***

Since I don’t have many words for such a glorious occasion, I’d like to thank everyone who was there to support me as I came forward:

-My mum and my sister

- Kathy, the first person from my parish community who spoke to me, and my loving godmother

- Mary, the top banana of the parish catechists who seems to be everywhere but disappears when you’re actually looking for her

-Amy G aka Other Amy, who will be confirmed at Pentecost

-Fabienne, the one who keeps showing up

-Henry, the one whose voice I would recognise anywhere

-John (I’m really going to miss you!)

-Joseph, the responsible one who turned up on time for the quiet time!

- Fr Tom, who baptised and confirmed me – “You can keep the shawl if you wear it every Sunday between now and Pentecost!”

-Fr Sajou, who gave me my First Holy Communion

- Fr Joseph, who was so informal when I first met him I didn’t realise he was a priest – I wish he could have been there – he taught me a great deal

-Brian, who always has a smile on his face (How do you do that?!)

-Anne, who has been a quiet and humble help

-Susie, who is my mum’s sponsor and is just like her

-Jill and Cherry -thank you for being there in the pew behind me, and that card was amazing! Please give me some tips next time I see you; I’m really into that kind of thing.

-Jerry, the jolly choirmaster and acting barman who welcomed me the moment I landed in his choir

Everyone in Journey in Faith (RCIA) and everyone who I have failed to mention (I haven’t forgotten you, I am just overwhelmed by such a sacred night and I’ve never actually drunk a full glass of wine before!)

I love all of you and am blessed to know you all.

***

Dear Father,

I pray for my parish community, all of the parishes in my diocese, and the entire Body of Christ. Thank You for choosing me to become a Roman Catholic and help me to behave like a child of  Yours ought to. Thank You for the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist. Help me to be a gift to the Church; to be Christlike. That sounds hard. I pray that one day I will be someone’s godparent/sponsor, but in the meantime help me to bear much fruit wherever I may be for everyone I meet.

Amen.

Dear Lord,

This time is holy and special. Help us in our efforts this Lent, especially in our prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Inspire us to re-evaluate the way we live our lives and make it so we live for You more and more.

***

Happy 2010. I pray that it will be:

a) even better than last year. (Optimists)

b) a lot better than last year because last year was the worst year ever. (Pessimists)

c) so we can take it all as it comes. (Pragmatists.)

***

Advent Calendar: Who was born shortly after John, in David’s town?

Advent Candle:

• “When the sun rises in the Heavens you will see the King of Kings.”
• O Emmanuel, come and save us, O Lord our God.
• O King of Nations, come, and deliver us whom you formed from the dust of the earth.
• O Dayspring, come, and enlighten all those who sit in darkness.
• O Key of David, come, and deliver from prison those who sit in the shadow of death.
• O Stock of Jesse, come and save us and do not delay.
• O Lord and Ruler, come redeem us with outstretched arms.
• O, Wisdom, come and teach us the way of care.
• God of Salvation, send us your Son.
• God of all People, send us your Son.
• God of Peace, send us your Son.
• God of Hope, send us your Son.
• God of the Prophets, send us your Son.
• God of New Beginnings, send us your Son.
• God of Opportunities, send us your Son.
• God of all Graces, send us your Son.
• God of all Vision, send us your Son.
• God of Wonder, send us your Son.
• God of Openness, send us your Son.
• God of Clarity, send us your Son.
• God of all Compassion, send us your Son.
• God of Surprises, send us your Son.
• God of the Needy, send us your Son.
• God of New Beginnings, send us your Son.
• God of Eternal Joy, send us your Son.
• God of Revelation, send us your Son.

***

Dear Lord,

I pray for all of those who are depressed or ill at this time. Keep them close to You.

***

Advent Calendar 2009: Prepare for Christmas by helping at home, being kind, and praying for those who won’t be enjoying Christmas.

Advent Candle:

• O Emmanuel, come and save us, O Lord our God.
• O King of Nations, come, and deliver us whom you formed from the dust of the earth.
• O Dayspring, come, and enlighten all those who sit in darkness.
• O Key of David, come, and deliver from prison those who sit in the shadow of death.
• O Stock of Jesse, come and save us and do not delay.
• O Lord and Ruler, come redeem us with outstretched arms.
• O, Wisdom, come and teach us the way of care.
• God of Salvation, send us your Son.
• God of all People, send us your Son.
• God of Peace, send us your Son.
• God of Hope, send us your Son.
• God of the Prophets, send us your Son.
• God of New Beginnings, send us your Son.
• God of Opportunities, send us your Son.
• God of all Graces, send us your Son.
• God of all Vision, send us your Son.
• God of Wonder, send us your Son.
• God of Openness, send us your Son.
• God of Clarity, send us your Son.
• God of all Compassion, send us your Son.
• God of Surprises, send us your Son.
• God of the Needy, send us your Son.
• God of New Beginnings, send us your Son.
• God of Eternal Joy, send us your Son.
• God of Revelation, send us your Son.

***

“Christmas Eve Tomorrow!” proclaims my Dairy Milk Advent Calendar.

Dear Lord,

We rejoice as the birth of our Saviour draws near. So near! It seemed so far away when the Christmas euphoria started in September. Help us to see this nearness in all its glory, and wait these last few days with wondrous anticipation and excitement. He’s coming he’s coming he’s coming! Emmanuel’s coming! Our redemption is close at hand.

***

Advent Calendar 2009: John grew up, lived in the desert and taught and baptised people.

Advent Candle:

O King of Nations, come and deliver us whom you formed from the dust of the earth.

O Dayspring, come, and enlighten all those who sit in darkness.

O Key of David, come, and deliver from priso those who sit in the shadow of death.

O Stock of Jesse, come and save us and do not delay.

O Lord and Ruler, come redeem us with outstretched arms.

O, Wisdom, come and teach us the way of care.

God of Salvation, send us your Son.

God of all People, send us your Son.

God of Peace, send us your Son.

God of Hope, send us your Son.

God of the Prophets, send us your Son.

God of New Beginnings, send us your Son.

God of Opportunities, send us your Son.

God of all Graces, send us your Son.

God of all Vision, send us your Son.

God of Wonder, send us your Son.

God of Openness, send us your Son.

God of Clarity, send us your Son.

God of all Compassion, send us your Son.

God of Surprises, send us your Son.

God of the Needy, send us your Son.

God of New Beginnings, send us your Son.

God of Eternal Joy, send us your Son.

God of Revelation, send us your Son.

***

Dear Lord,

Help us to appreciate Your blessings and Your infinite love for us. Then we can learn to recognise You in the world around us and help grow real, concrete virtue in our hearts that shows in what we say and do. Bring us to life. Make our hearts sing for joy and exult in You.

***

Advent Calendar 2009: Read Luke 1:57-66

Advent Candle:

• O Dayspring, come and enlighten all those who sit in darkness.
• O Key of David, come, and deliver from prison those who sit in the shadow of death.
• O Stock of Jesse, come and save us and do not delay.
• O Lord and Ruler, come redeem us with outstretched arms.
• O, Wisdom, come and teach us the way of care.
• God of Salvation, send us your Son.
• God of all People, send us your Son.
• God of Peace, send us your Son.
• God of Hope, send us your Son.
• God of the Prophets, send us your Son.
• God of New Beginnings, send us your Son.
• God of Opportunities, send us your Son.
• God of all Graces, send us your Son.
• God of all Vision, send us your Son.
• God of Wonder, send us your Son.
• God of Openness, send us your Son.
• God of Clarity, send us your Son.
• God of all Compassion, send us your Son.
• God of Surprises, send us your Son.
• God of the Needy, send us your Son.
• God of New Beginnings, send us your Son.
• God of Eternal Joy, send us your Son.
• God of Revelation, send us your Son.

***

It was through no effort of my own that I was born a daughter of Love. I did nothing worthy of becoming a child of God. I didn’t have to. All I have to do is exist – through a life given by the Lord – and I am showered with love and blessings, I am guided through the whole of that life without Him leaving me for a single moment, that life lovingly designed especially for me, with all creation out there for me to look at and people for me to look after, and I am promised a place in Heaven, being forgiven time after time because He is so desperate for me to get there.

How have I gone so long without loving You as You deserve?

***

Advent Calendar 2009: Joseph agreed to look after Mary. Thank God for all those who look after you.

Advent Candle:

• O Key of David, come, and deliver from prison those who sit in the shadow of death.
• O Stock of Jesse, come and save us and do not delay.
• O Lord and Ruler, come redeem us with outstretched arms.
• O, Wisdom, come and teach us the way of care.
• God of Salvation, send us your Son.
• God of all People, send us your Son.
• God of Peace, send us your Son.
• God of Hope, send us your Son.
• God of the Prophets, send us your Son.
• God of New Beginnings, send us your Son.
• God of Opportunities, send us your Son.
• God of all Graces, send us your Son.
• God of all Vision, send us your Son.
• God of Wonder, send us your Son.
• God of Openness, send us your Son.
• God of Clarity, send us your Son.
• God of all Compassion, send us your Son.
• God of Surprises, send us your Son.
• God of the Needy, send us your Son.
• God of New Beginnings, send us your Son.
• God of Eternal Joy, send us your Son.
• God of Revelation, send us your Son.

***

‘Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
“To me be as it pleaseth God,” she said,
“my soul shall laud and magnify his holy Name.”
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!’

Dear Lord,

Help us to say ‘Yes’ to God every day and to remember that He asks our whole lives.

***

Advent Calendar 2009: Draw a picture of Gabriel visiting Mary.

Advent Candle:

• O Stock of Jesse, come and save us and do not delay.
• O Lord and Ruler, come redeem us with outstretched arms.
• O, Wisdom, come and teach us the way of care.
• God of Salvation, send us your Son.
• God of all People, send us your Son.
• God of Peace, send us your Son.
• God of Hope, send us your Son.
• God of the Prophets, send us your Son.
• God of New Beginnings, send us your Son.
• God of Opportunities, send us your Son.
• God of all Graces, send us your Son.
• God of all Vision, send us your Son.
• God of Wonder, send us your Son.
• God of Openness, send us your Son.
• God of Clarity, send us your Son.
• God of all Compassion, send us your Son.
• God of Surprises, send us your Son.
• God of the Needy, send us your Son.
• God of New Beginnings, send us your Son.
• God of Eternal Joy, send us your Son.
• God of Revelation, send us your Son.

***

ADOPTED – “I am adopted through Jesus Christ.” – Eph. 1:5

Lord Jesus, thank You for coming to help us.