Catholic Identity
Religious Education, Sacramental and Faith Celebration News
In this newsletter...
- Season of Advent
- Vinnies Christmas Appeal
- Sacramental Program 2025
- Christmas Nativity and Year 6 Graduation
- Community Mass 2025
- Prayer Warriors for as new church
Season of Advent
This Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent. “Advent” means “arrival”. Someone we are waiting for is coming. We have to get ready for Jesus’ coming. We have to decorate the house and buy presents, of course, but above all we have to get our hearts ready.
There’s no time to lose! What do I have to change in my life so that I can welcome Jesus better?
At Christmas, Jesus drives the shadows away. He brings us the light. He is the Light.
One beautiful Advent custom is to have a wreath made of evergreen branches and decorated with four big candles. We light one of these candles on each of the four Sundays of Advent. They symbolise the light of Christmas that is coming and the darkness of sadness and despair that is disappearing bit by bit.
What can I do so that I can better receive the light of Christmas ?
How can I too be a light which lights up the way of the Lord?
Vinnies Appeal
Next week is the last week for collecting donations of items for the St Vincent de Paul Society Christmas Appeal.
This year, Vinnies has requested donations of non-perishable, long life/canned food items, as well as items that can contribute to Christmas hampers. This might include Christmas puddings, candy canes etc.
Please note, Vinnies will NOT be accepting gifts this year - therefore we are not requesting donations of gifts as in previous years.
Thank you for your continued generous support of these important Social Justice initiatives.
Sacramental Program 2025
As we prepare for 2025 and the School-based Sacramental Program, a letter was sent home last week for families to indicate their intention for their child to celebrate a sacrament next year. Thank you to those families who have already returned this note.
If you wish for your child/ren to prepare for and celebrate a sacrament in 2025, please use this note to indicate your intentions. This was sent home to all students in Years 2-5.
If you have a child in any year level and you are interested in having the Baptised Catholic, please make contact with me via my email below.
Christmas Nativity and Graduation Mass
Our Christmas Nativity prayer service will be on Thursday 12th December, at 9am in the hall. All families and friends are welcome to join us for this special time to reflect on the story of the birth of Christ. Students in 3/4 Yellow will be leading the celebration. Following the nativity play, all year levels will be leading us in Christmas Carols. Then, from 10am, families are invited to head into the learning spaces for our learning expo.
Year 6 Graduation Mass will be on Friday 13th December, at 6:30pm in the hall. All families are invited to join us for this special celebration. The OLSC choir will also be leading us in the singing during Mass. In particular, we encourage as many of the family members of our graduating Year 6 students to join us for this celebration.
Photos from our last whole school Mass of the year, celebrated by Fr. James.
Week 10 - Thursday 12th Dec. 9am | Christmas Liturgy and Carols |
Week 10 - Friday 13th Dec. 6:30pm | Graduation Mass |
Community Mass 2025
SAVE THE DATE - 2025 Community Mass Dates
Follow and like the Wyndham Vale Catholic Community Facebook page to get updates and further information about Community Masses and other events.
Prayer Warriors
The Parish of St Andrews and the Wyndham Vale Catholic Community is calling all Prayer Warriors to join in praying for the construction of a new church on the block next to OLSC, set aside by the parish for that purpose. So, we invite all our school community to join us in praying for the church building. As a family, you may choose to use this, or another prayer, in your daily prayers:
Our Lady of the Southern Cross, pray for us.
St Joseph, pray for us,
St Andrew, pray for us.
John Dini
Catholic Identity Leader