Dear brothers and sisters,

Q&A: What does Advent mean? How can I live it well?

The English word “Advent” comes from the latin word “Adventus” which means “a coming” – that it is the time when we look to the coming of Jesus Christ, which of course happens at Christmas.  While in Western Christianity the date of Christmas was not decided for everyone much before the end of the 300s, it had already been celebrated in Rome on 25 December a long time before this.  During Advent we prepare ourselves spiritually for the coming of Jesus into the manger of our heart as a baby at Christmas, in Holy Communion, and as our judge at our death and at the end of the world.

Our parish mission statement

What is the point of our parish?  What are we seeking to achieve in all our activities here?  Following consultation with all of you, and with the pastoral council, we have discovered and articulated this in our mission statement.  From now on will plan all our activities in order to fulfill these goals:

Our call

God asks us, as the parish of St Peter Chanel and St Joseph, Berala, what Jesus asked of His apostles:- 

1. to live in the love of God for each of us personally, and to love him back with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Lk 10:27)

2. to preach the Good News of Salvation with love, inviting all people into unity with God through His Holy Church; 

3. and to serve all people with love and mercy by attending to their spiritual and corporal needs.

Our response

Valuing our social and cultural diversity, we seek to respond to what Jesus asks of us, in unity with our Archbishop and the Universal Church, in the following  way:

1. Leitourgia (Worship)

Worshipping God, meditating on his Word and receiving his grace in the Sacraments of the Church, so that we be seized by the love of God for us and for all, transformed into saints, and become missionary members of God’s priestly people, to the praise of his glory.

2. Kerygma-Martyria (Evangelisation and formation)

i. Proclaiming the love of God – as revealed to us by Jesus Christ in his life, death and resurrection – to all by word and deed, so they can enter into a personal relationship with Jesus, become his disciple, and trust Him as Lord, Saviour and Friend.

ii. Forming Christians who seek to learn from Jesus in order that they might grow in faith and understanding and be formed humanly, spiritually, intellectually and pastorally.

iii. Motivating, serving and inspiring people to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and drawing upon their gifts to share the Gospel and build up the Kingdom of God.

3. Diakonia (Service)

Fostering genuine spiritual communion with and service of each other, in our parish and in our wider community, marked by the virtue of charity – that is, of true love: “By this everyone shall know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Yours in Our Lord,

J+