Mission

Last Sunday, we celebrated the first Sunday of Advent and marked the occasion with our final Parish Youth Masses for 2022. Coming together with Sacred Heart Primary and Mater Dei Primary, our students so capably and reverently led the special roles during the Mass. 

At the conclusion of the celebration, we invited all the children of our Parish to assemble and light a candle from the Parish Advent Wreath, and, in turn, from each other. They did so in a special way to mark the commencement of this liturgical season and to remember that we are all journeying towards Christmas, and towards the heart of Jesus, together. 

The commencement of Advent gives us the opportunity to centre our thoughts on hope; it's a beautiful chance to remember the hope God offers to those who are lost, suffering and experiencing personal difficulties and loss. Through Jesus, there is always hope and joy to be found. 

“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 

And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 

Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.” Galatians 4:4-8

Paul, the writer of Galatians, articulates so perfectly the great hope we celebrate at Christmas! Because of God's great love for us, he sent us Jesus who sacrificed himself for our sins, so we could be free from these burdens and become fully part of God’s family.

During the first week of Advent, we begin to prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate Jesus’ arrival, as a gift to all humanity; as we stir up a sense of anticipation. Over this Advent, we pray that hope would rise up in our spirits in a tangible and life-giving way.

Vinnies Christmas Appeal 2023

During this season of Advent, we invite you to  consider how you might share something of yourself in this spirit of hope, as a gift for humanity. One deeply meaningful way is make a contribution to our annual Vinnies Christmas Appeal. 

We are partnering with the Kooringal Conference of St Vincent de Paul again this year to share the joy of Christmas with our neighbours, who need a helping hand. This year, Vinnies have seen first-hand, the impact of rising costs of living in Australia. There are hundreds of families in our local community who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads. 

Kooringal Conference will be delivering hundreds of Christmas Hampers around Wagga Wagga. We can support their efforts by giving donations of grocery and personal care items. 

Our Homegroups will each be responding to this call out and we challenge our young people to consider the festive food and drinks they enjoy on Christmas day and consider sharing something similar as part of their donation. 

Donations can be made up next Thursday 8 December, 2022. 

To uphold the dignity of those receiving the hamper, kindly ensure all food donations are in date. If you’d like to offer families the gift of choosing non-perishable Christmas foods, you may like to consider adding a gift voucher. Unwrapped children’s toys are also gratefully received. Thank you to all our families who have already donated to this valuable appeal, I know how well each of these gifts will be received! 

Red Wednesday - 23 November

Last Wednesday the Mater Dei Community acknowledged and supported Red Wednesday; a day for us to draw attention to the plight of those who are persecuted and oppressed for their religious beliefs. Since 2018, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in Australia has joined commemorations around the world for Red Wednesday to pray for, draw attention to, and stand in solidarity with Christians who suffer and are persecuted. 

We prayed together as a staff, in Homegroups and Religious Education classes to raise a strong voice in support of the persecuted who are unable to speak freely, and who look to us - to speak and pray on their behalf. Prayer is the bond that unites us in love and solidarity with those who suffer and are persecuted for their love of Jesus.

God of Comfort,

We worship You and acknowledge that You know all of those

who suffer in Your name.

Today we remember those who are wrongly persecuted, tortured, imprisoned and murdered for their faith in Jesus Christ.  

We ask that You make us ever mindful of our brothers and sisters around the world who suffer in the name of faith and freedom. We stand with them as they suffer in Your name.

May their determination inspire and embolden us, fellow believers, to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly in our corner of the world. 

We pray that the light of Christ may illuminate the hearts and minds of government leaders to uphold religious freedoms and care for the well-being of all people, especially the poor and most vulnerable. May we never tire of working towards reconciliation and peace in these troubled lands. Amen

As we journey through Advent, we anticipate meeting Jesus anew this Christmas. May I take this opportunity to wish all families within our Community every blessing of the season. 

Thank you for your on-going support of our various expressions of mission and evangelisation this year! We look forward to embarking on 2023 together with renewed spirits. 

Mrs Amelia Bright | Acting Leader of Mission