Our Faith - Religious Education

Term 4 Mass Dates 

MINI VINNIES - Christmas Appeal

Thank you for all of your donations towards our St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal. These generous donations will be bundled at St Vincent De Paul and distributed to locals in our community. As always, thank you to our wonderful Mini Vinnies team for their help with the organisation of this appeal. 

The Season of Advent

Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. The first Sunday of Advent is also the start of each new Church liturgical year. On Sunday, 27 November, the season of Advent began.  Advent is a time for us to prepare for the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ on Christmas day. The word Advent comes from the Latin word advenio, which means 'coming' or 'visit.'  We are called to come to the celebration of Christ's birth at Christmas; we are also called to be aware of the coming of Christ in our lives through grace and the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

Colours of Advent

Advent colours are purple and rose. At Mass the priest’s vestments, altar cloths, and Advent candles are purple, except for the third Sunday of the season, Gaudete Sunday, when the colour is rose, for joy. There is also a white candle for Christmas Day itself, usually in the middle of the Advent wreath. One of the major symbols of the Advent season is the wreath. The encircling wreath is symbolic of God without beginning or end and the green foliage represents our hope in God. There are five candles in the wreath: 3 purple, 1 pink and a central white candle representing the light of Christ that came into the world.

The first candle, which is purple, symbolises hope. It is often called the “Prophecy Candle” in remembrance of the prophets, especially Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. It represents the expectation felt in anticipation of the coming Messiah. The progressive lighting of the candles marks the journey towards the Nativity.

Advent is supposed to be for us spiritually: four whole weeks of coming more and more deeply into the light of Christ. There are lots of ways you can let that light grow stronger in you as Christmas approaches.

• Bring yourself to the light through daily prayer. Spending just a few minutes a day in Jesus’ presence can open your heart to the warmth of his love. 
• Enlighten your heart and mind through spiritual reading or a Bible study. Let Jesus “instruct [you] in his ways” so that you can “walk in his paths” (Isaiah 2:3).
• Ask the Lord to shine a light on those parts of your life where you are content to live in the shadows. Then, take those areas to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and do as St. Paul says: turn from darkness and “put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12).
• Spread the light of Christ by joining other believers to serve those in need. Provide them with meals or Christmas gifts. Bring supplies to a homeless shelter.                   Pray for them.

2nd Sunday of Advent

This weekend, is the second Sunday of Advent. The second candle, also purple, will be lit and it represents faith. It is called the “Bethlehem Candle” as a reminder of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.

PARISH CAROLS IN THE CATHEDRAL 

We invite our families and friends to come to the Parish Carols in the Cathedral on the 13th December. Further details will be provided through Compass. 

Prayer  

We Pray,“Lord, let your light in me grow throughout Advent!"

Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we light the candles of this wreath. May the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ's promise to bring us salvation. 

We ask this through Christ our Lord.