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A CLASSROOM RESOURCE FOR
CHILDREN’S LITURGY
www.caritas.org.au/advent
ADVENT RESOURCE
This resource invites participants to
journey through the four weeks of
Advent.
Each week of Advent has been
divided into six components:
• The ritual of lighting a candle on
the Advent wreath.
• The Gospel reading with reflection
questions.
• A Caritas Australia story with
reflection points.
• Actions to take.
• A group prayer.
There is also additional information in
the 'Notes' section of some slides.
THE ADVENT WREATH
The word ‘Advent’ means ‘coming’.
When we light the candles on the
wreath, it symbolises the coming of light
(Jesus) into the world.
Candle 1 (violet): represents hope
Candle 2 (violet): represents peace
Candle 3 (rose): represents joy
Candle 4 (violet): represents love
The central white candle is lit on
Christmas Day and represents Christ.
This Advent we will learn, act and
pray for a more just and fair world –
a world full of hope, peace, joy, and
love. Make your own Advent wreath.
MAKING THE ADVENT WREATH
A DAILY CUSTOM
Advent wreaths can be used in
Church, at school or at home. As
the Advent wreath helps us keep
our thoughts focused on the
coming of Jesus at Christmas, it
should be integrated into our daily
lives. The class could gather
around the wreath at a set time of
the day as a selected student lights
the relevant candle.
GLOBAL GIFTSSend a message to those you love
and give to mothers and babies in
need. When you choose a Global Gift
this year, your compassionate gifts
are bringing hope, peace, love and joy
to women and children by funding
training programs and supplies that
our midwives need to help mothers
give birth safely - and provide expert
care before and after babies are born.
This Christmas share a message of
compassion - simply select one of our
beautiful Global Gift cards, water,
food or sustainable livelihoods.
No matter what Global Gift you
choose, you’ll help people overcome
poverty – and transform their lives.
Order your card online at www.caritas.org.au/globalgifts or call us on 1800 024 413
Advent is a special time in
the church year when we
prepare and get ready to
celebrate the birth of Jesus.
God, you are our light and our
hope. May we share your hope
with our family and friends. As
we light this candle in your
name, we ask you to fill us with
your love this Advent.
Amen
FIRST WEEK
OF ADVENTLight the first candle of hope.
• What do you know about Advent?
• What are some things that you look
forward to?
• How do you prepare for them?
• Why is Jesus asking us to ‘be alert at
all times’?
• How can we show Jesus we are
hopeful?
Bayan waits for the program’s private bus to take her to the Caritas Education Program Credit: Richard Wainwright, Caritas Australia
Bayan is 12 years old, living with
her family in Jordan. She grew up
in Syria but the country became
too dangerous with all the
fighting. Bayan was scared for a
long time and she missed out on
a lot of school.
Her family became refugees,
travelling to live in Jordan. When
they left Syria, they took with
them hope, for a safer life with an
opportunity for Bayan to attend
school and get an education.
Bayan waits for the program’s private bus to take her to the Caritas Education Program Credit: Richard Wainwright, Caritas Australia
Bayan doing her homework. Credit: Richard Wainwright, Caritas Australia
FIRST WEEK
OF ADVENTLight the first candle of hope.
• Show solidarity by
participating in refugee
pilgrimage/simulation.
• Appreciate the gift of an
education and try your best
at school.
• Organise a solidarity walk.
• Bayan is reaching her goal.
What goals do you have?
• Bayan has shown patience
through many challenges.
When have you shown
patience?
• How can Bayan’s story give
you hope?
FIRST WEEK
OF ADVENTLight the first candle of hope.
Hopeful God,
you are always patient and share with us the true
meaning of hope for our future. Help us to follow your
lead as we patiently wait in this season of Advent. We
pray for our brothers and sisters who are hopeful for
an opportunity to learn and build a better life. May we
always appreciate the gift of education.
In your name we pray,
Amen
Advent has a focus on light,
not darkness. Christ will
come again as the light of
the world.
God, you are our light and you
fill us with peace. As we light
our Advent candles today,
guide us to be peacemakers in
all that we do. Help us to see
your face in our family and
friends. Give us kind words of
peace for those we love.
Amen
SECOND WEEK
OF ADVENTLight the second candle of peace.
John the Baptist told people to make way
and prepare for the love of God in our lives.
• Identify a time in your life that you would
like to ask God’s forgiveness for.
• Can you turn your life around today?
What would you do?
• How can you help others to forgive and
turn their lives around?
Dinia in her rice field in the Philippines. Credit: Richard Wainwright
Dinia lives in the Philippines
where millions of people are
not living in peace as they
only live on US $1.90 a day.
She struggled every day to
get food and enough money
for her children to go to
school. Sadly, her husband
died and this made things
even harder for Dinia. She
heard about a program run by
Caritas Australia's partner
SPACFI (Socio Pastoral
Action Center Foundation
Inc.). When Dinia joined, she
learned lots of things that
have helped to improve her
life and live peacefully.
Dinia in her rice field in the Philippines. Credit: Richard Wainwright
Dinia making cassava chips at home for sale to her neighbours and community. Credit: Richard Wainwright
SECOND WEEK
OF ADVENTLight the second candle of peace.
• Create a to-do list of all the ways
you will show peace in the
season of Advent.
• Commit to ways that you are
going to remove distractions from
your life as you focus more on
Jesus.
• Pray for the vulnerable
communities around the world.
• What qualities do you see in
Dinia as a leader in her
community?
• How has Dinia brought
peace to her community?
• Reflect: Can this story
inspire you to bring peace to
others?
SECOND WEEK
OF ADVENTLight the second candle of peace.
Peaceful God,
you invite us to share in your peace. We seek your
guidance to be peacemakers in our schools and
communities. We pray that all nations around the
world will live in harmony and be blessed with
opportunities. We thank you for our brothers and
sisters who strive to help others to live peaceful lives.
In your name we pray,
Amen
The third Sunday in Advent is
Gaudete Sunday, from Latin
meaning ‘rejoice’.
God, you are our light and you
bring us joy. May we always
appreciate what you have given
us and may we share it with our
communities. As we light our
Advent candles today, help us
reflect on the joy that Christmas
will bring.
Amen
THIRD WEEK
OF ADVENTLight the third candle of joy.
• What response did John the Baptist give to
the people when they asked “what must we
do?”.
• What joy could this story bring to vulnerable
people and communities?
• Who do you think John is preparing the
people for? Who will bring Good News?
• John is asking people to have a change of
heart. Whose heart could you help to
change this week? How would you do this?
Marta says that she feels more confident through a positive collaboration with Caritas Australia. Credit: Caritas Australia
Marta is 33 and is married
with 4 children. Marta felt
trapped, food was scarce
and money was tight. She
could only afford to send
two of her four children to
school. Marta and her
husband were not able to
buy enough food, clothes
or pay school fees. They
had no choice but to
borrow money at a high
interest rate. This placed
pressure on their family
and only added to the
challenges that they
already faced.
Marta says that she feels more confident through a positive collaboration with Caritas Australia. Credit: Caritas Australia
By participating in a
Caritas Australia
program, Marta and
her husband learnt
how to save money.
Marta feels more
confident and is now
providing all four of her
children with an
education. Marta and
her family have a
better life, they have
enough food for a
whole year. They have
saved enough money
for emergencies.
Marta and her family
can now experience a
more joyful life in
Timor-Leste.
THIRD WEEK
OF ADVENTLight the third candle of joy.
• Explore ways you can be
generous in spirit.
• Identify ways you can support
vulnerable families (hampers,
gifts, tutoring, food).
• Share the story of Marta with
others.
• Pray for the gift and joy of water.
• Imagine you were faced with
the same challenges that
Marta and her family faced.
How would you feel?
• What message of joy did you
take from Marta’s story?
• How has Marta inspired you to
bring joy to others?
Women in Timor-Leste can build peaceful relationships, economic well being and resilience, independence and influence. Credit: Richard Wainwright
THIRD WEEK
OF ADVENTLight the third candle of joy.
Joyful God,
you bring us joy during the Advent season as we
await the celebration of Jesus’ birth. May we share
this Good News with our family and friends. May we
live joy filled lives as we look towards the celebration
of this special time in the church.
In your name we pray,
Amen
Our final days of Advent, are
a time when we can reflect
on our Advent journey.
God, you are our light and
you show us unconditional
love. Continue to teach us
how to share our love with
others around the world. As
we light our Advent candles
today, we pray it leads us
closer to your love.
Amen
FOURTH WEEK
OF ADVENTLight the fourth candle of love.
• Why do you think that baby John leapt
for joy in Elizabeth’s womb?
• Can you remember a time when you
have leapt for joy?
• Decide if a personal visit from a cousin
is more special than a phone call?
• Who will you be visiting for Christmas
this year?
Rowan, General Manager, Aboriginal Carbon Fund. Credit: Kowanyama Land Office
Rowan is from the Wondunna clan of the Badtjala people, traditional owners of
Fraser Island and Harvey Bay in Queensland. He is a ranger and he has cared
for and shown love to Australia's traditional lands. Rowan runs projects on the
land and supports traditional land owners. His work is important because
climate change is making Australia hotter. This means that there are more fire
risk days each year and the bush fire season is longer. Australia’s First People
are connected to their lands but their lands are located in the hottest areas of
the country. Fires harm the land, health and wellbeing of traditional owners.
Rowan, General Manager, Aboriginal Carbon Fund. Credit: Kowanyama Land Office
In 2010, Rowan became the General Manager of the Caritas Australia-
supported Aboriginal Carbon Fund. Through the fund, Rowan wants to create a
partnership between traditional landowners and business to reduce the effects
of climate change across the country. By using cool burning techniques, he
aims to reduce the intensity of wildfires in the hotter months, which produce
more carbon and warm the planet. Ultimately, Rowan demonstrates a love and
care for our common home. Rowan is helping to strengthen people’s love and
connection with the environment. We are reminded to love where we live.
Credit: Kowanyama Land OfficeAboriginal carbon Fund helping to reduce wildfires. Credit: Richard Wainwright, Caritas Australia
FOURTH WEEK
OF ADVENTLight the fourth candle of love.
• Host a Caritas Kitchen event to
highlight the importance of
hospitality during Advent.
• Visit your friend or cousin and offer
support and love.
• Write a ‘Hearts for Climate’ letter to
your local MP.
• Show care for your environment:
recycle, reuse and reduce.
• What and who is affected by
climate change and a
warming planet?
• How can we care and love
our environment?
• Why should we care and
show love for our common
home? Would God agree?
FOURTH WEEK
OF ADVENTLight the fourth candle of love.
Loving God,
you continue to love each of us unconditionally. As
we draw nearer to the celebration of Christmas,
inspire us to care for all in what we say and do. Help
us protect your creation, love and care for our
common home and work for the common good of all
people.
In your name we pray,
Amen
MAKING A WREATH
Use the symbols that follow on the
proceeding slides to create an Advent
wreath.
Make your own Advent wreath.
• The seedpods, nuts and cones are
used to decorate the wreath and
are symbolic of life and
resurrection.
• The laurel signifies victory over
persecution and suffering.
• Pine and holly signify immortality.
• The apple represents the
nourishing fruitfulness of the
Christian life.
Candle Christ Candle
Evergreen Holly
Pine cone Apple
Laurel Nuts
Seed Pods
CaritasAU @caritasaust @caritasaust caritasaustralia
w w w . c a r i t a s . o r g . a u
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