Third Week of Advent

This coming Sunday marks the third week of Advent. Year 2 lead us all during School prayer as we added the pink candle to our Advent wreath. This candle is called the Joy candle and is sometimes called the Shepherds candle. This candle reminds us of the joy that comes through Jesus’ arrival. The pink colour is connected to something known as Gaudete Sunday.

We call the Third Sunday in Advent as Gaudete Sunday because the introit for the mass begins “Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete” meaning “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say rejoice.” While much of the penitential nature of the season has been lost in favour of hopeful expectation, some of the readings still reflect this. The Third Sunday has traditionally been a respite from the penitential themes of Advent emphasising instead the joy of the coming of the Lord. Pink is the colour that is reflecting ‘Joy’.

Over the next week, how will you show joy in God’s love this Advent season?

Global School Partners - Founders Junior Academy, Kenya

St Monica’s Christmas Cheer Free Clothes Day

This year we partnered up with our new Global School, Founders Junior Academy in Kenya, Africa. The school has grown heaps and now has 190 students. There greatest needs are:

Water tank – the small one they have does not provide enough water for the students and the teachers.

New classroom – the increase in student numbers means that at least one new classroom is needed.

To support the needs of our partner school, Founders Junior Academy, we are going to have a ‘Christmas Cheer’ free clothes day this Monday, 13 December. We ask that children bring in a gold coin donation on the day. All of the money raised will go to Founders Junior Academy.

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

Thank you to all our wonderful families who have brought in donations for the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. It is such a wonderful feeling to be reaching out to make Christmas a happy time for many families within our local Canberra area. The last day to bring in donations is this Friday, 10 December.