|
The Advent Giving Tree
“A Little Giving”
Every leaf on the Giving Tree represents a gift from someone generous, to someone less well off. Please take a leaf from the tree and make Christmas a little happier for some family in our own parish, who will appreciate your kindness.
Advent Prayer
Lord Jesus,
God, you were once a refugee.
Have pity on millions of our people, uprooted from their homes today.
Teach us so to understand and love, that they may once again know peace and joy.
I was hungry and you gave me food; thirsty and you gave me drink.
I was a stranger and you brought me home; naked and you clothed me; sick and you cared for me. 'Rise up, take with you the child and his mother, and flee'
Advent Preparation
1. Morning Prayer in the Cathedral every weekday morning before the 10am mass.
2. Evening Prayer in the Cathedral each Sunday evening at 5.30pm.
3. Taize Prayer in St. Joseph’s Church every Thurs @ 8.00pm
4. Reflection on the Sunday Gospel continues: As a preparation for Christmas, you are invited to take some time to reflect and pray. Venue: The Chapter Room behind Cathedral. When: The Thursdays of Advent i.e. December 8th & 15th. Time: 8pm to 9. Come. Bring a friend.
5. On Saturday 17th Dec in the Friary Church, an Advent Reflection called "A Gift for Christmas", a time of prayer, music & reflection between 2.30pm & 4.30 will be held. Led by Sr. Ita Sutherland.
6. Welcome to staff & students from The Community College who have prepared the 11 o'clock liturgy in The Cathedral this Sunday.
Reflecting on the Gospel means taking time to read meditatively the Word of God. We begin to recognise our own experience in the Gospel story. We remember events in our lives and in the lives of those who touch our lives. We can connect with the whole human family.
Meditation on the Word leads to prayer - prayers of promise and thanksgiving, of petition and of humility.
When a group gathers to reflect on the gospel, they enter into communion with each other. This communion affects our prayer and leads us to express humanity’s deepest aspirations.
The church’s liturgical year begins with the season of Advent, which means arrival or coming. We recall the first coming of Christ (in the incarnation at Christmas) and anticipate his final coming (at the end of time). We celebrate with joy his daily coming in the time of the church, in word and sacrament. It is a season of hope and anticipation: purple vestments symbolise the yearning of the church and of all creation for the transforming light of Christ.
Before the 17 December the emphasis falls on the second coming: |
 |
