29 Nov 30 Nov 1 Dec 2 Dec 3 Dec 4 Dec 5 Dec 6 Dec Children of the world unite, 25 Dec 7 Dec Preparing for the special night, Waiting for the joyful birth, 24 Dec 8 Dec Of the child who is 23 Dec God’s light on Earth. 9 Dec 22 Dec 10 Dec 21 Dec 11 Dec 20 Dec 12 Dec 19 Dec 18 Dec 17 Dec 16 Dec 15 Dec 14 Dec 13 Dec

The First Sunday of Advent Sunday 29 November  Advent is a special time when we get ready for the coming of Jesus. Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 Today’s Gospel reading tells us about when Jesus will come again. We do not know when this will happen, but Jesus tells us to pray and to think about how we behave while we are waiting, so that we will be ready when he comes. How do you think Jesus wants us to behave? How do you think he would like us to treat other people both here and around the world?  What will you do this week, so that you can try to be ready when Jesus comes again? Light a candle and pray together Children of the world unite Preparing for the special night Waiting for the joyful birth Of the Child who is God’s light on earth. Say this prayer together each day of Advent.

What will you do this Advent to get ready for when Jesus comes? The Advent wreath Monday 30 November The Advent wreath is a special symbol. The evergreen leaves mean everlasting life, the circle of the wreath (with no beginning and no end) reminds us of the eternity of God and the four candles are the four weeks of Advent.   Draw or make an Advent wreath: 1. Cut a hole in the middle of a paper plate 2. Draw around your hands on green recycled paper and ask others to do the same 3. Stick the cut-out hands around the outside of the paper plate to make the leaves 4. Make four candles by rolling paper into tubes (3 purple and 1 pink) 5. Attach a paper flame to one candle on each Sunday of Advent What will you do this Advent to get ready for when Jesus comes?

Click here to watch an animation about Laudato Si’. Care for our common home Tuesday 1 December Earlier this year, Pope Francis wrote a letter to every person in the world, asking us all to protect our common home – the earth. This letter is called Laudato Si’. Throughout Advent, we will find out more about Laudato Si’. We will think about the earth that we share with our sisters and brothers around the world, and how we can play our part to protect it. Click here to watch an animation about Laudato Si’. Talk about: What do you think Pope Francis means by common home? In what ways can we care for our common home?

Click here to watch our climate change animation. The challenge of climate change Wednesday 2 December In his letter, Pope Francis tells us that climate change is one of the biggest challenges that faces our planet today. The change in temperature means more extreme weather. We have seen more storms, floods and droughts than ever before. We all depend on our planet earth to survive. Click here to watch our climate change animation. Find out: Why is the climate changing? Who is most affected? How can we do a better job of looking after our planet?

Let’s put love for the world and our neighbours into action Thursday 3 December In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis asks us to put love for the world and for our neighbours into action. He asks us to work for the common good and commit to caring for our sisters and brothers living in poverty. One way to show support for our neighbours in developing countries is through World Gifts. Through World Gifts like water or learning to read, we can support families and communities around the world to transform their lives. Last year, schools raised enough money to teach 3,529 children to read. Fantastic work! This year, we are aiming to teach 5,000 children to read. Click here to find out more how you can get involved with World Gifts this Advent. Remember to check our online totaliser each week in Advent.

Working together to care for our planet Friday 4 December Earlier this year, people from all over the UK travelled to London to ask their MPs to take action on climate change, for the love of the world’s poorest people. This week, world leaders are meeting in Paris for the United Nations climate talks. This Advent, find out more about the talks in Paris and why it is so important to take action on climate change. Click here to take the climate change quiz, to see how much you know already!

Click here to watch ‘Caring for the environment’ film. Care for our common home Saturday 5 December Pope Francis calls us to look after the environment, to protect our common home. Diego, Karen and Aracely, from El Salvador, are already living this out. They know how important it is to care for the environment. Click here to watch ‘Caring for the environment’ film. Talk about: What can you learn from the children in the film? Why is it important to look after the environment?

The Second Sunday of Advent Sunday 6 December Luke 3:1-6 Today’s Gospel reading tells us that God speaks to John the Baptist while he is in the desert. We read about how John goes round to the people and tells them to be prepared for the coming of Jesus. He offers to baptise them so that their sins will be forgiven.    Advent is a time when we think about our actions and try to make sure that we are ready for the coming of Jesus. What do you think you could do differently, so that you can try to be ready for Jesus? How will you make a difference to your own lives and to the lives of others around the world this week, as you prepare for the coming of Jesus? Light a candle and pray together Children of the world unite Preparing for the special night Waiting for the joyful birth Of the Child who is God’s light on earth. Say this prayer together each day of Advent.

Climate change affects the poorest communities most Monday 7 December Climate change affects us all, but it is the poorest communities around the world who suffer the most. Chanaet lives in Kenya with her family. Changes in the climate are making life harder. Chanaet’s family lost almost all of their animals during the last drought. CAFOD is working together with families like Chanaet’s to find ways to adapt with the changing climate. Click here to find out more about Chanaet and her family. How is CAFOD supporting Chanaet’s family to adapt to climate change?

How can we respond to the needs of others in the Year of Mercy? The feast of the Immaculate Conception Tuesday 8 December Today is a special feast for Mary, Jesus’ mother. Let us think about mums (and dads) all over the world. Let us think especially about those mums and dads that have been forced to move their family away from their home because it is not safe for them to stay. Pope Francis has called for a special Year of Mercy, starting from today. He asks us to think of others who are deprived of their property, their dignity, their feelings and even their lives. As we start the Year of Mercy, let’s think about what it might feel like to be forced to leave your home, in order to find somewhere safe to live. Click here to find out more about the refugee crisis and pray for those affected. How can we respond to the needs of others in the Year of Mercy?

Playing our part Wednesday 9 December Extreme weather is already affecting people around the world. But we can all make changes in our life to take better care of God’s creation and help tackle climate change. We can do things like putting on another jumper rather than turning up the heating, or cutting out short trips in the car and walking or cycling instead. Pope Francis invites us all to play our part. Click here to complete the ‘I am going to play my part’ activity sheet (see campaign guide, page 5.)

Human Rights Day Thursday 10 December All people have the right to basic things like food, water and education. CAFOD’s World Gifts are one way to help support families around the world to achieve their rights. Thiago lives in Brazil and he has learnt to read through a CAFOD project. He says, “Reading is good… the books help me to become clever, and to have a job to help my grandmother.” Education is a very important right, as it helps us learn things now and when we are older, so we can achieve our potential. This Advent we are aiming to teach 5,000 children how to read. Click here to find out more about Thiago and the gift of reading. Remember to check our totaliser.

Taking eco-actions to care for the earth Friday 11 December In his letter, Pope Francis challenges us to play our part to look after our common home. We are invited to take simple eco-actions like turning off lights, reducing water waste and recycling. Think about different eco-actions you can take at home and at school to help care for the earth this Advent. With two weeks to Christmas, use recycled materials to make a Christmas decoration or star. You many want to sell them to raise money for World Gifts. Click here for ideas to make your Christmas greener.

The earth is God’s gift Saturday 12 December In his letter, Pope Francis reminds us that the earth is God’s gifts to us, filled with beauty and wonder. It belongs to everyone. But we have mistreated it and taken more than our fair share. So we must act now to protect the earth, God’s gift to us. We are asked to open our eyes and see the earth as a gift. This enables us to treat it with care, just like Jesus would. List the things or places in the world where you see beauty or wonder. Say a prayer of thanks for all of the things you love about the world.

The Third Sunday of Advent Sunday 13 December Luke 3:10-18 Today’s Gospel reading tells us about how the people ask John the Baptist what they should be doing to prepare for the coming of Christ. John says that anyone who has two tunics should share with the person who has none. And he says that anyone who has something to eat must do the same. This Advent, let’s think about whether we are always good at sharing. There are some things in the world that all people need to live happy and healthy lives, like food, water, and somewhere safe to live. But some of us struggle to get enough food, to get clean water to drink, or lose our homes because of fighting or disaster. What will you share with others, both here and overseas, to make a real difference to people’s lives this week?   Light a candle and pray together Children of the world unite Preparing for the special night Waiting for the joyful birth Of the Child who is God’s light on earth. Say this prayer together each day of Advent.

Making a new start Monday 14 December In his letter, Pope Francis invites us to make a new start and work together to care for our planet earth. We can all make changes in our life to help tackle climate change but together we’ve got the power to do something amazing. Many schools have joined CAFOD’s One Climate, One World campaign, pledging their promises on a heart. Get involved if you haven’t already! Click here to download our campaign guide. Join the hearts together to make a giant heart. Remember to tell us about your climate action. Email us: education@cafod.org.uk Write your pledge on a heart to take better care of our climate.

Sustainable Development Tuesday 15 December In September, world leaders met to agree on a new set of Global Goals for Sustainable Development, to help make our world fair, healthy and sustainable. The goals cover a range of issues, from ending poverty and hunger to improving health and education, and tackling climate change. Pope Francis has a vision for a sustainable, just world, where we all work hard to protect our common home, the earth. Find out more about the global goals. How many goals are there? What is each goal about?

What difference do you think this gift would make? The importance of water Wednesday 16 December In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis reminds us of the importance of water, and the challenge that poor communities face in being able to access water. We know that climate change and a lack of water is making it harder for farmers around the world, like Mpofu, to grow crops. Mpofu lives in Zimbabwe with his family. With support from CAFOD, he has become an expert farmer. By using leaves to cover the soil and protect the moisture, Mpofu is now able to grow crops, even when there is little rain. Click here to check the totaliser, to see how many children we have helped learn to read through World Gifts. Click here to find out about drought resistant crops, available through World Gifts. What difference do you think this gift would make?

Extreme weather affects the poorest communities more Thursday 17 December In Laudato Si, Pope Francis reminds us that extreme weather affects the poorest communities more than any others. During Lent, schools learned about Zin Thu Thu, who lives in Myanmar. Through CAFOD funding, Zin Thu Thu and her community have learned new ways to protect themselves in extreme weather like storms. Schools ‘Cut it out’, and raised over £260,000, which the UK government doubled to over £520,000, to support more people like Zin Thu Thu. Thank you for your FABULOUS fundraising! Click here to watch Zin Thu Thu’s video. What could you cut out to make a change for the world?

International Migrants Day Friday 18 December As Christmas approaches, we remember how Mary and Joseph journeyed to Bethlehem. In places around the world, people are forced to make journeys because there is fighting, and it is too dangerous for them to stay. Remember all those families who have had to leave their homes in search of safety over this last year, including families in Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia. Let’s pray together for refugees around the world: Jesus, friend and brother, you know what it is like to be hungry and thirsty. You know what it feels like to be a stranger who is made unwelcome. You know the suffering of all who have lost everything. We pray that by welcoming refugees we may show love for our neighbour and be closer to you. Amen Tony Singleton/CAFOD

Protecting our common home Saturday 19 December In a village in Uganda called Nakambi, people have learned how to build smart stoves! The stoves produce less smoke, so they are healthier. They also use far less wood, so fewer trees are cut down, helping to protect the environment. Some of world’s poorest communities are showing the world how to live more sustainably and care for our common home. How can we live more sustainably? What can we do to protect our common home?

The Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday 20 December Luke 1:39-45 Today’s Gospel reading tells us about how Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth is also expecting a baby. As soon as she sees Mary, Elizabeth is filled with joy and recognises that Mary’s baby will be the Son of God. Babies are very special. They need a lot of looking after. No matter where in the world they are born, all babies need the same things. They need someone to love and care for them, someone to feed them, and to keep them warm. Sometimes it is difficult for families to provide all of these things because of where they live or what is going on around them. Let us think about all babies around the world, and how we can make a difference to the lives of other families this Advent.  Light a candle and pray together Children of the world unite Preparing for the special night Waiting for the joyful birth Of the Child who is God’s light on earth. Say this prayer together each day of Advent.

Say a prayer for all those affected by the earthquake in Nepal. Supporting our sisters and brothers around the world Monday 21 December On 25 April, a huge earthquake hit Nepal. It was the worst earthquake to hit Nepal for over 80 years. Schools raised a FANTASTIC £204,000 in response to our Nepal appeal! CAFOD was able to work with local organisations straightaway to provide food, shelter and emergency supplies to thousands of people. CAFOD is still supporting people affected by the earthquake. As winter approaches, our partners are delivering vital ‘winter kits’, which include blankets, tarpaulins, foam mats, and grants for clothing and fuel.   Say a prayer for all those affected by the earthquake in Nepal.

How can we help to build a brighter world in the year ahead? Building a brighter future Tuesday 22 December During Advent, we prepare to welcome Christ, the Light of the World, into our lives. At Harvest, we learned about Diego, who lives in El Salvador. There is lots of poverty and violence where Diego lives, but his community are working hard to build a brighter future. Inspired by Diego’s community, thousands of schools got involved with Brighten Up during Harvest. Thank you for your FANTASTIC efforts. How can we help to build a brighter world in the year ahead?

Christmas is almost here! Wednesday 23 December Christmas is so close and all around us everyone is getting very excited. Remember to think about the real meaning of Christmas and why it is such a special time. Make a Christmas card for someone to show them that you care. Click here to download Christmas cards to colour in.

Christmas Eve Thursday 24 December Christmas is almost here! Remember to take the time to light a candle and prepare to welcome Christ, the Light of the World, into your lives. Pray together Christ, Light of the world, we welcome you into our lives. Inspire us to share your light with others and to make a change in our world, so that we may live in peace and have all that we need. Let us look to the future with hope. Amen

Happy Christmas!