ADVENT AT FATIMA

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

“we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our saviour, Jesus Christ”

Advent is perhaps the least focused season of the liturgical year, even though the liturgical year begins with the Advent season. Least focused on because we are engulfed by the mighty material Christmas cloud. We awoke on Sunday Nov 1st to the sounds of Christmas music on the radio, we were still in Ordinary Time. The radio, the television, the newspapers churn out all the bargains available, stores try to outdo each other to get those precious dollars. We get all excited, it’s Christmas not Advent The once a week message of spiritual preparation we hear of at Sunday Mass is drowned out by the seven day a week message of material preparation.

New curtains, a coat of paint on the kitchen wall, cover over the 3 piece suite because we can’t afford a new one and buy a new microwave at the same time. Shall I buy the ham from Geddes Grant or DIDCO, I think I deserve a turkey, I’ll walk the city to get the best ingredients for the black cake. If I buy the pepperpot meat now, will GPL give me power to keep the fridge running?


Stress


Is bare Stress


Preparation. Anticipation.


But what is Advent, what is its relevance to us as catholics?


Advent is a time for looking both backward and forward. We look backward as we prepare to celebrate the historical birth of Jesus at Christmas. Before he came into the world, the people longed for the Messiah who would restore a battered people to their former glory. We too identify with that ancient longing for restoration and wholeness as we look forward to Jesus’ coming into our lives and also his second coming.


As Christians we recognize in Advent a time of preparation and anticipation – spiritual preparation and anticipation. Our celebration of the the past is indicative of what we anticipate will come again. When we open ourselves to God’s grace and love we open our selves to his birth each day in our lives. It first starts with our opening ourselves. It first starts with us un-cluttering ourselves, shedding the baggage and recognizing Him each day as we prepare for Him.


Don’t get stressed out. Our preparation, our anticipation, our waiting is one of JOY.


Let’s take the cue from the prayer we hear each Sunday “wait in joyful hope for the coming of our saviour, Jesus Christ”


Let us wait as we listen to the prophecies of Jeremiah, Baruch, Zephaniah, Micah and John the Baptist. Let us marvel in the pregnancies of Mary and Elizabeth, each as joyous as it is miraculous. Let us go to our Advent novenas with the faith and knowledge that we “wait in joyful hope for the coming of our saviour, Jesus Christ”
Andrew

1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
The Mass for the 1st Sunday of Advent was celebrated by Vicar General, Fr. John Persaud. Just after the greeting the traditional blessing and lighting of the 1st candle of the Advent wreath was done.

1st Candle of the Advent wreath lighted

Fr John in his homily exhorted the congregation not to become caught up in the material preparations for Christmas, that will cause spiritual neglect, but to strike a balance between the two forms of preparations.

Right after the homily, the catechecial teachers renewed their commitment to the catechetical ministry in the parish.

Catechists renew their commitment

The congregation was invited by Fr.John  to extend their hands over the catechists as he read the prayer of blessing.

Fr. John blesses catechists

Fr. John with servers after the Mass

The Bovell Family

After Mass, FrJohn offically commissioned the Parish Pastoral Council and the Pastoral Development Committee. These bodies will be responsible for pastoral and administrative

matters in the parish. The Parish Pastoral Council only meets in the presence of a priest from the Georgetown Pastoral Area Priest Team, these meetings will be quarter yearly. The Pastoral Development Committee, will meet every month. These bodies are made up of members representing Ministries, Groups & Committees within our parish community.

 Parish Pastoral Council Meeting

No longer will the congregration have visions of the heavens when in church, that's because, the replacementof the new church roof is now completed, all that's left to be done is the installation of the gutters and downpipes.

Hopefully next year we'll be able to replace the electricals and paint the entire church.

New Roof