Social Justice - St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

Students and families are invited to donate non-perishable Christmas goodies to help families. Each grade level has been provided with a food donation/gift suggestion:

Grade	Item
Kindergarten	custard powder and jelly
Year 1	bon bons
Year 2	packets of chips
Year 3	packets of lollies
Year 4	mince pies and Christmas puddings
Year 5	soft drink and cordial
Year 6	chocolates
Students and families may also like to donate a wrapped Christmas gift with a gender and age clearly labelled.  The Woden Vinnies Conference has provided the following details: Sts Peter and Paul, our local families are in need of gifts for 3 year old gifts for boys and girls 4 year old gifts for boys and girls 5 year old gifts for boys and girls 6 year old gifts for girls 7 year old gifts for girls and boys 8 year old gifts for girls and boys 9 year old gifts for girls 10 year old gifts for boys and girls 11 year old gifts for boys and girls 12 year old gifts for boys and girls Donations of movie vouchers would be gratefully appreciated for 13 years and above. Thank you SVDP

All donations will be collected by St Vincent de Paul on Friday 1 December. Thank you for your generous support.

Illuminate: Youth Ministry Leaders

On Friday 24 November, our Youth Ministry leaders travelled to St Vincent’s Aranda for Illuminate. It was a fabulous day that commenced in song and prayer with other Youth Ministers from our archdiocese. After, students were organised into groups. Some students created rosary beads, played games, prayed with art, participated in Christian Meditation, went to the church for Adoration or listened to a social justice presentation from St Vincent de Paul to name a few. During the day, Catholic Education Director, Ross Fox spoke to the students about his hopes for them. He invited them to take their experiences from Catholic education with them as they move forward and be leaders of hope and creativity. We thank the Youth Ministry Team from CE for all their work and preparation. 

Sunday Gospel: Mark 13:32-37,1st Sunday of Advent Year B

Gospel Reflection by Greg Sunter

Stay awake! With these words, Jesus cautions his disciples to be constantly vigilant and to be alert to the return of the Lord. It is a very fitting way to begin the season of Advent. Advent has traditionally been observed as a time of preparation and waiting. It culminates in the Christmas season and so the waiting and preparation is related to the celebration of the coming of Christ into the world.

Perhaps the time of preparation this Advent is also a call to stay awake and stay alert in faith. One of the great challenges to faith today is the complacency that has taken hold of many in our society. When life is comfortable, the perceived need for faith appears to diminish. Many young people in our society cannot see the value of religious belief or religious practice. In a world of instant communication and instant ‘satisfaction’, the reflective and slow work of faith can seem too much effort for some people. The gospel call to stay awake in preparation for the coming of the Lord is a call to continue the work of bringing about the Kingdom of God.

Week 1: Advent

The season of Advent begins this week and continues through the four Sundays of Advent and ends at Christmas Eve. The first week of Advent focuses on the return of the Lord and the following weeks focus more specifically on the anticipation of the birth of Jesus. Rather than simply commemorating an historical event, Advent is a time of preparing our hearts to ‘receive’ Jesus into the world each year. Advent is traditionally marked by the colour of violet – the same colour as used in Lent. In recent years, some parishes have moved to a more blue/mauve colour for Advent to try to distinguish it from the season of Lent.

Blessings for the week ahead,

Veronica Hall

Religious Education Coordinator