Christmas Appeals: Giving Tree and Vinnies
Thank you so much for your wonderful support of the Loreto Giving Tree this year! Together, we collected over 100 presents for the Bandyup Women’s Prison children’s Christmas party.
Just a reminder that we are still collecting food and Christmas items for the Vinnies Christmas hampers. The breakdown between year groups is below:
Kindy/PP – Tinned fruit and vegetables (including tuna and soup)Year One – Long-life milk, long-life juiceYear Two – Candy canes, bon-bons (Christmas crackers), Christmas napkinsYear Three – Christmas cake, plum pudding, packaged fruit mince piesYear Four – Spreads: honey, jam, vegemiteYear Five – Pasta and pasta sauceYear Six – Tea, coffee, milo
Items can be dropped into your child’s classroom until next Tuesday, 6th December. Thank you again!
The Season of Advent
Advent is the beginning of the Church’s liturgical year. The word Advent comes from the Latin to mean the ‘coming’ or ‘arrival.’ We wait in hope, joy, and anticipation for the coming of Christ, much like a child waits for the joy of Christmas Day. Even though the reality of Advent is filled with Christmas events, parties, shopping, decorating, organising, and cooking, it is worthwhile to pause and remember that in the Church, the season is a time of preparation and watchful reflection as we wait for Christ to enter the world.
The Advent wreath is a symbol of God’s love, everlasting green, and shaped in a circle that has no beginning or end. The four candles represent one week of advent, and as we light each candle in turn, we are reminded that the light of Christ shines brighter with every additional candle as we draw closer to Christmas Day. Prophets like Isaiah spoke about the people being in darkness until they see a great light, which is the light of Jesus showing them the way.
If you only have two minutes to stop and reflect during the busy season of Advent, think about the questions below:
- During Advent, how can you be a source of hope and positive change for others?
- When have you been inspired by someone else’s faith? What can you do to bring faith further into your life?
- Who is someone unexpected you can bring joy to this Advent season?
Find a way to make it happen.
Katie Sharman, Mission Co-Ordinator, Loreto Nedlands
