Prayer
Prayer
Heavenly Father, your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us, a great sign of your love.
Guide us as we strive to walk in that love together as a family this Advent.
As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, bring us closer to each other and to your son. Give us the grace and strength we need every day.
Help us to always trust in you.
Come, Lord Jesus, lead all people closer to you.
Come and dispel the darkness of our world with the light of your love. Amen.
Our Catholic Identity
The season of Advent
Advent ushers in the most popular season of the year. Initially, from the 4th century, the feast of the Nativity on December 25 began the Church year. The four weeks of Advent blend together a penitential spirit similar to Lent, a liturgical theme of preparation for the Second Coming of the Lord, and a joyful theme of getting ready to celebrate Christ’s coming in the Bethlehem event.
The word Advent (Latin adventus, “coming”) was originally used to describe the mystery of the Incarnation, where God the Son (the Second Person of the Trinity) united His divine nature with human nature in the person of Jesus Christ for the redemption of humanity.
Some of the key liturgical symbols of Advent include the Advent Wreath, with its four candles (three purple and one rose coloured) to mark the passage of the four weeks leading up to Christmas, the Advent calendar and the Manger.
For a list of practical and fun ways to celebrate Advent with your family please see 13 Catholic Advent Activities for Families
Mission and Liturgy
In recent months we have celebrated a number of significant liturgies and events. To mark the last week of school for Year 12 2025, staff and students attended a twilight retreat on Monday 22nd September where students reflected and shared memories of their 13 years of schooling, in particular their time at MCC. The theme and purpose of the retreat centred on the concepts of “Mission” and “Commission” drawn from the readings of their Thanksgiving Mass - Jeremiah 29:11-14, ”the plans I have for you,” and from Matthew’s Gospel, 5:13-16, “You are the light of the world.” At the end of the evening, the staff in attendance commissioned the students for their mission in the world beyond school. The retreat was followed by the celebration of the Year 12 Thanksgiving Mass at St Nicholas’ Church on Wednesday 24th September.
On the 21st of October, McCarthy was dutifully represented by the college’s newly elected student leaders for 2026 at the Deanery Jubilee Mass at St Brigid’s Church in Quirindi. Also as part of the Diocese’s celebration of the Jubilee, Pilgrims of Hope, Year 7 and a selection of Year 9 students made a mini pilgrimage to St Nicholas’ Church where they were able to see and hear about the miniature Cathedral and the Jubilee reliquary crucifix.
This week, on Wednesday 10th December, all staff and students attended the 2025 Thanksgiving Mass to thank God for his blessings on our school community during the past year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Fathers Chris, Sarji, Clarence, Roel and Max for their presence and leadership of our Eucharistic celebrations during 2025.