Religious Life of the School

This coming Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Advent. The Gospel this week tells the story of the birth of Jesus from Joseph's perspective. Joseph and Mary are our models for family life and for service of God. Even when the circumstances seemed unclear, Joseph trusted God. Healthy family life is built upon trust, trust in God and trust of one another.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and pray that the hope, peace, joy and love of Christ finds a place in your home.

Prayer and Worship 

Student-Led Christian Prayer

Each Friday after first break Year 6 lead classes in prayer with a focus on the Gospel for the coming Sunday.

Liturgical Season: Second Sunday of Advent, Year A

Liturgical Season Colour: Purple

This week the focus is on the Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24

The mother of Jesus Christ was Mary. And this is how the birth of Jesus came about. Mary was engaged to marry Joseph. But before they married, she learned that she was going to have a baby. She was pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary’s husband, Joseph, was a good man. He did not want to disgrace her in public, so he planned to divorce her secretly.

While Joseph thought about this, an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, descendant of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife. The baby in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son. You will name the son Jesus. Give him that name because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this happened to make clear the full meaning of what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be pregnant. She will have a son, and they will name him Immanuel.” This name means “God is with us.”

When Joseph woke up, he did what the Lord’s angel had told him to do. Joseph married Mary and named the son Jesus.

At home we invite you to sing our Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and discuss our focus questions for the week.

1. Who is Joseph?
2. When Joseph wakes up from his dream, does he do what the angel of the Lord has commanded him?
3.  Do you think it was easy for Joseph to trust God and God's messenger? Why or why not?
4. In what ways are we called to trust God in our lives today?

Celebrating Liturgy and Sacraments

Social Action & Justice

As Advent approaches, we think about how we will prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus? At St Joseph’s we have a 25 Days of Kindness calendar. The acts of kindness for Week 10 are:

Day 21: Ask a friend or relative to tell you about their day.

Day 22: Make a card or leave a treat for someone in your family.

Day 23: Visit an elderly relative or your local old people’s home and take some homemade Christmas cards.

Day 24: Tell somebody you love, why you appreciate them.

Day 25: Say ‘Merry Christmas’ and smile at everyone you meet today.

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

Thank you for the great generosity in our community. Our abundance of donations will be collected by our O’Connor chapter members of St Vincent de Paul this Thursday and made into hampers for families in the O’Connor and Lyneham areas.

Religious Identity and Culture

Ethos and Charism

Our strategic priority to deepen our St Joseph’s identity means to deepen our understanding of our Josephite Charism.  We can learn much about our Josephite Charism through quotes from Saint Mary Mackillop.

Evangelisation and Faith Formation

Faith Formation

St Joseph’s Parish has begun its annual Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA).

If you are curious about God or the Catholic Church, were baptised as a child but did not receive Eucharist or Confirmation, visit the parish one Sunday and speak to Fr Paul.

If you have questions about the RCIA process, please email Alwyn Dantis on alwyndantis@yahoo.com or ring 0467 243 363.

Yours in Christ,

Melanie Stratford

Religious Education Coordinator

melanie.stratford@cg.catholic.edu.au