Portland St. Patrick Catholic School

The word.Advent derives from the Latin word for “coming” or “arrival.”  Advent began this year on November, 29, the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day.  It will end on Christmas Eve.  During the next four weeks we will reflect on Christ's birth and will also look to His second coming. 

Advent is a time to become more involved in the meaning and the possibilities of life as a Christian community.  We are waiting and getting ready for Christmas, the celebration of the birth of our Savior.  It is a time for reconciliation, prayer, and community service.  At St. Patrick School, we are doing several things to help our students fulfill these goals.

Each Monday, we will gather as a school to light the candle on the Advent wreath.

Each piece of the wreath symbolizes some part of our preparation of Jesus' birth on Christmas day. The circular shape of the wreath symbolizes eternal life; the purple candles symbolize our waiting or repentance; the pink candle symbolizes our joy of Christmas; the light from the lit candles symbolizes Jesus as "The Light of the World."

 It is the focus of our school to have the students be good stewards of their time, talent, and treasure and the Advent season is a good time to put this into practice.  God has blessed each of us here at St. Pat's in many ways...we have roofs over our heads, we have clothes to wear, we have enough food to eat, and we have the privilege of receiving a Catholic education.  During Advent, we want to show our thankfulness for all of these things by giving to others, who have less.

•    St. Patrick School is participating in the Toys for Tots collection again this year.  Our seniors will go to the distribution center and volunteer their time working in an unheated warehouse all day.  The juniors will relieve them after they get out of school and work the evening shift.

•    Our school is also participating in the Portland Community Fund Coat, Hat, and Glove Drive. 

•    Our students have collected food for the Community Fund meal and continue to take donation to area food banks. 

•    We are raising money for Pregnancy Services of Ionia with our Copper Stopper Baby Bottle Fundraiser.  Last year, students were extremely generous in giving donations to this important charity.

Finally, we hope our students will understand that while the world tells them that they are supposed to want things for Christmas, they will understand that Christmas is about longing, forgiveness, love, and most of all hope.   

I am so proud of the generosity that is shown by our students and their families.  I am proud that they have been good stewards of their time, talent, and treasure.  I am proud that they have been committed to service all year but have managed to find a way to dig down even deeper during this Advent Season.  It is a true calling of faith as we await the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Christmas Day. 

What are you doing for Advent in preparation for Christmas Day?