OUR FAITH
PRAYER
Loving God, we thank you for this glad time of year, this Advent season which reminds us of so much, and which reveals so wonderfully the extent of your love. For your coming and coming again in Christ, we thank you in the glory of your name.
Amen
We pray ...
for.....our Year 6 students who are in their final weeks of primary schooling, for our St Nicholas Community as we begin the journey through the season of Advent and for those undergoing and recovering from surgery.
LITURGY NEWS
THE SEASON OF ADVENT – Begins this Sunday
This coming Sunday (3rd December) marks the first week of Advent. Advent comes from the Latin word for an "arrival" or a "coming". Advent is the season when we remember the anticipation of Christ's first coming, and we pray for the return of Christ again. With the beginning of the season of Advent, we begin a new liturgical year. The Advent wreath is part of our long-standing Catholic tradition. The wreath is made of various evergreens, signifying continuous life. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. Three candles are purple and one is rose. The purple candles in particular symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and goods works undertaken at this time. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, when the priest also wears rose vestments at Mass; This is the Sunday of rejoicing, because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over and they are close to Christmas. The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of His second coming.
FAMILY MASS
Our last family Family Mass for the year will be celebrated on Sunday 4th December (Year 2 & Year 4 families encouraged to attend) at St Nicholas Church commencing at 9.30a.m.
END OF YEAR MASS
St Nicholas End of Year Mass (Advanced Notice)
This year our End of Year Mass will be on Monday the 11th December. This Mass will be a Whole School Mass beginning at 9.30am with students to be dressed in full summer uniform. All parents, family members and friends are welcome to attend. At this Mass we will also acknowledge and farewell our Year 6 students.
CHRISTMAS JOY - MUFTI DAY
In support of the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal student will be able to wear mufti clothing on Friday 15th December. Gold coin donations will be collected.
ST NICHOLAS PARISH - CHRISTMAS EVE MASS - NATIVITY
Fr. Chris is inviting students to be a part of a Nativity play for Christmas Eve Family Mass, 6:00 pm start at St. Nicholas Church (Sunday, 24th December).
Please inform Miss Anna Maher via email (amaher1@arm.catholic.edu.au) before 6/12/2023 if your child would like to participate. Within the email please include your child's full name and the grade they are in.
On Sunday 24th December the students will need to arrive at St. Nicholas Church at 5:40 pm. We will meet on the paved area beside the Church (closest to Kmart Carpark).