Wishing each and every one of you a blessed and special Christmas, a restful holiday break and treasured family time. I look forward to seeing you all in 2024 with some wonderful initiatives planned.

Celebrating Advent

Dear Families,

This Sunday, 3rd December marks the beginning of Advent, the season when we ‘officially’ begin preparing for the birth of Jesus, our Lord and God.

On Friday your family will be receiving a beautiful set of Advent Calendar Kindness Cards designed by Family Educators, especially for families. The professionally printed calendar comes in the form of 27 cards - 25 cards mark the 25 days leading to Christmas Day and the other two cards include

Instructions on how to use the Prayer Kit
A prayer to pray daily before reading the day’s thought and invitation to action .

The cards are designed around the many different TITLES we have for Jesus, some of which will be familiar and others, new ones for you to learn. Each title is accompanied by a SCRIPTURE passage to contemplate and then an ACTION to live out that day.

We invite you to display this kit in your home as you would your Christmas decorations, perhaps using an Advent Calendar display, by pegging the cards to some tinsel, on a stand on your sacred space or creatively on your fridge door.

PLEASE NOTE that the kit was designed and printed with great thought and care so you can reuse it each year during the Season of Advent.

It would be wonderful if you would consider sharing photos of your displays with us by emailing images to janine.hannigan@syd.catholic.edu.au

We hope this Advent Kindness Prayer Calendar Kit will allow you to find a few minutes each day to take some time out together, so as a family, you prepare yourselves spiritually for Christmas. Taking time for reflection can be particularly valuable in what is often a very busy time of year.

St Francis Xavier Playgroup

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our playgroup, we have been making Christmas cards, making decorations for the tree, and Christmas bingo. This year the children will be showing kindness in their actions using a special Advent calendar, different actions, for example, smiling at everyone they meet, helping mum and dad at home and showing off their best manners. We also shared a prayer for Peace and Kindness.

I would like to express my gratitude to families for a wonderful year in Playgroup.

As we approach the end of the playgroup year, it has been my pleasure to connect with one another, sharing laughs, stories and joy throughout the year. Wishing everyone a blessed Christmas and I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.

To all the children graduating and advancing to kindergarten in 2024, we wish you the best of luck.

All families from the community are welcome to join our playgroup. Playgroup is open to children from 0-5 years old.

Term 4 Playgroup dates.

Wednesday 6th December - Christmas party

Wednesday 13th December - Last one for 2023

For playgroup, we will meet in the hall at 9:10 am.

All parents need to sign in and out via the office.

Parents must stay in the hall for the duration of the Playgroup.

No parent is to be on their own outside of the hall.

Wellness Walk

You are welcome to join me for a wellness walk around the local area.

Let's slow down together, start the day with movement and enjoy the surrounding beauty.

What a great way to start our Thursday; we will walk, chat, and have a coffee. Let's meet on the church steps at 9:00 am. Weather permitting.

Term 4 Dates:

7th November

14 December (Last one for 2023)

Kindergarten 2024 Playdate

I look forward to meeting you all at the park

Janine Hannigan

Family Educator

Family and Faith

Staff news

Miss Tina Broussos

Mrs Natalie Rameh

End of Year