APRE News
As we busily prepare for Christmas – planning, cleaning, spending, giving, attending 
breakups and concerts – we must take a moment and reflect on what it all means for us and our families. The first Sunday of Advent is this weekend and marks the beginning of a period of preparation for celebrating the birth of Christ, our Saviour, at Christmas. All the readings in the Mass advise us most urgently to make ourselves ready, to be on the alert, to turn aside from our errant ways, and to give more time to God in our lives. The season of Advent encourages us to reflect and prepare for the coming of Jesus who came to show us a new way of being with God, ourselves and each other. As we count down to the end of the year and participate in the prayer celebrations of the last week, our students will be reflecting on their achievements and spiritual growth during 2024.
This week at Holy Spirit, we value hospitality. This is about opening one’s home and heart to those who need a place to belong. Hospitality is at the heart of many of the gospel stories. Being kind, generous and welcoming to our friends, family and those we know is easy. It takes courage to welcome or help the stranger by extending hospitality to those in need. Our school community responds to the needs of those less fortunate through our two main fundraisers, especially at Christmas time with our donations of hampers to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. We pray that our students continue to recognise the needs of others and be generous toward others, especially those who need help.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL HAMPER: A BIG THANK YOU to all who have generously donated items and brought them in for our annual Christmas hamper. Our classrooms are bursting with Christmas goodies which will be used in Christmas Hampers for those in our community who are in need at Christmas time. Hampers will be presented at our Christmas Liturgy on Tuesday morning in the last week. What a wonderful way to start the Christmas season by showing care and mercy for those less fortunate in the Townsville community. On Monday, our Term 4 School Captains attended the SVDP Christmas Hamper Appeal at St Margaret Mary’s College with Bishop Tim and presented a hamper on behalf of our school community.
ADVENT: Advent wreaths are a tradition used to mark the four weeks of Advent as 
we prepare for the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. Its usual form is a horizontal evergreen wreath holding four candles. Each week, a candle is lit. The underlying symbolism is that the accumulation of light expresses the growing anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ, who is the world's light. Three candles are violet-coloured to symbolise faithful expectation, and the rose candle symbolises joy and hope. Finally, the circular wreath represents God’s eternal love with no beginning or end. Making an advent wreath and praying a blessing each week with your children is a beautiful way to countdown to Christmas.
Blessing for the Advent Wreath
Lord God, Your Church joyfully awaits the coming of its Saviour,
who enlightens our hearts and dispels the darkness of ignorance and sin.
Pour forth your blessings upon us as we light the candles of this wreath;
may their light reflect the splendour of Christ,
who is Lord, for ever and ever. Amen.
God bless.
Caroline Fuller