A morning Advent Reflection took place at our Nanaimo Trinity Catholic Parish on December 12th, 2019. The newly formed Trinity CWL Council invited members of our parish as well as St. Peter’s (Nanaimo) Catholic Church members, to join us after Mass to take time during this busy Christmas season to stop and reflect on the reading of LUKE 10:38-42, the reflection of “MARTHA AND MARY”.

To start the reflection our Spiritual Development Leader, Mary Adachi, invited twelve CWL members of Trinity Parish to come forward to the front of the alter to a table with the picture of Our Lady of Good Council and to place a rose in the vase next to Our Lady’s picture while we all sang the “Our Lady of Good Council” hymn and asked the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for all CWL members, living and those departed.

Following the scripture reading from Luke we were asked to reflect on the story of Martha and Mary when Jesus came to Martha’s house for a visit. Martha spent the whole time making sure that there was enough food on the tables and refreshments were at hand while Mary spent this precious visit at the foot of Jesus listening to His every word. We reflected how sometimes during our Christmas preparations we are so busy that we even forget to remember why we celebrate Christmas. We thought about the perfect gift God had already given to Adam and Eve and yet they bowed to the temptation of the devil and all his false promises and the Light in life was turned off as symbolized by the extinction of a large candle in the chapel. But the next reflection focused on the prophets God had sent, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and finally, John The Baptist to tell us that He was coming and to prepare the way. Mary heard God’s Angel when he said, “the Holy Spirit shall come upon you and you shall have a son, and you shall call His name Jesus.” The Spiritual Leader relights the large candle. We celebrated the coming of the birth of Christ. He is the Saviour of the World. The true gift of the season is His love that was bestowed on each of us that Christmas

After the Advent Reflection we gathered in the lounge for coffee and tea and enjoyed sampling an assortment of baking we all had brought for a Christmas baking exchange. It was a wonder start to this Blessed Season.

From Trinity Council to all our CWL sisters, may God bless you and your families this Christmas Season.

Nora Loftus, Communication Leader, Trinity Catholic Women’s Council