Religious Life of the School
Dear Parents and Carers
As this is the last newsletter for 2020 I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your readership and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. In Christ, we celebrate: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Year 12 Graduation Liturgy
Within the last week our Year 12s graduated at Chandler Theatre, and celebrated a final liturgy with their parents. The continued practice of students giving a scroll to their parents was well received. The scroll contained an individual message from their son or daughter regarding their Carmel College journey. The students also received a candle which symbolised letting their ‘light shine brightly’.
Years 10 and 11 Liturgy
Led by Ms Neuendorf and Mr Nielsen, students were engaged in the theme of "God's Care” last Friday 20 Novmber. United in faith, students reflected on their past year and were anointed with oil symbolising their collaborative focus as a cohort and their unity of faith in the Catholic tradition.
Years 7, 8 and 9 Liturgy
On 3 December, the students will gather in faith celebrating the theme "Together As One" within the context of our Catholic tradition. As we celebrate our dual charism, Carmelite and Marist, the students will listen to scripture where they will hear Jesus teaching his disciples that whenever two or more people gather in his name, he is present among them.
Of note, as we approach Christmas we are mindful of the importance of Advent preceding Christmas.
ADVENT
One of the most common words we hear in, around and about Advent is ‘waiting’. Why? What are we waiting for? Our world surrounds us with the message that there are many things to do and a great many things to buy before Christmas.
Advent is an important season within the Church’s Liturgical calendar which marks the time of spiritual preparation by the faithful before Christmas. It emphasises the coming of Christ. This year it commences on Sunday 29 November, the closest to the Feast of St Andrew the Apostle and ends on Thursday 24 December, and spans four Sundays and four weeks preparation.
Within our Catholic tradition, important symbols that capture the essence of Advent are an evergreen wreath, signifying Christ coming to us by giving us new life through His passion, death and resurrection. The candles placed within the wreath acknowledge the light of Christ not only in the world, but also in our hearts. One candle is lit each Sunday until all four candles are lit. Three candles are purple (symbolising penance, preparation and sacrifice), with the fourth being a rose colour for Gaudete Sunday, the beginning of the third week in Advent. Sometimes a fifth white candle is lit on Christmas Day.
As Christmas draws near, the lighting of each candle brings more light into the darkness, where the light of Christ burns stronger and brighter. This progression of the lighting of candles is in preparation for Christ’s birth.
Scripture passage:
Mark 13:33-37
“Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey; when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
Scripture Reflection:
We reflect on Mark’s Gospel during Advent:
Are we awake or are we asleep? If we are awake, we are aware of our own lives and ready to accept our own weaknesses and struggles and ready to change our lives. Then we are being watchful and are awake. Jesus tells us to stay awake and be alert to the poor, the outcast, the lonely, the despised, and the marginalised.
We get distracted by so many things? Our every act of kindness and love and every act of self-sacrifice for another is a small step in welcoming Jesus into our midst and of being awake.
Advent gives us a message of hope and faith. When Jesus came, Jesus helped people to continue to hope in God. Jesus helped the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, and the poor had the Good News preached to them. Jesus taught people that as children of God nothing could separate them from the love of promise.
CHRISTMAS
Advent, being the period of waiting and preparation concludes with the feast of Christmas, on 25 December.
As we exchange Christmas presents this year with love and kindness, let us be reminded of how God gave us the gift of His Son and that Jesus Christ gave us the greatest gift of all, that of eternal life.
The angel prophetically announced to the shepherds, Luke 2:10-14 “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a Saviour has been born for you who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
“In Jesus, the Most High made Himself tiny, so that we might love Him” (Pope Francis 2019).
With wishes and prayers for a blessed Christmas and New Year.
May our Light always shine!
Yours in faith
Mrs Krystyna Baldwin
Assistant Principal - Religious Education