represents a real item or service that helps transform lives, from clean water and education to food security and emergency aid.
More information can be found using this link
Pope Leo XIV's Prayer Intentions
Pope Leo XIV has asked the world to pray for Christians in areas of conflict in our world.
Please try to find some quiet time in your busy day to pray Pope Leo's Prayer Intention for the month of December. Thank you.
For Christians in areas of conflict
Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation, and hope.
Amen
