FAITH MATTERS

Season of Advent 

Advent marks the beginning of the Church’s new year and is a season of waiting and preparation. In fact, this season of Advent focuses on Christ’s threefold coming—past, present and future.

• We await and prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas.

• We hope and give thanks for Christ’s presence within us and in the Word and Sacraments. 

• We look to the future, waiting for Christ to come again. 

The word ‘Advent’ means ‘coming’. Lighting the candles on the wreath symbolises the coming of light (Jesus) into the world. 

The first candle (violet) represents hope, the second (violet) peace, the third (rose) joy, and the fourth (violet) love. The central white candle is lit on Christmas Day and represents Christ. This Advent we will learn, act and pray for a more just and fair world – a world full of hope, peace, joy and love. 

The continuing conversation this year is about ‘roadmaps’: finding pathways to healthy, safe ways of connecting – for everyone. Our Leaders entice us by offering small steps to an opening up, lightening hearts with the hope that all can be ‘home for Christmas’.

But it is an opening up for which all of us are to engage in preparing – that all might know health, freedom and security.

The Advent Season, too, is our annual ‘roadmap’, as we wend our way towards the Christmas Manger. The weekly Word unfolds the kind of road God desires to shape, its destination, and our part in enabling it, that God’s desire comes to birth.

Then, on arriving at the Manger, we will be at one with the Christchild, who modelled the Way for us – in His time, and for all time: the way of light, joy and peace.

Lord Jesus,

while we wait for your birth,

we ask you for the grace to care for others in our lives

and the space and time for prayer.

Let prayer be the environment where everything begins and everything ends.

In prayer we receive your inspiration

that leads us to love and serve our brothers and sisters.

In prayer we bring all the events to you

to thank you and learn from them.

We ask you for the grace of fidelity

and the joy of meeting you in our hearts. Amen.

Jesus light of the world, guide us

St. Joseph, journey with us

St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us.

As we finish the 2021 school year, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a blessed, safe and happy Christmas. I am finishing in the role of Director of Mission. I have enjoyed leading Catholic Identity in our school community, but it is time for me to head in a different direction!

May the wonder of that first Christmas, the joy of God's abundant blessings, and the peace of Jesus' presence be with you and your loved ones always and may the true spirit of Christmas shine in your heart and light your path.