As we head into the season of Advent, a time of waiting, we focus on all that has been done and achieved this year, but at the same time look forward to a time of renewal and celebration. Advent gives us this time to pause, think about where we are in our faith journey and then look towards the renewal that comes with the birth of Jesus. Tomorrow as a school community at our Prayer Celebration, we will focus on the HOPE that Jesus’ birth gives to us as a faith community. In the vulnerability of the baby Jesus, as we do in all our children when first born, we see the hope that life is renewed and great things await. May this be a special time for us all as we journey to Christmas.

Religious Life of the School

This Sunday is the beginning of our Liturgical year. It can be difficult to think about the new year when many of us are thinking of the list of jobs we need to to do to finish the calendar year and be ready for Christmas. The Gospel this Sunday challenges us to be ready for something other than the gift-giving of Christmas.

What can you do to be ready?

1.  Read together the Gospel reading.
2. As a family, talk about what it means to be ready for the birthday of Jesus.
3. Reflect together as a family on how your family helps one another to be better Christians.
4. Commit to one thing that your family will do this Advent season to help one another be better Christians. You might choose to write this commitment down and post it in a prominent place in your home, perhaps near your family's Advent wreath.
5. Pray together that God will help you in this Advent commitment.
6. Pray together the Lord's Prayer.

Prayer and Worship 

Student Led Christian Prayer

Each Friday after first break, Year 6 lead classes in prayer with a focus on the Gospel for the coming Sunday.

Liturgical Season: First Sunday of Advent, Year A

Liturgical Season Colour: Purple

This week the focus is on the Gospel: Matthew 24:37-40, 44

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

One day Jesus said: “Long ago, there was a great flood, and it swept all the people away, except for Noah. No one had prepared for the flood, for they had not listened to Noah’s warnings. In the same way, you will not know when the Son of God will return, for only my heavenly father knows this. Lead good lives, so that when the time comes you are ready.”

At home, we invite you to read the upcoming Gospel as a family and discuss our focus question for the week.

1. What are some things you prepare for?
2. What sort of lives did Jesus tell us to lead?

Lord Jesus, you come to share the good news

of God’s Kingdom with the whole world.

May your love reign in our hearts always.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Celebrating Liturgy and Sacraments

 

Term 4 Liturgies and Class Masses

Week 7    Thursday  28 November Advent Prayer Celebration led by Year 4 9.15am Week 8     Thursday  5 December Advent Prayer Celebration led by Year 3 9.15am Week 9     Thursday 12 December Advent Prayer Celebration led by Year 1 9.15am                     Friday 13th December Thanksgiving Mass at 9.15am Week 10    Thursday 19 December Advent Prayer Celebration led by Foundation 9.15am

Social Action & Justice

As Advent approaches, we think about how we will prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus? At St Joseph’s we have a 25 Days of Kindness calendar. The acts of kindness for Week 7 are:

Day 6: Help somebody with a task at home tonight. You might help set the table, doing the washing up or tidying your bedroom.

Day 7: Write a kind letter to someone. Maybe an elderly relative who you haven’t seen recently, or a family member or friend.

Day 8: Hold a door open for somebody.

Day 9: Bake a cake or some biscuits and give them to your friend or neighbour.

Day 10: Offer to help with the tidying or washing up.

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

Today a note about the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal was sent home. Each class has been asked to provide a specific type of Christmas food. All classes have a hamper for children to place their donations.

For families wishing to provide a gift for specific families in our local area, from 1 December there will be a Giving Tree in the front office at both the ELC and school. These Giving Trees will have gift tags with the age and gender of people in the O’Connor and Lyneham area that are in need this Christmas. If families would like to donate a gift, adults are invited to take a tag, and tape it to the wrapped gift before placing it under the Giving Tree. Suggested gifts are included with the gift tags. If purchasing gift cards please give them to the office for safekeeping. We thank you in advance for your generosity and enthusiasm for sharing love and the Christmas spirit with those in need.

Religious Identity and Culture

Ethos and Charism

Our strategic priority to deepen our St Joseph’s identity means to deepen our understanding of our Josephite Charism.  We can learn much about our Josephite Charism through quotes from Saint Mary Mackillop.

Evangelisation and Faith Formation

Faith Formation

St Joseph’s Parish has begun its annual Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA).

If you are curious about God or the Catholic Church, were baptised as a child but did not receive Eucharist or Confirmation, visit the parish one Sunday and speak to Fr Paul.

If you have questions about the RCIA process, please email Alwyn Dantis on alwyndantis@yahoo.com or ring 0467 243 363.

 

Yours in Christ,

Melanie Stratford

Religious Education Coordinator

melanie.stratford@cg.catholic.edu.au

Last week, 2 new recycling programs were proposed by students and families. Tom and Costa will now be collecting cans and donating the money toward better school conditions for children less fortunate. "Sister Genny talked to us about kids going into the mines and getting minerals to make electronics. It's really dangerous. Costa said we should do something so we are crushing cans and giving the money to Worldvision," Tom said.

The Collett family has also been inspired after Ben went home and informed them that Nespresso capsules could be recycled by returning them to the store. Taking things further, they have offered to take all Nespresso capsules on behalf of our school community! We will now be collecting them in the Sustainability Corridor, outside 1 Teal.

Thank you to the O'Keeffe and Collett families for paying it forward and creating a better world for our children.

"A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees."