Morena – Good morning,
What Does Advent Mean?
Advent means “arrival” and signifies the start of an event or the arrival of a person. In Christian communities around the world, Advent refers to a four-week season of remembering and celebrating the arrival of Jesus on Earth. It’s a time to reflect on the unexpected nature of Jesus’ humble birth and join in the anticipation of when he will come again to reunite Heaven and Earth once and for all. Advent and its four themes:
FIRST SUNDAY – HOPE (The Prophecy Candle) Sunday, December 1
The first candle on the Advent wreath represents Hope – the first Sunday of Advent not only leads us to anticipate the birth of Christ but celebrate the beginning of a new liturgical season as well. It is purple, the primary colour of Advent and a colour symbolizing royalty. Sometimes called the “Prophecy Candle,” the first candle harkens us back to Isaiah’s foretelling of the birth of Christ and all of the promises God gave us in the Old Testament that would be fulfilled by the birth of Jesus.
Reflection on Hope: https://youtu.be/n5gRgJhCue4 The Garden – Kari Jobe –click on
link
****Each Sunday in Advent there will be a short paragraph such as the one above
speaking to the theme of each Sunday and an accompanying reflection song.
Have a good week – God go with you, Blessings, Paul
Scripture Readings:
First Sunday of Advent Year C, 1 December 2024.
Straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near
Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly kingdom.
LECTIONARY READINGS
First reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16
Responsorial psalm: Ps 24(25):4-5, 8-9, 10, 14
Second reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:12–4:2
Gospel: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Link to readings – click here
Palmerston North Passionist Family Groups come together for High
Recently women from Passionist Family Groups (PFG) across Palmerston North came together for a shared high tea in the Our Lady of Lourdes church foyer. Tables were beautifully decorated with white tablecloths (some lace, others embroidered) and fancy or tiered plates. Most of the close to 40 attendees brought along their own bone China cup and saucer, which served as wonderful conversation pieces in prompting stories of their source (often gifted or inherited).
Shared plates of afternoon tea were commonly favourite family recipes, fond memories of good times with family and friends, or traditional high tea fare. Examples included scones with jam and cream, cucumber sandwiches, various slices such as Louise Cake, sponges, and small savouries. Tea was served from highly polished silver teapots, with accompanying sugar bowls and milk jugs
Yet, the pomp and ceremony played second fiddle to the animated conversations and delighted connecting with people from other groups or re-connecting with long-standing friends. Despite ranging in age from early teens through to late 80s, across cultures, long-time or more recently-joined or keen to join PFG members, there was much in common for the PFG Movement is about living out our Christian faith by showing love for one another as Jesus did, supporting each other’s joys and sorrows, and enjoying the ordinary times together on our life journey. – Jenny Poskitt (PN City-wide coordinator).
- To find out more about Passionist Family Group Movement – a family for all, go to https://www.passionistfamily.org.nz/.
Here’s a few things our group in Palmerston North has been
doing this year at our monthly gatherings:
- Mini golf, followed by afternoon tea
- Visited the PN Wildbase Discovery Centre (in the Esplanade), followed by afternoon tea
- Joined in the PN City Historic cemetery walk (learned about the history of some early settlers), and had a tour of an historic electric power station in PN
- City-wide PFG high tea (attached is the story I sent to the Welcom that was abridged)
- Greenhaugh Garden tour (followed by afternoon tea)
- Pot luck dinner at group Coordinator’s place
- Card games and shared afternoon tea at one member’s home
- Saturday evening Mass at Ashhurst, followed by a pub meal
Update from Paul: We have a relaunch of PFG’s in Plimmerton where Cardinal John Dew is acting pp. A positive reception thank to Jocelyn and Kevin Bryant for hosting me but also to the PFG’s hosting a dinner and the parish morning tea. We got great support from Cardinal John.
I had a joint catch up on 22 November with the Parish and Group coordinators from Levin and Otaki – thanks to Otaki for hosting this event and for everyone bringing food, thoughts and themselves to share. Next time Levin are going to host. Despite what happened around them these parish are still functional with four groups each. A great effort by the teams.
It’s great that the small parishes continue to operate and reach out to so many.
Next week my brother, Brian arrives, and we will drive up to Auckland for our PFG Trustee’s meeting. We have a few people to catch up with on the way and I will take the opportunity to visit a few before making my way home.
What can we do when our group members experience the many facets and their effects
on ageing?
Many people either deem themselves or others that they are too old to be useful? This is not true, and it is a way we younger ones can sideline the elderly because they tell too many stories or keep living in the past or they are unhappy with how things are today. We can be impatient and wanting to move everything along due to our inflated sense of being busy. Why? Can we not see that in silences and waiting we get to hear and see other aspects of life. I think it is important that in Passionist Family Groups we develop and maintain a sense of patience.
We can easily give in or up to the cries of “I am tired” ‘I not very useful to the group’. What I and others have spoken of often, is that PFG’s are about ‘being’ not necessarily about ‘doing’. So, to our older folk, get a list of your group and maybe once a day spend 5-10 minutes making a phone call. It may be a bit weird at first but in time people in the group will be grateful for your efforts to ‘connect’. In a couple of weeks start again, ask for photos of the group outings if you are unable to travel and use these as a tool to start up a conversation e.g. How was the function? How’s the group going? In time to be able to say if there is a way, I can access a venue then count me in. Over time you can build a relationship and the same goes for writing notes or cards. It’s family so we should be open to try and do a range of things to build connections and be inclusive.
Reminder: 5 Aims and Goals
- share & celebrate life & faith
- support one another (especially in need)
- reaching out to & include others
- build community/extended family
- show and give example to children
Pease remember in your thoughts and prayer:
- Please keep in mind
- Pat Smith RIP and keep in prayer Maureen and family; Remember Rod Carson and remember Pat and family; Maureen and Graeme Matthews; Jocelyn Bryant and family; Adrian van de Pas ; Graeme Margaret Armstrong; Maggi and Charlie Gribble;
- Christine Geoghegan daughter Kate and extended families;
- Jenny Epplett, Preston, Kate and family ; Paul and Linda Darbyshire;
- Please remember Paul Davenport and his wife Jill;
- Leanne Hintz daughter of Clair and Ray Hague;
- Robyn Burns (Hill;) Terry Nelson’s family;. Brian and Eleanor McFlynn ;
- Tim Bartell’s son Sam and family ; Richard and Sue Gibb; Robert van de Pas
- Bryan Davidson; Charlie and Maggi’s daughter and her partner in prayer.
- Keep in mind all those who are struggling with various aspects of mental health; Bob Buckley; Keep people in Gaza and Israel in your prayer
- Martin and Sally van der Wetering; Phil and Anne Drew;
- Please keep in your prayers those who continue to deal with the after effects of droughts on the horn of Africa. Also weather effects on other countries across the planet
- Keep in prayer the people of Ukraine: Keep in prayer the people of Sudan
- Please pray for Dot and Neill Wilson (Invercargill) – their son-in-law Mark married to Dot’s daughter Anita
- Your own intentions
Humour:
- “A skeleton walks into a bar and says, ‘Hey, bartender. I’ll have one beer and a mop.'”
- “Where do fruits go on vacation?” “Pear-is!”
- “I asked my dog what’s two minus two. He said nothing.”
- “What did Baby Corn say to Mama Corn?” “Where’s Pop Corn?”
- “What’s the best thing about Switzerland?” “I don’t know, but the flag is a big plus.”
- “Where do you learn to make a banana split?” “Sundae school.”
- “What has more letters than the alphabet?” “The post office!”
- “Dad, did you get a haircut?” “No, I got them all cut!”
- “What do you call a poor Santa Claus?” “St. Nickel-less.”
- “I “A skeleton walks into a bar and says, ‘Hey, bartender. I’ll have one beer and a mop.'”
- “Where do fruits go on vacation?” “Pear-is!”
- “I asked my dog what’s two minus two. He said nothing.”
- “What did Baby Corn say to Mama Corn?” “Where’s Pop Corn?”
- “What’s the best thing about Switzerland?” “I don’t know, but the flag is a big plus.”
- “Where do you learn to make a banana split?” “Sundae school.”
- “What has more letters than the alphabet?” “The post office!”
- “Dad, did you get a haircut?” “No, I got them all cut!”
- “What do you call a poor Santa Claus?” “St. Nickel-less.”
“I 