Catholic Life & Reflection
The celebration of Advent is well underway!
Year Two Blue created beautiful advent wreaths using cut up pieces of magazines to create the different colours. They look stunning displayed together with all those smiling faces!
What have we learnt this year?
We have had the focus this year on the Seven Sacred Species. I asked everyone to tell me what they have learnt this year. Two Maroon had lots to say!
2M have learnt:
The Seven Species are sacred fruits and grains grown in the Land of Israel. They are: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates.
Year 2’s sacred species was grapes. Grapes symbolise joy and beauty.
The ancient Israelites were a people of the land, mostly farmers and shepherds. To the ancient Israelites, the Seven Species were not only evidence of the land’s great bounty, but evidence of God’s love toward them.
Tu Bishvat is a Jewish holiday called ‘The Birthday of the Trees’ which marked the emergence of spring. Tu BiShvat became a way to maintain a connection to Israel and the Seven Species were incorporated into the observance of the holiday. During the Tu BiShvat meal, food would include:
- Soft on the inside and hard on the outside,
- Hard on the inside and hard on the outside, and
- Soft and sweet all the way through (like Grandpa).
Thank you,
from 2M
Aren’t they clever?
Catholic Life and Reflection
I really love this time of year. I am a bit of a Christmas nut! Trees, decorations, cinnamon scented candles, the whole shabang. The boys even have Christmas doona covers!
Due to the recent arrival of a very excited chocolate Lab who eats ANYTHING! (two trips to the vet in a week!!!) We have had to scale back our decorations. So a small tree is taking the place of a large one. Decorations will be carefully selected to ensure the really precious ones are not eaten…I mean broken.
While sorting all of this out it made me think of what things really signify Christmas. What I am looking forward to most is the time with my family. It is the time I miss my dad and my Oma the most but it makes me cherish the time with loved ones even more. Also, the slow time that comes with not having to rush about and I sort of forget what day it is …I love that.
I sincerely HOPE that you find some slow time in the next few weeks that brings you some PEACE.
God bless,
Stephanie Stewart
Religious Education Coordinator