Advent Week 1 Prayer

God of Hope,

We ask you to guide us as people of hope this Advent. We pray for our sisters and brothers around the world who are affected by COVID-19. Help us to prepare our hearts for you and to find ways to be hope for others.

In your name we pray,

Amen

Advent

During the First Week of Advent, we watch and pray, awaiting the Lord’s coming. As we enter the Church’s new year, Liturgical Year B, the season of Advent reminds us that we can look forward to and prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas. It is a season of so many things: of expectation, reflection, hope and trust. We are constantly in a state of expectation, always in Advent, so much so that we can miss the present moment where, inevitably, God will be. We have to wait, and Advent reminds us that we are waiting for God. How strange it is to think that in a way God also waits. He always waits for us to come to him for he never forces himself on us, and when we do come to him, he is delighted and will give us many graces.

Thank you to Kinder Blue for organising and leading today’s Advent liturgy. Kinder Gold will be leading us in the second Advent Liturgy next Friday 11^th December.

Mini Vinnies Christmas Appeal

Thank you to all the families who have generously donated to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. Our donations will be greatly received.

End of Year Thanksgiving and Farewell Liturgy

On Tuesday 8th December, the whole school will meet under the COLA for a short Thanksgiving Liturgy as we come to the end of this year. Unfortunately, we are not able to have our typical End of Year Mass celebration like usual with the parent community. At this Liturgy we will also acknowledge and farewell two beloved teachers from St Joseph’s who are retiring this year, Mrs Anne Dougherty and Mr Paul Nolan. As a community we sincerely thank them for all they have contributed to our school community. We wish them all the best in their retirement.

Year 6 Graduation and Farewell Liturgy

This year we will farewell our Year 6 class of 2020 a little differently. On Friday 11th December, Year 6 will gather in the Hall for their Graduation Liturgy. This celebration will be Live Streamed to parents and the community, see link below. Year 6 teachers have planned wonderful events Thursday and Friday to celebrate Year 6 on their Primary School Graduation. 

Link to Live Stream Year 6 Graduation Liturgy   

Parish Christmas Mass Booklet Drawing Competition

Fr Peter is holding a competition to decorate the front and back cover of the Christmas Eve Vigil Mass Booklet. Students in K-2 are invited to draw their best Christmas tree for the back-cover image. Students in Years 3-6 are invited to draw the Nativity scene for the front cover image. The proforma has been given to students this week. Drawings must be in portrait not landscape. There will be a prize for the two winners. You will see the winning design at the Christmas Eve Vigil Mass at St Joseph’s December 24th. Fr Peter will judge the winning designs. Please return to class teacher or the office by Monday 14th December (Week 10).

Upcoming liturgies:

• Advent Liturgies led by Kindergarten – Friday Week 8 & 9

Mass 

Find out all about attending Mass at the St Benedict’s Parish website  https://www.newcastlecatholic.org.au/  or by viewing the latest edition of their bulletin https://www.newcastlecatholic.org.au/?p=4468