Celebrating Advent as a Family

The Family Life Worker and the Family Life Commission for the Archdiocese of Cardiff have created a booklet booklet to inspire you to celebrate the full season of Advent and that this in turn brings you joy whilst creating shared memories that your family will treasure.

Advent means ‘arrival’ or ‘presence’. In the season of Advent we prepare to celebrate not only Jesus’ birth but his presence in the family, in the love we share.

We recall the past, celebrate the present, and look to the future with hope. We await the coming of the light that will shine in the darkness, shining light on our path of peace.

In prepration for Advent

In preparation for Advent

These activities could form a family fun weekend to ‘kick start’ Advent, whilst creating some shared family memories; though you can also dip in and out of these during Advent…. Whatever suits your family.

  • Making an Advent wreath
  • Making of the empty manager
  • Making an Advent paper chain
  • Preparing a Jesse tree
Celebrating AdventDownload

Christ the King Novena Prayers

Sunday 21st November

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Christ, our Saviour and our King, renew in us allegiance to Your Kingship.
We pray for the grace to place You above the powers of this world in all things. We pray for the grace to obey You before any civic authority. We pray for the grace to fervently bring about Your kingdom in my family and Community. We pray that You will reign in our minds. We pray that you will reign in our hearts. We pray that you will reign in our will. We pray that you will reign in our bodies. We pray You will reign throughout all the world. We pray that You will reign in every area of our lives.

O Prince of Peace, may Your reign be complete in our lives and in the life of the world. As we reflect on your second, glorious coming and the judgement of all mankind, we beg You to show us mercy and give us the grace to become great saints. We pray that not only will we spend eternity with You but that You may use us sinners to bring others into Your Kingdom for Your glory.

Christ the King, Your Kingdom come! Amen.

Christ the King Novena Prayers

Saturday 21st November

Christ, our Saviour and our King, renew in us allegiance to Your Kingship.
We pray for the grace to place You above the powers of this world in all things. We pray for the grace to obey You before any civic authority. We pray for the grace to fervently bring about Your kingdom in our families and Communities. We pray that You will reign in my mind. We pray that you will reign in our hearts. We pray that you will reign in our will. We pray that you will reign in our bodies. We pray You will reign throughout all the world.

O Prince of Peace, may Your reign be complete in our lives and in the life of the world. As we reflect on your second, glorious coming and the judgement of all mankind, We beg You to show us mercy and give us the grace to become great saints. We pray that not only will we spend eternity with You but that You may use us sinners to bring others into Your Kingdom for Your glory.

Christ the King, Your Kingdom come!

Amen.

Daily Theme

All who are grieving, and all suffering with physical and mental health

‘Lord the one you love is sick….’ John II v 3

We bring to God all those who suffer in body, mind, spirit or with grief. We ask that in God’s great loving kindness they might know His sustaining presence amidst their pain. We pray for those who are stretched beyond their own capacity to cope and remain hopeful – that in the roar of these waterfalls God would bring a sense of coherence, comfort and strength.

Christ The King Novena Prayers

Friday 20th November

Christ, our Saviour and our King, renew in us allegiance to Your Kingship.
We pray for the grace to place You above the powers of this world in all things. We pray for the grace to obey You before any civic authority. We pray for the grace to fervently bring about Your kingdom in our families and Communities. We pray that You will reign in my mind. We pray that you will reign in our hearts. We pray that you will reign in our will. We pray that you will reign in our bodies.

O Prince of Peace, may Your reign be complete in our lives and in the life of the world. As we reflect on your second, glorious coming and the judgement of all mankind, We beg You to show us mercy and give us the grace to become great saints. We pray that not only will we spend eternity with You but that You may use us sinners to bring others into Your Kingdom for Your glory.

Christ the King, Your Kingdom come! Amen.

Christ The King Novena Prayers

Thursday 19th November

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Christ, our Saviour and our King, renew in us allegiance to Your Kingship.
We pray for the grace to place You above the powers of this world in all things. We pray for the grace to obey You before any civic authority. We pray for the grace to fervently bring about Your kingdom in our families and Communities. We pray that You will reign in our minds. We pray that You will reign in our hearts. We pray that You will reign in our will. O Prince of Peace, may Your reign be complete in our lives and in the life of the world.

As we reflect on your second, glorious coming and the judgement of all mankind, I beg You to show us mercy and give us the grace to become great saints. We pray that not only will we spend eternity with You but that You may use us sinners to bring others into Your Kingdom for Your glory.

Christ the King, Your Kingdom come!

Amen.

Daily Theme

The NHS and Other Key Workers

Our God is the great healer. Today we voice our gratitude for those who serve this country in the National Health Service and pray for that God would prosper the work of their hands-that they would all be encouraged in their continued work of sacrifice and care amongst us.

Christ The King Novena Prayers

Wednesday 18th November

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Christ, our Saviour and our King, renew in us allegiance to Your Kingship. We pray for the grace to place You above the powers of this world in all things. We pray for the grace to obey You before any civic authority. We pray for the grace to fervently bring about Your kingdom in our families and Community. We pray that You will reign in our minds. We pray that you will reign in our hearts. O Prince of Peace, may Your reign be complete in our lives and in the life of the world.

As we reflect on your second, glorious coming and the judgement of all mankind, We beg You to show us mercy and give us the grace to become great saints. We pray that not only will we spend eternity with You but that You may use us sinners to bring others into Your Kingdom for Your glory.

Christ the King, Your Kingdom come!

Amen.

Daily Theme

Businesses, The Workplace and Economic Wellbeing

In this time of great challenge, we pray for the economic wellbeing of the country. We remember before God those who face great uncertainty in their work. We lift before God those who have lost their jobs and face an uncertain and difficult future. We pray for a renewed commitment to our common life together.

Christ The King Novena Prayers

Tuesday 17th November

Christ, our Saviour and our King, renew in us allegiance to Your Kingship.
We pray for the grace to place You above the powers of this world in all things. We pray for the grace to obey You before any civic authority. We pray for the grace to fervently bring about Your kingdom in my family and Community. We pray that you will reign in my mind. O Prince of Peace, may Your reign be complete in our lives and in the life of the world.

As we reflect on your second, glorious coming and the judgement of all mankind, we beg You to show us mercy and give us the grace to become great saints. We pray that not only will we spend eternity with You but that You may use us as sinners to bring others into Your Kingdom for Your glory.

Christ the King, Your Kingdom come! Amen.

Daily Theme

Elderly, Isolate and Vulnerable

We echo God’s commitment to those most at risk of this virus by praying today for those who are particularly vulnerable and isolated: praying for their deliverance, protection and comfort. We hold before God those who care for them that they would be strengthened and encouraged in this work.

Christ The King Novena Prayers

Monday 16th November

Christ, our Saviour and our King, renew in us allegiance to Your Kingship. We pray for the grace to place You above the powers of this world in all things. We pray for the grace to obey You before any civic authority. we pray for the grace to fervently bring about Your kingdom in our families and Communities. O Prince of Peace, may Your reign be complete in our lives and in the life of the world.

As we reflect on your second, glorious coming and the judgement of all mankind, we beg You to show us mercy and give us the grace to become great saints. We pray that not only will we spend eternity with You but that You may use us sinners to bring others into Your Kingdom for Your glory.

Christ the King, Your Kingdom come! Amen

Daily Theme

Schools and Colleges, Children and Young People

We pray for all those involved in shaping young lives. We give God thanks for the sacrifice and commitment of teachers and all those involved in serving children and young people in education. We pray that all might be nurtured and cared for and that every needful resource would be made available that all lives can flourish even in these difficult times and that no-one would be overlooked.

Service of Memories

On Monday, at 7pm, we will celebrate a REQUIEM MASS for All Who Have Died In The Past Year, both those buried from the Parish, and any others related to us in the family of the Parish. The celebration will be Live-Streamed – to join in please go to https://sthelenscaerphilly.com/st-helens-live-stream/ 

If you have a family member whom you wish to have named and prayed for at this Mass, please send the details – name, date of death, and relationship to yourself, to the Parish office, caerphilly@rcadc.org.

Please print off or view the Order of Service from here.

Christ The King Novena Prayers

Sunday 15th November

Christ, our Saviour and our King, renew in us allegiance to your Kingship.
We Pray for the grace to place You above the powers of this world in all things. We pray for the grace to obey You before any civic authority. O Prince of Peace, may Your reign be complete in our lives and in the life of the world.

As we reflect on your second, glorious coming and the judgement of all mankind, we beg You to show us mercy and give us the grace to become great saints. We pray that not only will we spend eternity with You but that You may use us sinners to bring others into Your kingdom for Your glory.

Christ the King, Your Kingdom come! Amen.

Daily Theme

Family, Friends and Loved Ones

We lift to God those we hold in our hearts. Praying for their health, their well- being and their sense of hope. We pray that even when loved ones cannot physically be together they would not feel apart.

We ask for God’s help in our communicating and our caring.