Advent this year at St David’s was challenging but rewarding as we exercised as a community the practice of prayer and charity.
We continued our daily morning prayer throughout the season, with weekly Mass and an Angelus Gospel Reflection each Friday at lunchtime. All our students were led in a reflection in the College Chapel throughout the second week of Advent, with 24 reflections in total.
Our Advent Carol Service had to be moved online as a precautionary measure as the covid situation seemed to deteriorate in the third week. The service was nonetheless joyous and a great display of the talents of our students and staff. The service may still be viewed on YouTube.
The extremely generous nature of our students was again exemplified this year with great support for our triple Advent Appeal to support the Homeless, the Elderly, and the Poor. Students made donations of towels, toiletries and t-shirts for the Huggard Centre in Cardiff. There was a separate fundraising drive to raise money for the Homeless through Crisis at Christmas which raised over £1,000.
The students also donated food items for our food bank appeal. The many bags of food were distributed in Cardiff East and West via the SVP in St Albans in Splott and the newly opened St Vincent’s Centre at Ely Bridge as Christmas food hampers for those struggling financially at this time. Students also donated small gift items for distribution to residents at Nazareth House in Cardiff in lieu of our usual annual Senior Citizen’s Mass and Party at the College. The gifts were received by Sr Aquinas and Sr Marie at Nazareth House.