2020 SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM – The Sacramental Program will begin early in Term 1(Week 3) with the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Today students who were interested in being a part of the program for 2020 received a hand out with information regarding this. (The information is also attached to the Newsletter).
Families from Yr. 4 and up interested in participating in the program, please send me an email.
If you would like any more information please contact the school early in Term 1 and we will be more than happy to assist you.
Advent 2019- Cycle A
In this new liturgical year, the Gospel of Matthew will be the primary Gospel proclaimed (Lectionary Cycle A).
The word Advent in Latin, ad-venio, means “to come to.” This special time is considered to be a period of renewal in the Church year. We “come to” a different set of readings from one of the three cycles and focus our hearts on the Christ child.
Advent begins nearest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle and can vary in length from twenty-one to twenty-eight days, or about four weeks. The historic origin of the season is not for certain; no evidence exists around the feast of the Nativity of the Lord before the end of the fourth century.
Much like a Lenten period of fasting and sacrifice, the early Church urged Christians to dedicate this time to readying themselves for Christ. Their practices remind us that we are also called to be attentive to the message of repentance and the end times. This may seem unexpected considering the extravagant ways we eat, shop, celebrate, and rejoice as Christmas approaches!
The four weeks of Advent are popularly considered to symbolize the four thousand years of darkness before the coming of Christ. We set up Nativity scenes, light Advent candles, and decorate wreaths in our homes to signify Christ’s presence coming in the darkness of sin and suffering. Four candles adorn an Advent wreath, one for each week. A fifth candle is sometimes placed in the centre for the beginning of the Christmas season.
Advent colours are worn by the priests and deacons and decorate the church. They are represented in the candles that surround the Advent wreath:
Violet: royalty, repentance, and fasting (First, Second, and Fourth Week of Advent)
Rose: abundant joy (Third Week of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday, joy in Latin)
White: light and purity (Christ Candle, centre candle completes the season and begins Christmas)
Gospel Reading for this Sunday
The 3rd Sunday of Advent
Matthew 11:2-11
Jesus tells John the Baptist of the signs of the kingdom that are being worked through him and praises John as more than a prophet.
Family Connection
The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word meaning “rejoice.” This Sunday is so named because “Rejoice” is the first word in the entrance antiphon for this week’s Mass taken from Philippians 4:4,5: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near.” Some people mark this Sunday on their Advent wreath with a pink candle instead of a purple candle. This Sunday is a joyful reminder that our salvation is near.
This week's Gospel Reading continues our Advent reflection on the person and message of John the Baptist. Last week we heard John speak about his relationship to the coming Messiah, Jesus. This week, we hear Jesus' message to John the Baptist, now in prison, about the signs of the kingdom found in Jesus' ministry and Jesus' assessment of John's role in the Kingdom of God.
The Gospel of Matthew tells the story of John's arrest in chapter 14:3-12. In this Sunday’s Gospel, John sends word to Jesus from prison, asking if Jesus is the Messiah for whom he has been waiting. Jesus responds by pointing to the miracles that he has worked and invites John and the other hearers to make their own determination. In his next breath, however, Jesus praises John for his role in preparing the way for Jesus. Then Jesus says that all of those who work for the Kingdom of God will be as great as John and even greater.
Jesus' message to John about the signs of the kingdom being performed recalls the salvation described by the prophet Isaiah. This passage is a reminder that the beginning of salvation is already mysteriously present to us, but also yet to be fulfilled. Salvation is already in our midst as manifest in the miraculous deeds of Jesus and in the Church. But salvation is also to be fulfilled in the coming reign of God. Even as we observe our world today, we can find glimpses of God's work among us. Even more, we help to prepare the way for God's kingdom by our words and our deeds. This message is indeed a cause for rejoicing.
CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES @ ST LUKE’S
Christmas Vigil – Family Mass
7.15 pm Carols, 7.30 pm Mass
Midnight Mass
11.30 pm Carols, 12.00 am Mass
Christmas Day
9.00 am Mass
Christmas Eve Family Mass – Invitation to Children
This year’s 7.30pm Christmas Eve Mass at St Luke’s will be a child-focussed family service to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
To help make it really special, all primary school-aged children are invited to participate in acting out the Nativity during the Gospel – we need angels, shepherds, innkeepers and kings to help Mary and Joseph announce the wonderful news that Jesus has been born!
A rehearsal will be held 9.30 am on Saturday, 21st December at St Luke’s Church for all children and families who would like to be involved. (Some costumes will be provided.)
Please come along and join in this special Christmas event. Bring your friends and family – all kids are encouraged and welcome!
Have a wonderful Christmas break
Justin Marsh (signing off as REC) - Acting Religious Education Coordinator