Beginning Advent in a Spirit of Hope
As we begin the season of Advent at St Bernadette, we do so with hearts shaped by the Jubilee Year of Hope, which will conclude on 6th January 2026. Throughout this Jubilee, the words of the late Pope Francis invited the whole Church to rediscover hope. Hope is not a vague optimism, but as the steady conviction that God is with us, working quietly and faithfully in our lives. Advent now offers us the perfect space to deepen that gift.
Advent is the season when the Church leans forward in expectation. We remember Christ’s first coming in the humility of Bethlehem, and we renew our trust in His promise to come again in glory. We also recognise His constant coming in the present moment through grace, through one another, and through every glimpse of goodness we encounter. This is where Christian hope is born: in recognising that God continues to act.
Here at St Bernadette’s, we have seen many signs of hope this past year. We have seen it in the generosity of our volunteers, the joy of our young people, the resilience of families, and the quiet prayerfulness of many parishioners who carry others in their hearts. These small lights echo the candles of the Advent wreath, glowing more brightly each week as we draw nearer to Christmas. They remind us that hope grows most powerfully when shared.
Advent also invites us to walk with Mary, the woman of hope, who trusted God even when the path ahead was unclear. Her openness encourages us to believe that God is at work in our parish and in our own lives, often in ways we cannot yet see. I wonder what God will gift us with in the coming year!
As the Jubilee Year of Hope approaches its conclusion, let us commit ourselves to carrying its spirit forward. In these weeks of preparation for Christmas, may we nurture hope through prayer, compassion, and acts of kindness that rekindle light in the lives of others.
May this Advent season bless our parish with renewed hope, deeper faith, and the joyful expectation of the Christ who comes to dwell among us. Come, Lord Jesus!
God bless you
Fr Silvio