PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
As I write this Newsletter I recognise that we light the first Advent candle at mass this weekend and the lighting of both the first and second candles the following weekend. The first candle, which is purple, symbolises ’hope’. It is sometimes called the ‘prophecy candle’ in remembrance of the prophets, especially Isiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. It represents the expectation felt in anticipation of the coming Messiah.
The second candle, also purple, represents ‘faith’. It is called the ‘Bethlehem candle’ as a reminder of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.
The third candle is pink and symbolizes ‘joy’. It is called the “Shepard’s Candle,” and is pink because rose is a liturgical colour for joy. The third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday and is meant to remind us of the joy that the world experienced at the birth of Jesus, as well as the joy that the faithful have as we pass the midpoint of Advent.
On the fourth week of Advent, we light the final purple candle to mark the final week of prayer and penance as we wait for the birth of our Savior. This final candle, the “Angel’s Candle,” symbolizes peace. It reminds us of the message of the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.”
The white candle is placed in the middle of the wreath and lit on Christmas Eve. This candle is called the “Christ Candle” and represents the life of Christ. The colour white is for purity—because Christ is our sinless, pure Savior.
I wish all a wonderful Advent season.
HELPING KIDS DEAL WITH HORRIFYING NEWS
Terrorist events and war in Europe in recent weeks have reverberated around the world. Graphic images have been brought into our living rooms and onto our devices via the media over the last few weeks and will continue to do so in the immediate future. But what about the impact of the event and the subsequent effect of media coverage on children and young people? As adults we all want our children to live carefree lives and keep them from the pain and even horror of tragedies such as terror attacks. In reality we can’t do this. So what is a parent, teacher, or other caring adult to do when such events fill the airwaves and the consciousness of society?
HERE ARE SOME IDEAS
- Reassure children that they are safe. The consistency of the images can be frightening for young children who don’t understand the notion of distance and have difficulty distinguishing between reality and fiction. Let them know that while this event is indeed happening it will not affect them directly.
- Explain what happened. Sounds obvious but it’s important not to simply assume that children and young people understand what’s happened. Be calm and stick to the facts, using a map to show older children where it happened.
- Be available. Let kids know that it is okay to talk about the unpleasant events. Listen to what they think and feel. By listening, you can find out if they have misunderstandings, and you can learn more about the support that they need.
- Help children process what they see and hear, particularly through television. Children are good observers but can be poor interpreters of events that are out of their level of understanding.
- Support children’s concerns for others. They may have genuine concerns for the suffering that will occur and they may need an outlet for those concerns. It is heart warming to see this empathy in children for the concerns of others.
- Let them explore feelings beyond fear. Many children may feel sad or even angry with these events so let them express the full range of emotions.
- Avoid keeping the television on all the time. The visual nature of the media means that images are repeated over and over, which can be both distressing to some and desensitising to others.
- Be aware of your own actions. Children will take their cues from you and if they see you focusing on it in an unhealthy way then they will focus on it too. Let them know that it is happening but it should not dominate their lives.
Children’s worlds can be affected in ways that we can’t even conceive of so adults need to be both sensitive to children’s needs and mindful of what they say and how they act in front of children.
In difficult times, it is worth remembering what adults and children need most are each other. Source: Practical Parenting
Mr Wayne Marshall