Merry Christmas 2023

Another year of joy at the birth of Our Lord here. We thank you Lord almighty for sending your only son...for our salvation....

The day to be mindful of so many gifts in our life and be grateful for it.We are again together with Thomas family and spending time, baking, cooking , having laughter, fun, prayer and enjoyment. All went except me  for Vigil mass and broke their fasting. I wasn't well.

The hard work of many on Christmas day meal with roast and other varieties after carols, wishes.

   Behind the scenes- preps

Our beautiful girls behind

Time together opening their exchanges

Fun with Christmas slime

   Christmas from  past years in the archives

      Merry Christmas everyone - Felis Navidad 

Advent 2023

Advent marks the four weeks before Christmas. It is traditionally a season of penance and prep before Christmas. Liturgical colour is purple. Advent reminds us the coming of the Lord- one is birth of the Lord in the past, his coming in the Eucharist in the present times and second coming for the final judgement.

Some of the traditions we followed over the years- begin with Stir Sunday- making advent wreath, Advent book baskets, Advent calendars, Jesse tree, Advent feasts...so on.

Jesse tree is on its way to begin. Just assembled a branch using willows from our art club. Jesse tree reminds us 'the birth of Lord from the lineage of David'

  

   Advent books to read- Some of the books from the previous years.

 Stir up Sunday

First Sunday of Advent  when everone stir up the Christmas cakes or puddings.

   Feast of St Nicholas- It is fun to celebrate the Feast of St Nicholas by introducing his life to the children and have some fillers for kids in the stockings and their shoes.  I encourage them to personally do some good deeds. On that day we had special guests at home.

On Feast of Emmaculate Conception

We tried to attend Carol service held in St Ambrose  Church Chorlton, many schóols around Manchester participated.

   It was Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Got to read and listen the beautiful Apparition of Our Lady to St Juan in Mexico. The beauty and sturdiness of tilma is so fascinating and beyond scientific explanation. I tried to make Taco salad and kiddos learnt about aztecs and Mexico. It was a great day.

    

Our Lady of Guadalupe pray for us. Also praying for unborn children. 

Past years from archives

Advent 2023

Advent is advancing and lit second candle of the season reminds us of Hope..This year we continues with mini version of jesse tree, calendar, Advent book baskets, little manger gor good deeds. But things are going on not so vigorously. Also its wonderful to celebrate so many Advent feasts too like St Nicholas, Immaculate conception...

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Today we celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Reminded of the tima and the beautiful shrine. The intact remains of Tilma and the scientific explanations are great..

We looked at Mexixo and the aztecs... Some of the paintings we done in the past and th skits we done as part of homeschooling group.

The link to our skit on Our Lady of Guadulupe

      We had a roast dinner tonight

Chess Mania- Manchester

George was participating in local chess competition and happened over the weekend.  It was 6 games in a row with an early morning start till late eve . Finished with prizes. Won 4/6. It was a great day though it was long.

  

Next is zonal level in March .Day was cool as Geo is not too much worried in loosing or winning- by the look of him. 

Arts Time

Since its time of lights, in arts group kids are preparing lanterns. Geo came up with star lanterns and others different choices.

  Happy Art time.

This is the third week of lanterns. Third week is  wrapping up the skeleton of lanterns and creating space for lights. Things are coming up nicely. Some of the works from today. Gluing water proof tissue paper on the star and other designs.

Birthday

Its been a blessed day for us on Jobychaysnz birthday. Together at home celebrated birthday.

Cars from Theresu. 

Feast of St Cecilia

It is a day for patron of musicians. Sg cecilia was a beautuful saint abd martyr who longed to die as martyr. She was tortured to death and burnt  But in those tougher days , she remained at peace praising God..Soldiees could hear her singkng from inside where she was to put to fire.

A day to begkn lesdons with the intercession of this saint from 3rd century AD.

Theresu made a peg doll coloured as St Cecilia woth hot glued rose on her head.

Month of Holy Souls

This month of Hoy souls, remembrance Sunday . Our duty of praying for dead. ....

Time to visit graves of friends and relations. We visited southern Cemetery a few days sgo5. 

Today is Remembrance Sunday, 2 minute silence and remembering all those died in War. The Sunday nearest to November 11th. Two minutes silence is part of our national calendar  When you wear a poppy it should be able to remind us to pray for someone who has died in the war.

It was the time of the year of Intofilms and get to watch  Spiderman 2 in Odeon Didsbury.

Eternal rest grant upon us.... At Home we have vast array of souls to be prayed for and pray St Gertrude prayer and jar of sweets.

    St Gertrude Prayer