The following column will now appear regularly on the MRA website, beneath the Parent Portal.
What is Advent? Advent comes from the Latin word meaning “coming”, and the Advent season is the four weeks leading up to Christmas when we prepare for the coming of our Lord and Savior. This Sunday marks the first Sunday in Advent when the western liturgical year begins. It is a tradition for many to have an advent wreath on the dinner table, and to light the first of four candles, lighting an additional candle on the remaining three Sundays. The Christmas season does not actually begin until Christmas day, and lasts for the eight days following the birth of our Lord.
At school, the students are learning to prepare their hearts for Jesus during advent in many ways. Grades 1-12 are preparing for their Christmas pageant on December 8th and the Garden is preparing for their Christmas Pageant on December 14th. In art, students are making nativity scenes which will be used to decorate all three buildings on campus. Teachers and students in grades Pre-K to 8th grades will be participating in our Santa’s workshop on December 19th. Students are currently earning tickets to purchase gifts for others at Santa’s Workshop by demonstrating good behavior, diligently completing all of their assignments, and improving their efforts in being charitable to others. Our Lord gives the gift of grace and the gift of Himself to us through his Incarnation, and it is important for all of us to remember that during Advent we can prepare our hearts for his gifts by working on giving to others.
Please know that during this Advent season all of the staff and students will be praying for your families that you may have a blessed season of preparation as we anticipate the coming of Messiah!
God Bless you.
David A. Thibault