RE News
Key Dates:
- Market for Missions - Friday, November 25th
- St Vinnies Appeal Gifts Due - Friday, November 25th
- First Sunday of Advent - Sunday, November 27th
- First Sunday of Advent Liturgy - Monday, November 28th (within Prep assembly) 2:20pm
- Second Sunday of Advent - Sunday, December 4th
- St Francis Xavier Feast Day - Sunday 4th December.Mass at St Francis Xavier Church 10:30 am
- Second Sunday of Advent Liturgy - Monday, December 5th 2:30 pm ALL WELCOME
- Nativity Play - Thursday, December 8th (during Christmas Concert)
- Third Sunday of Advent - Sunday, December 11th
- Third Sunday of Advent Liturgy - Monday, December 12th 2:30 pm ALL WELCOME
- End of Year/Graduation Mass - Thursday, December 15th 5:30 pm at St Francis Xavier Church - ALL MEMBERS OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY ARE WELCOME
- Fourth Sunday of Advent Liturgy - Friday, December 16th 9:00 am ALL WELCOME
- Fourth Sunday of Advent - Sunday, December 18th
Parish Feast Day Mass - December 4th
On December 4th, the Parish of St Francis Xavier is hosting a special Mass to celebrate their feast day. The celebratory Mass will begin at 10:30 am and conclude at 12:00 pm.
At Mass, St A's has been invited to sing and dance during the entrance hymn and all students present will have the opportunity to join in. Students are currently learning and practising the song 'Together as One' in class. We will be inviting students attending the Mass to practice over the next few weeks.
After mass, everyone is invited to a sausage sizzle to continue the celebration. Parishioners will be putting on a short play presentation focusing on the life of St Francis Xavier as well as other presentations of performances.
There will be a competition for children celebrating the life of St Francis Xavier through both art and writing with prizes available. Details of these competitions can be found in the flyer attached below.
We hope to see you there!
Nativity Play - Costumes
As part of the Christmas Concert this year we will be holding a Nativity Play. Classes are busy practising their songs in music and performing arts classes.
We are on the lookout for donations of items to help out with costumes for the main roles. In particular, if you have any wings, halos (or anything else you think we might be able to use) could you please let Pia L-C or the front office know?
Thanks!
Mini Vinnies
This Term Mini Vinnies have a number of projects running including Soctober (see below), supporting the Vinnies Gift Drive and continued support of the JPC Soup Van.
Vinnie's Christmas Gift Appeal
Thank you to the families who purchased a gift for a local child in need. The Frankston chapter of St Vincent De Paul originally reached out to our school community to help them with their drive during Covid restrictions in 2020 when their usual wishing tree could not be put up at the church as Mass was not on. The St Augustine's community came together at an overwhelming rate and was able to cover all the gifts needed that year!
Gifts were collected today, we thank everyone again for all their support!
Socktober
Today we ran our Socktober Kickoff as part of the Market Day activities, thanks to all those who supported this initiative! During Socktober we have raised $418 for Catholic Mission charities and also learnt a lot!
We held a session where a number of students created a 'Sock ball' at lunch on Thursday. Children in Ethiopia often do not have soccer balls to use so create their own to use out of materials they have available to them.
Advent
This Sunday marks the First Sunday of Advent. Beginning the Church's liturgical year, Advent, (from Latin adventus, “coming”), is the four-week period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas. Advent also directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time.
Each week we will be lighting the advent wreath at our Advent liturgy. The first week's candle represents hope.
Prayer for Advent
Father in this season of Advent we prepare our hearts for your coming.
You are the vine, we are the branches. Come and tend us, prune us, clean us.
Discard in us everything that does not bear fruit, Nourish in us everything that bears much fruit.
As we celebrate your coming as a vulnerable baby Our hearts await your glorious return as the eternal King.
Nurture in us expectant hearts, O Lord. Cultivate in us a deep longing for more of you. Until that Day when you burst through the heavens, And flood our horizons with your glorious splendour.
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, throughout all ages and generations. Amen.