The year is almost wrapped up but we still have some important things to finish off. I will be helping the current Year 6 students with their final assembly addressing the community on Monday 16 at 9:00am, and preparing an assembly on Tuesday 17 at 2:45pm where we will introduce our 2025 student leadership team. Alongside this, staff will continue with 2025 planning and first aid next week before finishing up on Thursday. I hope everyone has a safe Christmas break and a restful new year. I hope that God’s love comes down on you all and your families 

Whole School Mass

We held our whole school mass this morning in the SFX hall. We are grateful to all of those families and guests who were able to come and celebrate with us. Father Paul was met with ~640 students singing our entrance hymn, Bright Light by Timothy Hart, with full gusto. Students were extremely patient before, during, and after mass. We acknowledge that it’s never easy sitting for that period of time so we are very proud.

Our readers did a fantastic job and had rehearsed very well. Ava, Nathaniel, Hudson and Isaac stood tall and proud in front of the entire hall leading us in the first reading, responsorial psalm, and prayers of the faithful. Josh, Boston, Renata, and McKenzie carried the offertory with great respect and Alyssa, Rose, Gurneet and Disha were very supportive, and helped pick up anything that was dropped along the way.

Everyone should be very proud of their efforts and preparation. Thank you to the teachers for rehearsing the songs and responses all term, to the students for bringing their voices and enthusiasm, and to everyone else involved in making the mass happen. We always appreciate Collette Bond allowing us to use her hall and love that she could make it over to celebrate with us.

Advent

Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before December 25. Luckily, this year, it begins December 1. Advent comes from the Latin word Adventus meaning ‘coming’. It is the season of expectant waiting, hopeful anticipation and joyful preparation for Christ’s coming at Christmas. 

You often hear about Advent Calendars and Advent Wreaths. A wreath is a traditional centrepiece for the Advent Season and often includes either four or five candles. Each represents something special:

• Candle 1: Purple – Hope: Prophecy Candle. This candle is for the first Sunday of Advent, symbolising both our anticipation of Christ's birth and the start of a new liturgical season. Known as the Prophecy Candle, it recalls the prophecy of Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ, and reminds us of the promises God made in the Old Testament, all of which were fulfilled through Jesus' birth.

• Candle 2: Purple – Peace: Bethlehem Candle. The second candle on the Advent wreath symbolises peace. Known as the Bethlehem Candle, it reflects the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Mary would soon give birth to Jesus.

• Candle 3: Pink – Joy: Shepherd’s Candle. The third candle of Advent symbolizes Joy. As we draw closer to Christmas, our joy increases. This candle reminds us of the joyful anticipation of the shepherds, who journeyed to Bethlehem to see Jesus even before the wise men. The third Sunday of Advent is also known as Gaudete Sunday, which means "rejoice" or "praise."

• Candle 4: Purple – Love: Angel’s Candle. The fourth candle of Advent represents Love, the greatest gift from God—sending His only Son for us. Known as the Angel's Candle, it inspires us to eagerly anticipate the coming of God's new Kingdom on Earth.

• Candle 5: White – This candle can be found on some Advent Wreaths and is lit on December 25 representing the birth of Jesus - God in the flesh.

I encourage people to watch Advent in 2 Minutes on YouTube to help them understand the differences between it and hallmark Christmas.

Sunday Scripture Spotlight

This Sunday’s scripture is from Luke 21:25-28, 34-36. Below is the translation from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, as found on Bible Gateway.

The Coming of the Son of Man

25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Exhortation to Watch

34 “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Commentary from Brendan Byrne

The Gospel (Luke 21:25-28, 34-36), taken from Jesus’ long instruction on the future (21:5-38), again focuses upon the second coming of the Lord. It is full of the kind of apocalyptic descriptions and portents that have always excited the fundamentalist religious imagination. They create real difficulty for preachers today. The important thing, I think, is to focus upon the basic intent of such discourse, which is to address the sense of dismay and challenge to hope that calamities of various kinds present. While God may appear to be silent or absent, somehow all these things are held within the divine purpose, which will ultimately win through. The reference to the coming of Jesus as Son of Man catches up the vision of Daniel 7:13-14, a text which played a very significant role in early Christian messianic hope. Jesus will come ‘with all his saints’ – the ‘communion of saints’ that unites the Church on earth with all who have gone before us to the Lord and with all those holy ones who lived before his coming, will at last be revealed.

While the basic message is one of comfort and reassurance, the second part of the gospel adopts a more admonitory tone. Believers must be like people expecting visitors but unsure as to when exactly they will arrive. The time of waiting requires attentiveness and a sharp spiritual sense. Anything that dulls the spirit (debauchery and drunkenness) or causes it to be distracted (absorption in the cares of life) must be avoided.

God’s only wish in our regard is to communicate to us the life and love for which we long. Each Advent should expand both our longing and our capacity to receive the gift of God.

Talking notes for Adults to Children

When Jesus was living on this earth, he always told his friends that he would come back again one day in glory. (Keep in mind that his friends did not know what we know now – that Jesus is God and he came to save us.) So, what do you think Jesus was talking about when he said this to his friends? Yes, Jesus will come back to us again one day. We believe it will be at the end of time. We believe he will come in glory to save us and to bring us to everlasting life with him. However, Jesus also tells his friends (and he tells us) that no one knows the exact day or time that he will come again. Therefore, we must always be ready, we must always keep watching.

What do you think Jesus meant by all that? What example did Jesus use in this Gospel's reading? What do you think Jesus would say to you if you asked him ‘What do we need to do to be ready? What do you want us to be doing when you come back?’ (Encourage whatever feedback that you can from the children – even if they are only answering these questions in their hearts.)

This is what this season of Advent is all about. Advent means coming. This is the season that we wait for the coming of the Lord. And, as Jesus tells us today, not only do we sit and wait, but we get up and get ready. We must prepare ourselves by living and being the good Christian that Jesus showed us how to be. We don't need to be doing extraordinary things. We just need to be doing ordinary things well. Then we will be ready. Then we will be prepared.