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 suggestion. Please bring all donations to your child’s classroom tub. 

Students and families may also like to donate a wrapped Christmas gift with a gender and age clearly labelled. 

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 boys and girls
• 7 year old gifts for girls and boys
• 8 year old gifts for girls and boys
• 9 year old gifts for boys and 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.

Youth Ministry Illuminate Retreat Day

Last Friday, our mighty Youth Ministry team attended the primary school gathering for Youth Ministry called Illuminate at John Paul College II. It was a fantastic day that commenced in song and prayer with other Youth Ministers from our archdiocese. After, students were organised into groups. Students created rosary beads, played games, prayed with art, participated in Christian Meditation to name a few. During the day, the CSYMA Officer at Catholic Education, Luke Maher 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. 

Gospel - John 18:33-37

First Sunday of Advent (Year C)

Be ready for the second coming.

The readings of the First Sunday of Advent set the stages for our reflections on the entire season. They contain a number of promises, all pointing to peace and fulfilment. Each reading depicts a dimension of suffering that was often brought on by the people themselves. The promises are assurances that the end of their suffering was in sight. The promises reveal a loving and provident, a merciful and forgiving God. These are promises full of hope.

The coming of the Lord is clearly a time of expectation, not of fear and trembling. Although the earlier tradition about the Day of the Lord included punishment of the wicked, the focus here is on redemption. The time of expectation may be preceded by apocalyptic signs in the heavens and dismay on earth, but this cosmic shift will bring fulfilment, not destruction. The love and providence, the mercy and forgiveness of God will be made manifest.

What is expected of those who receive the promise? An Advent way of life exhorts us to ‘wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ’. This way of life is both simple and profound. It does not necessarily require unusual behaviour on our part, but it calls us to live the usual unusually well. It affects the everyday events of life; it directs the way we interact with people; it informs the attitudes that colour our judgments and motivations. It is as ordinary as the birth of a child; it is as extraordinary as the revelation of God.

Adapted from Diane Bergant CSA

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,

Sarah Walsh

Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)