Catholic Identity

Sunday 29th of November:

Sunday 6th of December:

What’s Advent all about?

Advent is the season that begins four Sundays before December 25th.  Advent is all about expectant waiting, hopeful anticipation and joyful preparation for God coming into our lives and hearts. 

Advent begins the Church Year (there are three: A, B and C).  This coming Sunday we celebrate the 1st Sunday of Advent and the beginning of Year B. Each Sunday has a theme:  Hope, Faith, Joy and Peace.  The word Advent is derived from Latin and means ‘the coming’. 

The circle in the Advent wreath symbolises God and eternity.  The wreath is made from evergreen leaves which remind us of springtime and new life. The candles remind us of the Light of the World that is coming through the birth of Jesus.  Each week of Advent we light a new candle, as well as the candles from the previous weeks.  The four outer candles symbolise the waiting and expectancy we feel during the lead up to Christmas.  Three of the candles are purple and one is pink.  The purple candles are in line with the liturgical colour of Advent. The pink candle is usually lit on the third Sunday of Advent and reminds us of the joy we feel knowing that Christmas is fast approaching.  In the centre of the wreath is a white candle which is known as the Christ Candle. This is lit on Christmas Eve as we celebrate Jesus’ birth. 

If you would like to find out more about what Advent means for us as followers of Jesus in a catholic school community, click on the youtube link below.  It will take you to a short two minute video all about Advent!