From the editor~~Gwen Costello

"Advent reminds us that each new day of life is filled with wonderful discoveries,"
says the editor, "good news to share with those we teach."

When I was a child, my family always went to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.
There was always something magical about going out in the middle of the night to a church beautifully decorated with evergreen trees and bright red poinsettias.
This part of our celebration was separated from gift-giving---it was a night set apart,
a very special night "made radiant with the splendor of Jesus Christ our light."

It's this kind of excitement, this kind of religious experience that I wish for the children of our parish programs and schools.
But, as you well know, it's hard work to keep children focused on the birth of Jesus with so much commercial competition.
Yet, if we try, maybe, just maybe we can help them experience some of the wonder and awe that Christmas offers.
We can't share this, however, if we ourselves have never experienced it.

Advent reminds us that life is full of surprises and wonderful discoveries. It is a time to be open to
God's revelations, to recognize God-with-us, in Jesus our Emmanuel. It's a time when God asks great
things of us, things we ponder in our hearts. It's a time for saying yes to God, "be it done unto me according to your word."
It's reading and prayers say: wait, listen, be silent, rejoice. It is meant to be a peace-filled and joyous time, a time apart. I hope that you will find the time in your own life this Advent to experience these things. And I hope that those you teach can experience them too...

May you and those you teach have a blessed Advent--in every sense of the word.

In this issue [on page 8] you will find Sr. Valerie Schneider's article, "Advent: A Time for Good Things", a good place to start. Consider making Advent/Christmas wreaths with your class, as described by author Linda Osmundson.[ page 36]

ADVENT DRAWS NEAR

Jesus, beloved Savior,
it's getting closer to Advent,
a season I feel very strongly about.
I want my class to know
that waiting for your birth
is a spiritual experience,
a time of waiting
different from all other waiting.
I se their eyes light up
when I say the word "Christmas",
but not for the reasons I would like.
How can I make a difference
in the little time I have with them?
How can I observe Advent
with these children
ina meaningful way,
in a way that will touch their hearts and change their lives?
I know for certain that I can't do anything without your help.
Let your Advent light
shine through me please, Amen