Welcome to Day 9 of our Advent Calendar
During the 22 days of Advent, new content will be available each day behind the calendar’s doors.
Season of Advent
Advent is the four-week season before Christmas during which we prepare for the coming of Christ. The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming”. The season of Advent is a time of waiting, conversion and of hope, which has a twofold character as:
- A time of preparation for the Solemnities of the Christmas season, in which the first coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered; and,
- A time when – by remembrance of this – our minds and hearts look forward to the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time.
For these two reasons, Advent is a period of devout and expectant delight.
Our digital Advent calendar is a helpful resource for our ‘journey’ towards Christmas. Each day, by clicking on a virtual door, we are inviting you to take a few minutes to avail of our resources to rediscover the true meaning of Advent and Christmas.
A video message from Rose McGowan, National President of St Vincent de Paul
Advent Prayers
Our Prayer Intentions for the Day to Pray Together as a Family
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognise that we are profoundly united
with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.
(Excerpt from A Prayer for Our Earth from Laudato Si)
Advent Prayers for Schools
- Class Prayer
God our Father,
Help us to feel all the happiness your Son brings,
and to celebrate his coming with Joy Amen. - Staff Prayer
Loving God, as we gather here today we ask you to be with us.
Journey with us this Advent time and guide us so that we may strive
not so much to teach as to awaken, not so much to instruct as to
inspire. Give us courage and wisdom as we work here in (name of school),
so that this community is one of vision and joy. Amen - Prayer to Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph, you who loved Mary with freedom,
and chose to renounce your fantasies to give way to reality,
help each of us to allow ourselves to be surprised by God
and to accept life not as something unforeseen from which to defend ourselves,
but as a mystery that hides the secret of true joy.
Obtain joy and radicality for all engaged Christians,
while always being aware
that only mercy and forgiveness make love possible. Amen.
Thank you.
Kids’ Corner!
This year we are introducing our ‘Kids’ Corner!’ Each day of Advent you will find fun activities for children to enjoy and learn more about the Season of Advent! Print out this Christmas card and colour it in however you like to give it to someone special!
