Graduation and End of Year Mass - Holy Trinity Church, 12 noon

As a school community, we will gather in prayer to farewell the graduating class of 2023 and celebrate the end of the school year. Mass will be celebrated by Fr Woods in the Holy Trinity Church. Students will be travelling by bus and students and Years 4 to 6 will walk back to school. A Compass consent note has been sent to all families. We ask that the consent to travel is submitted by Thursday 7 December. 

Social Justice - St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal - Final week to donate 

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 this Friday. Thank you for your generous support.

Sunday Gospel: Mark 1:1-8, 2nd Sunday of Advent Year B

Gospel Reflection by Diane Bergant

In the wilderness God's salvation comes to a broken people. In the midst of what is seemingly an impossible situation, hope emerges with vigour. In this context, hope is an openness to surprise, the surprise that God is in no way limited to the imaginings of human minds and the consequences of human history. This is the kind of hope that is proclaimed in the wilderness by John; it is the kind of hope that trusts that from the impossible, God can work a new creation.

There is something of a time warp in Christianity. What is future is made present. The prophetic oracle announces the future as if it is already happening. This sense of the future-present prompts new ways of living. As the future takes root in human lives, the present is transformed into a new creation and the Day of the Lord appears.

God's future comes through the wilderness into the broken city and inspires a broken-hearted people. The contrite heart is a broken heart, an emptied-out heart, a hope-filled heart. It is a heart that is unencumbered by the past and that lives currently in the passing of time and the fragility of being alive. The contrite, broken heart can be filled only by what is promised in the future. This is the paradox of Advent. In the middle of the wilderness, God works the impossible in those whose hearts are ready for the surprise of hope.

Blessings for the week ahead,

Veronica Hall

Religious Education Coordinator