Primary advent calendar 2015 from CAFOD

1. Children of the world unite,
Preparing for the special night,
Waiting for the joyful birth,
God’s light on Earth.
Of the child who is
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2. The First Sunday of 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.
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?

3. The Advent wreath
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
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.
What will you do
this Advent to get
ready for when
Jesus comes?

4. Click here to watch an animation
about Laudato Si’.
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.
Care for our common home
Talk about:
• What do you think Pope Francis
means by common home?
• In what ways can we care for our
common home?

5. The challenge of climate change
Click here to
watch our
climate change
animation.
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.
Find out:
• Why is the climate changing?
• Who is most affected?
• How can we do a better job
of looking after our planet?

6. Let’s put love for the world
and our neighbours into action
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.
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.
Remember to
check our online
totaliser each
week in Advent.

7. Working together to
care for our planet
Click here to take the climate
change quiz, to see how much
you know already!
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.

8. Care for our common home
Click here to watch ‘Caring for
the environment’ film.
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.
Talk about:
• What can you learn from the
children in the film?
• Why is it important to look
after the environment?

9. The Second Sunday of 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.
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?

10. Climate change affects the
poorest communities most
Click here to find out more
about Chanaet and her family.
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.
How is CAFOD supporting
Chanaet’s family to adapt to
climate change?

11. The feast of the
Immaculate Conception
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?

12. Playing our part
Click here to complete the ‘I am
going to play my part’ activity sheet
(see campaign guide, page 5.)
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.

13. Human Rights Day
Click here to find out more about
Thiago and the gift of reading.
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. Remember to
check our
totaliser.

14. Taking eco-actions to
care for the earth
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.
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.
Click here for ideas to make
your Christmas greener.

15. The earth is God’s gift
List the things or places in the world
where you see beauty or wonder.
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.
Say a prayer of thanks for all of the
things you love about the world.

16. The Third Sunday of 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.
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?

17. Making a new start
Write your pledge on a heart to
take better care of our climate.
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!
Join the hearts together to make
a giant heart. Remember to tell
us about your climate action.
Email us:
education@cafod.org.uk
Click here to
download our
campaign guide.

18. Sustainable Development
Find out more about the global
goals. How many goals are
there? What is each goal about?
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.

19. The importance of water
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 find out about
drought resistant crops,
available through World Gifts.
What difference do you think
this gift would make?
Click here to check the totaliser, to
see how many children we have
helped learn to read through
World Gifts.

20. Extreme weather affects the
poorest communities more
Click here to watch Zin
Thu Thu’s video.
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!
What could you cut out to
make a change for the world?

21. International Migrants Day
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
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.

22. Protecting our common home
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?

23. The Fourth Sunday of 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.
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.

24. Supporting our sisters and
brothers around the world
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.

25. Building a brighter future
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?

26. Christmas is almost here!
Make a Christmas card
for someone to show
them that you care.
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.
Click here to download
Christmas cards to
colour in.

27. Christmas Eve
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
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.

28. Happy
Christmas!