The food bank were delighted with your contributions to their Christmas food boxes through our Las Posadas initiative. Eighty additional boxes were prepared including some festive treats. Many thanks for your generosity and we hope you enjoyed hosting Mary and Joseph (and their donkey) and sharing the Christmas story in your homes.

Thank you to all who are giving shelter to the Holy Family, and for sending in gifts.

Yesterday, Year 6 led the whole school in a liturgy to celebrate the beginning of Advent and the start of Las Posadas at St Mary’s. They started the worship by bringing candles into the dark hall to represent the light of Jesus bringing light to the dark places of our world and lives.

They then explained the South American tradition of Las Posadas and how the Holy Family search for a place to stay.  Through Advent, each family will be taking Mary and Joseph back to their homes to stay overnight.  They will offer them shelter and, to represent the meal they might have shared with them, they will then bring a gift of food for the Swanage food bank. In the Posada pack there is a book to keep and share together explaining all about the ‘New Noisy Neighbour’.

We asked for God’s blessing on Mary and Joseph as they travel to our homes this Advent – reminding us of the journey they had to undertake and encouraging us to give generously to those who do not have what they need to live safe and happy lives, and to pray for those – especially refugees and migrants – who are still forced to make journeys which put them in danger and take them away from their families, friends and homes.

We were reminded that as we enter the season of Advent, a time of joyful expectation, we wait in hope for Christmas and the birth of a baby King filled with love and compassion.

We look forward to seeing your photographs of Mary and Joseph whilst they are staying with you; you can email them to the school office office@stmarysswanage.dorset.sch.uk