Education in Faith
St. Peter and Paul's Christmas Carols and Market
End of Term Mass
The article below was written prior to today's Mass. On Friday 15th December, the whole school will be heading to the End of Term Mass at Ss. Peter and Paul at 9.30am. At the Mass we will reflect on the journey we have made this year, as a community and personally, and we give thanks to God for making the journey with us. At the Mass a number of awards will be presented to students and we will get an opportunity to say farewell to staff who are leaving prior to the mass. We will also have the opportunity to thank those in our community who have gone above and beyond this year. The Prep students will be presenting their Nativity play at the beginning of the Mass. We extend a warm invitation to families and friends to attend the Mass at Ss. Peter and Paul starting at 9.30am on Friday.
Graduation Mass
On Monday evening the community gathered for the Year 6 Graduation Mass at OLMC. Fr Hugh led us in praying for our Year 6 students who are close to completing their journey at Galilee. We were able to hear about the amazing journey that these students have been on and witness a beautiful candle ceremony where the Year 6 students passed on their leadership responsibilities to the Year 5 students. The Mass was a wonderful celebration of all that these students have accomplished. We thank Mrs. Flindt-Petersen and Mr. Coaley for preparing such a moving celebration.
Year 6, we couldn't be more proud of you. We wish you all the best as you head to Secondary School next year.
Confirmation at St. Peter and Paul's
Congratulations to the Year 6 students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation on December 3rd at St. Peter and Paul. We thank the Year 6 parents, teachers and staff at St. Peter and Paul for preparing the students so well. It was a beautiful service led by Bishop Elliot.
Receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation means that our students have now received all three Sacraments of Initiation and now expresses full belonging to the Church. We wish these students well as they continue on their faith journey.
Advent
Understanding the Catholic Advent Tradition
Advent is the season of new beginnings. A new liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent and it beckons to us with images of transformation and hope. It is the season of the impossible becoming possible. In the scriptures we read of the dry, barren wilderness bursting into bloom; of broken hearts healing; of a barren woman and a young virgin both conceiving children. It is the season of longing and light. Week by week, candles are lit on the Advent wreath signifying our longing for the light of Christ, as the time of his birth draws near. Yet Advent heralds more than Christ’s birth. It paves our way toward celebrating Christ as God-with-us, God in human flesh. This is a profound mystery at the heart of our faith, and it is the cause of our joy at Christmas.
The Advent Wreath
The custom of lighting an Advent wreath of candles originates in the ancient Northern European custom of having a fire wheel at the winter solstice in December. The fire wheel was lit to celebrate the gradual return of the sun after the shortest, darkest days of winter. Christians adapted this symbol to celebrate the coming of Christ, the light, who transforms the darkest depths of our world.
Many people celebrate Advent by lighting the candles of an Advent wreath each day, accompanied by a prayer. One candle for Week 1, two candles for Week 2, and so on. The wreath comprises three purple candles and one rose-coloured, for the joyful Third Week of Advent. They are set in a circle of evergreen leaves, symbolising God’s endless life and love. A fifth candle, a white ‘Christ’ candle, may be placed in the centre to be lit at Christmas. The gradual lighting of the candles represents the increasing light of Christ as his coming draws near.
The Advent Calendar
Another way to mark the days of Advent is to use an Advent calendar. These calendars usually have a door or window to open each day to reveal an image or a prayer. The days of Advent vary each year, so store-bought Advent calendars usually have 24 doors, one for each day in December leading up to Christmas. If you are making your own calendar it may link with the symbols from the Jesse Tree or the prayers for lighting the Advent Wreath. The O Antiphons can also be included in the week leading up to Christmas.
To learn more about this litugical season, watch 'What is Advent Again?'