Prayer for Advent
Heavenly Father, heal our heart during this season of Advent.
Help us to love more fully. To forgive more generously. To wait more patiently for Christmas, embracing each day and hour knowing the joy that awaits.
In Your name I pray.
Amen.
Advent – Preparing for the Coming of Christ
Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus – meaning the coming. The purpose of the season is to help us focus on the Second Coming of Christ; to take time for prayer, stillness and sacrifice. One way to assist us in our journey through Advent is to contemplate on the image of the nativity.
The image of the nativity reminds us that salvation does not come from above. God speaks as a newborn baby; he is the light that shines through our darkness and brings light on all people “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). While he comes as the light of the world, it is important to realise that he chooses to be a humble child, weak and vulnerable, dependent solely on the care of his parents.
In his 2021 Christmas Vigil Homily, Pope Francis reminds us of the need to ask Jesus for the grace of littleness.
“Lord, teach us to love littleness. Help us to understand that littleness is the way to authentic greatness”. What does it mean, concretely, to accept littleness? In the first place, it is to believe that God desires to come into the little things of our life; he wants to inhabit our daily lives, the things we do each day at home, in our families, at school and in the workplace. Amid our ordinary lived experience, he wants to do extraordinary things.”
Let us pray that during this Advent season we may draw closer to Christ and recognise him in all things.
Advent 2022 Best Catholic Resources
Last 8am Mass for Term 4
Weekly Friday 8am Mass (8:00-8:25am) occurs every Friday of Term (unless otherwise advised) at St Catherine of Siena Parish Church located on the school grounds.
Our last Mass for the year will be this Friday 2 December. All students and their families are welcome to attend. It is a wonderful opportunity to begin the day in contemplation and prayer, listening to the word of God and receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. I encourage all those who can attend. We sincerely thank Fr Richard Rosse and Fr Joel Peart for the opportunity to attend Mass each week.
Ablaze Youth Group
Ablaze Youth Group runs every fortnight at the CRC CS Hall from 7 to 8:30pm. All those in high school Years 7-12 are more than welcome to come along. For further enquiries, please contact: stcatherineyg@gmail.com
Archbishop Peter A Comensoli – ‘Welcome Home’
Archbishop Peter A Comensoli has written a pastoral letter entitled ‘Welcome Home’, encouraging us to gather together again at Mass and explaining some changes regarding our Sunday and Holy Day obligations and the streaming of Masses. Read the letter below. Copies of this letter have been sent to parishes and you can download a print-friendly version here.
Bishops of Victoria – ‘Voting for the common good: Victorian Bishops election guide’
The Bishops of Victoria have written to the Catholic community in Victoria, providing an election guide designed to help Catholics consider and navigate issues of significance, particularly those related to the common good.
Sunday Gospel Reflection
First Sunday of Advent Year A
Matthew 24:37-44
The Lord is coming when we least expect.
Weekend Parish Mass Times
St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Caroline Springs
Saturday (Vigil): 6:00pm
Sunday: 9:00am, 10:30am & 12:00pm
St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Caroline Springs Website
Sacred Heart/Emmaus St Albans & Sydenham
Sacred Heart
Saturday (Vigil): 5:00pm
Sunday: 7:30pm, 9:00am (Polish), 10:30am
Emmaus Church
Saturday: 6:30pm
Sunday: 9:00am
Sacred Heart/Emmaus St Albans & Sydenham Website
Resurrection Catholic Parish, Kings Park
Saturday (Vigil) 6:00pm
Sunday: 9:00am, 10:30am, 12:30pm (Syriac – Iraqi), 3:00pm (every fourth & fifth Sunday of the month – South Sudanese)