Prayer and Worship

Last Thursday we began the season of Advent at St Joseph’s with a Prayer Celebration on the theme of Hope led by 1 Purple. 

An important tradition at St Joseph’s is the Advent liturgical dance. This year we are blessed to have new robes made specially for us by Mrs Fletcher’s mum, Bethwyn.

This week we will continue our Advent preparations with our Prayer Celebration is led by 2 Yellow on the theme of Peace.

Advent is a time of preparing for Jesus’ birth and the celebration of his birth at Christmas. In family life, we try to prepare ourselves for many future things: our next holiday, our children’s education, our retirement. We are careful not to allow ourselves to be caught by surprise so that we can handle any challenges our family may face. Today we are reminded that we are called to be just as attentive and alert to the coming of the Son of Man so that it will not catch us unprepared. This means attending to our family’s spiritual life as carefully as we attend to other important family matters.

As you gather as a family, talk about a time when you received surprise visitors at your house, perhaps a neighbour who stopped by or a relative who arrived unannounced. Was your household prepared to receive this unannounced guest? What might your family have done differently if you knew ahead of time that this visitor was going to arrive? Jesus told his disciples that no one knows when the Son of Man will return, except the Father. Read with your family what Jesus told his disciples in today’s Gospel, Mark 13:33-37.

During Advent, we not only prepare ourselves to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we also check to see if we are doing all the things that will keep us ready to receive Jesus when he comes again. Talk about how your family can recommit to daily prayer, reading Scripture, and staying faithful to God’s commandments. Pray together that through this Advent season your family will be more prepared to receive Jesus when he comes again. Read as a concluding prayer Paul’s words to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:3-9) or pray the Lord’s Prayer.

Term 4 Prayer Celebrations and Class Masses

Week 8      Thursday 2.15pm  Advent Prayer Celebration led by 2 Yellow

Week 9      Thursday 2.15pm  Advent Prayer Celebration led by 1 Teal

                  Wednesday 6pm Christmas Carols

Week 10    Monday 12.00pm Thanksgiving & Y6 Graduation Mass

                 Tuesday 2.15pm Year 5 and 6 Leadership Ceremony

    Thursday 2.15pm  - Advent Prayer Celebration led by 2 Magenta

Social Action and Justice

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal is the time to share all the wonderful Christmas cheer at St Joseph’s with those who are less fortunate than us. To help those in need we will be participating in the St Vincent de Paul 2023 Christmas Appeal. The Christmas Appeal was launched last week and we will conclude on Friday 9 December. Each class has been provided with a hamper for children to place their donations. We are encouraging all families to donate suitable food with your children on multiple occasions. 

For families wishing to provide a gift for specific families in our area there will be a giving tree in the front office at both the ELC and school. These giving trees will have gift tags with the age and gender of people in the O’Connor and Lyneham area that are in need this Christmas. If families would like to donate a gift, adults are invited to take a tag, and tape it to the wrapped gift before placing it under the giving tree. Suggested gifts are included with the gift tags. If purchasing gift cards please give them to the office for safe keeping.

Pope’s Prayer for November

Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd.

When Peter was a prisoner,

the Church prayed incessantly for him.

They were aware that their prayers sustained him.

We ask you today to pray for the Pope, to pray

for what he carries in his heart, and to pray for what worries him.

Increase in us our love for the Church

and the acceptance of the discernment

of the Bishop of Rome who presides

over the communion of all the churches.

From his universal gaze, he helps us

to recognize the action of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Baptisms

Recently we have had some of our older children seeking to be Baptised. A big congratulations and official welcome to Ryan M, Zach B, Aidan and Florence J on their Baptism and formal initiation into the Catholic Church. May they receive God’s grace and may the Holy Spirit dwell in them. 

Would you like to know more about the sacrament of Baptism?

St Joseph’s Parish celebrates Baptisms for children and infants on the first and third Saturday of every month. Attendance at one family preparation session prior to the Baptism is an important part of this formation.

Preparation Sessions Occur:

1st Wednesday of every month - 5pm – St Joseph’s Parish Centre

3rd Wednesday of every month – 1pm – St Joseph’s Parish Centre

Baptism Celebrations (multiple families) Occur:

1st & 3rd Saturday of every month - 11am – St Joseph’s Church

To enrol in the baptism sacramental program please email oconnor@cg.org,au with your preferred preparation session time. Once your preparation session is confirmed, Father Anthony will guide you through the rest of the process. 

Yours in Christ,

Melanie Stratford

Religious Education Coordinator

melanie.stratford@cg.catholic.edu.au