President: My dear classmates, as we begin celebrating this season

of advent, I urge everyone to be more pious in our daily prayers and

in doing our daily homeroom and academic duties. In our daily prayer
we shall be gathering around the advent wreath. The use of
the Advent Wreath is a traditional practice which has found its place
in the Church as well as in the home. The blessing of an Advent
Wreath takes place on the First Sunday of Advent or on the evening
before the First Sunday of Advent. When the blessing of the Advent
Wreath is celebrated in the home, it is appropriate to have it blessed
by a parent or another member of the family.

Sec on Worship: This year, Advent begins on Sunday, December 2, 2018.

Advent can give us the right perspective to prepare for Christmas on Dec.
25. The word for this season is from the Latin adventus meaning coming.
It invites us to recognize all comings of Jesus – past, present and future.
The son of God was born in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago.
Through grace, he comes within the hearts of his people day by day. And,
finally, as the Christ, Jesus will return in triumph at the second coming.
Through Advent, we realize that Christmas is not merely a commemoration
of history, but a celebration of salvation. Use Advent’s four weeks as a time
of prayer and spiritual renewal. Wonder at God’s everlasting love and his
overwhelming gift to each and every one of us: his beloved child. One way
to stay connected to the message of Christmas with family is through
lighting the candles of an Advent wreath – one candle of each of the four
Sundays of Advent –reading the scriptures relating to Advent and offering a
prayer for the season, like the following: God so loved the world that he
gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but
may have eternal life (Jn 3:16).

Son of God, baby of Bethlehem

All: Help us to grow in wisdom and grace as you did – and always, in
love.
The leader makes the sign of the cross as he says:

Leader: Class Adviser: Our help is in the name of the Lord.

All make the sign of the cross and say: Who made heaven and earth.
Reader: In the short days and long nights of Advent, we realize how
we are always waiting for deliverance, always needing
salvation by our God. Around this wreath, we shall
remember God’s promise.

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah (9:1-2,5-6)

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

Upon those who lived in a land of gloom

a light has shone.

You have brought them abundant joy

and great rejoicing;

They rejoice before you as people rejoice at harvest,

as they exult when dividing the spoils.

For a child* is born to us, a son is given to us;

upon his shoulder dominion rests.

They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,

Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.

His dominion is vast

and forever peaceful,

 Upon David’s throne, and over his kingdom,

which he confirms and sustains

By judgment and justice,

both now and forever.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Pray the Prayer of Blessing

The Class Adviser (or other leader) prays the following prayer over the Advent wreath,
and the family (or group) replies "Amen."

O God, by whose word all things are sanctified, pour forth thy
blessing upon this wreath, and grant that we who use it may
prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ and may receive
from Thee abundant graces. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

Sprinkle the Advent Wreath With Holy Water

The Class Aviser (or other leader) sprinkles the Advent wreath with holy water.

While blessing is going on, everybody sings, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”:

O come, desire of nations, bind

in one the hearts of humankind;
bid ev’ry sad division cease
and be thyself our Prince of peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.
With hands joined, the leader says:

Class Adviser: Lord our God, we praise you for your

Son, Jesus Christ: he is Emmanuel, the hope of the
peoples, he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,
he is the savior of every nation.
Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we light the
candles of this wreath.
May the wreath and its light be a sign of Christ’s promise to
bring us salvation. May he come quickly and not delay.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Response: Amen.

Week One:

Class adviser: This first week of Advent, we shall light the…

1st CANDLE – (purple) THE PROPHECY CANDLE or CANDLE OF

HOPE – We can have hope because God is faithful and will keep the
promises made to us. Our hope comes from God. “And again, Isaiah
says, ‘The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over
the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.’ May the God of hope fill
you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may
overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:12-
13)

Reader: In the short days and long nights of Advent, we realize how
we are always waiting for deliverance, always needing
salvation by our God. Around this wreath, we shall
remember God’s promise.

As the first candle is lit by the Sec on Worship the community sings a verse from
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”:

O come, desire of nations, bind

In one the hearts of humankind;
 Bid ev’ry sad divisions cease
And by thyself our Prince of peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Then read the Gospel of the day, say the prayers of intercession and the Lord’s Prayer.

Leader: Pilare: Let us pray.

Stir up Thy might, we beg Thee, O Lord,

and come, so that we may escape through Thy protection
and be saved by Thy help from the dangers
that threaten us because of our sins.
This we ask through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.
Leader: Class Adviser: Let us bless the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God (while making the sign of the cross)