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December 2006
Pastoral Care Team By now every unit should have nominated its 6 members for Speakers’ Training which takes place in January 2007. You should even have begun the exercise in updating who has taken which Formation Courses so far. Don’t forget that in 2007 we will all be attending those of the mandatory 1st Year formation courses which we may have missed in our first year.
Heart for the Poor Team Your Unit’s skills bank data must be almost near completion as we pool our resources to love those who are less fortunate. If you don’t know what we are talking about, please suggest to your Unit Leader that you WANT to fill out your skills data form.
Evangelisation Team Evangelisation continues apace. If you have not as yet done so, please volunteer to serve on one of the many upcoming CLPs in 2007.
HOLD Core Team Did we tell you that coming out of the Handmaids Retreat; a Core of Handmaids was appointed to take responsibility for that ministry. Did we also tell you that they will have Sr. Therese Dookeran as their Spiritual Companion. Lucky gals!! Welcome home Sr. Therese !!
Family Day, It’s here again. Family day will be celebrated on January 21 at Fatima Grounds. We begin with Holy Mass and our chief celebrant will be Fr. Jason Gordon, newly appointed Vicar for Administration. So get ready ‘cause we hear Rio Claro is coming to Town!!
Home for the Holidays Our two missionaries, Jonathan and Erika, will be heading home for the Christmas holidays. We wish them a safe and speedy trip. We say thank you to their families for freeing them to serve us.
Calendar
Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of our Lord Jesus. Let us make our hearts ready to receive him.
All About ADVENT The word Advent is from the Latin adventus for "coming" . Advent always contains four Sundays, beginning on the Sunday nearest the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, (November 30) and continuing until December 24. It blends together a penitential spirit, very similar to Lent, a liturgical theme of preparation for the Second and Final Coming of the Lord,
Since the 900s Advent has been considered the beginning of the Church year. This does not mean that Advent is the most important time of the year. Easter has always had this honor.
The traditional color of Advent is purple or violet which symbolizes the penitential spirit. Religious traditions associated with Advent express all these themes.
"Customarily the Advent Wreath is constructed of a circle of evergreen branches into which are inserted four candles. According to tradition, three of the candles are violet and the fourth is rose. However, four violet or white candles may also be used” (Book of Blessings 1510). The rose candle is lit the third Sunday of Advent, for this color anticipates and symbolizes the Christmas joy announced in the first word of the Entrance Antiphon: "Rejoice" (Latin, Gaudete). For this reason the Third Sunday is also called Gaudete Sunday, and rose color vestments are permitted. Many Christian religions use an Advent wreath to signify the weeks in the season of Advent. Catholics use Advent wreaths to represent living in spiritual darkness, waiting for Jesus to light the world. Many Catholics have Advent wreaths in their homes. Advent wreaths are good to have because they make you slow down and concentrate on the meaning of Christmas. Each day during Advent the candles are lit. During the first week, only one candle is lit daily. An additional candle is lit for each succeeding week. If you own an Advent wreath, you can light the candles before dinner or anytime that your family is together. Some families also take this time to read Advent meditations and passages of the Bible and to discuss the importance of Jesus in their lives. Do you want to make an advent wreath?
INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING AN ADVENT WREATH
1. Cut a cardboard ring of around 10 inches diameter. Colour the ring green, OR use green strips of crepe paper to wrap around the ring, making sure to overlap the layers as you go. This will ensure that the ring is completely covered with green paper.
First week of Advent : Light ONE Purple Candle
PRAYER THAT MAY BE RECITED WHEN THE CANDLE IS LIT, ALONG WITH THE GRACE BEFORE MEALS:
Wishing You a Happy Holy Advent Communications Team |
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