The Spear Newsletter

RE & Parish News

Sacrament of Reconciliation - get in early!

First Reconciliation Enrolment Form 2025

We sent a special note out to all families who may be eligible for the Sacrament of Reconciliation last month with a view to give everyone plenty of time to be organised. The parish would like to remind families that you can enrol for this via the link. The preparation for Reconciliation begins in week 3 of Term 1 next year so there is not a lot of time.

 

Sent Nov 19: 

An invitation to students who are in Grade 3, 4, 5 & 6 in 2025. Families who would like their child to celebrate First Reconciliation are invited complete this form. It would be great if you can submit your response by 12 Feb 2025.

First Reconciliation Enrolment Form 2025

Advent Week 3 - It's All About Love

 

Catholics light the 3rd candle this Sunday. Advent is traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday, which is the third Sunday of Advent. The focus of the third week is on joy and anticipation, as Catholics prepare for the celebration of the birth of Christ. The theme of love during this week is linked with the broader Advent message of preparing our hearts for Christ’s coming.

 

For Catholics, love during the third week of Advent is about reflecting on the deep, sacrificial love that God showed to humanity through the birth of Jesus Christ. The Advent season is a time of waiting, and this waiting is filled with hope, love, and peace. Gaudete Sunday, which translates to "Rejoice," celebrates the joy of knowing that God's love is near, manifested through the coming of Jesus.

 

Love in this context can be understood in several ways:

  1. God's Love for Humanity: The Advent season reminds Catholics that God's love is the driving force behind the Incarnation. God loved humanity so much that He sent His Son into the world to redeem it, as seen in the famous passage from the Gospel of John (John 3:16), "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son."

     

  2. Our Response to God's Love: Catholics are invited to respond to God's love with acts of kindness, service, and compassion, preparing their hearts to welcome Christ into their lives. This involves showing love to others as an expression of the love that has first been shown to us.

     

  3. Love and Joy in Community: Advent, particularly Gaudete Sunday, is a reminder that the joy of Christ’s coming is a shared experience within the Christian community. This joy is rooted in the love that binds the Church together, the love expressed in worship, fellowship, and in waiting for Christ's coming.

Love in the context of Advent Week 3 encourages Catholics to focus on the profound love of God that leads to Christ’s birth and to respond with joy, compassion, and a renewed commitment to living out that love in their lives and relationships.