Advent and Christmas have been celebrated in a variety of different ways across the SVD Australia Province, from multicultural carols to Christmas lights, concerts to shared meals and gifts – all with the common theme of highlighting the nativity of Jesus Christ.

From the Indigenous communities in the Tiwi Islands, Central Australia, and Balgo to city suburbs in Australia and New Zealand and across to villages in Thailand and Myanmar, the Province has expressed a range of different cultural celebrations of Christmas.

The Central Australian desert sky was once again lit up in Santa Teresa - Ltyentye Apurte with the renowned Christmas lights competition and once again the life-sized nativity scene is on full display.

Residents young and old go to great lengths to try and win the competition, now in its 25th year, transforming their homes into festive spectacles, blending their Catholic heritage with Indigenous traditions. Parishioners also joined in decorating the church for Christmas, ahead of the season’s liturgies.

And, about an hour’s drive away, parishioners at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish in Alice Springs enjoyed their annual Seniors Christmas Luncheon, a day of community and Christmas festivity, beginning with a Mass, followed the by gathering and lunch. Entertainment included dancing by young parishioners and parishioners were also invited to donate gifts and food for the event. The parish also hosted a Thanksgiving Mass and lunch for volunteers.

In the Tiwi Islands, the parish of Our Lady of Peace and St Therese Parish, Wurrumiyanga, held its second annual Tiwi Christmas Concert, a festive event which brought the community together in a joyous celebration of Christmas.

The celebration began with everyone joining together in common Christmas carols, creating a prayerful and festive atmosphere. This was followed by a warm welcome from Fr Niran Veigas SVD, who also introduced the jury members, after which the competition commenced.

“It was a truly joyful moment for the entire community to come together. Children, youth, and elders participated with great enthusiasm, making the evening memorable and spirit-filled,” the parish’s website says. “It was heart-warming to see the smiles on every face as joy and togetherness filled the gathering. Altogether, about 14 groups took part in the competition, each bringing their own talents and creativity to celebrate the birth of Christ.”

In North Queensland, parishioners at the Ministerial Region of the Good Shepherd in Townsville were invited to Carols at the Cathedral, a celebration of song, prayer and reflection, led by the diocesan choir and followed by a light supper. Parishioners also helped pack Christmas hampers for the St Vincent de Paul Society to distribute to those in need and children were invited to dress up as angels and shepherds to take part in the Christmas nativity dramatisation. Meanwhile, on Palm Island, the church has been decorated with a striking nativity scene and Santa made a visit to St Michael’s School.

In the Diocese of Rockhampton, Emerald Catholic Parish prepared for Christmas with an Advent reflection at St Patrick’s School by the Diocesan First Nations Ministry Coordinator Sabrina Stevens. Parishioners also donated gifts to be included in Vinnies hampers and there was a Parish Christmas Party at a local venue. And in the Central West Cluster of Catholic Parishes, there were Christmas fetes at Blackhall and Barcaldine and parishioners were invited to donate used Christmas card stamps to support Mary MacKillop Today charity. And, from December 21 to 25, Fr Peter Nguyen SVD and Fr Rius Salu SVD will drive large distances to celebrate Christmas Mass at nine small rural towns.

Fr Paulo Vatunitu SVD will also be doing some ‘miles’ over the Advent and Christmas period as he makes his way around the predominantly Indigenous, remote parish of Balgo-Kutjungka in the Diocese of Broome, Western Australia, which takes in the main parish church and six outstations, with the furthest one being 10 hours drive away.

The SVD Thailand District celebrated in a variety of ways in their parishes and ministries. In Nong Bua Lamphu, residents from Ban Mae Marie and those patients living at Villa Marie hospice came together at Mother of Perpetual Help Center to celebrate Christmas together with a big meal, music and gifts.

In rural Thailand, Fr Truong Le SVD transferred his reputation for Christmas light magic to his new parish this year.

“It’s exciting to put my own touch on things, but it would be a lot harder without the helpful resources they have on hand—plenty of decorations, wreaths, and supplies ready to go!” he said.

Christmas lights are also a feature of the SVD community house in Bangkok, with the main feature being a beautiful, grotto-like nativity scene.

Christmas in Myanmar is once again taking place in challenging conditions, but the SVD missionaries were once again able to share small gifts of food staples with the local people to hep share the Christmas spirit. Fr Roger Kyaw SVD, with the help of the Consolation Sisters contributed rice and cooking oil for villagers in Thon Daw village and Yadanar Kune village, while Fr Tuyen Nguyen SVD, with the help of Vietnamese benefactors, contributed small gifts for children in eight villages in Htantabin Township and food for internally displaced persons camp in Pha Do village. 

In the New Zealand District, the St Bernadette’s Church-Mount Wellington Parish in Auckland prepared for Advent and Christmas with a parish retreat in both Spanish and English on the theme ‘Missionaries of Hope’. Fr Alejandro de la Sotta SVD is chaplain to the Spanish-speaking community in Auckland and says the parish has also been invited to lovely Colombian traditions, such as the "celebración de las velas," where families light candles to symbolise hope and unity.

“Additionally, many families are celebrating the novena leading up to Christmas that brings communities together in faith and joy. And on Christmas Eve, we will have carols after the Spanish Mass and before the English Mass, which should be a delightful time for everyone involved!” he said

On the South Island in the Wellington Archdiocese, Te Awakairangi Parish hosted a combined seniors Christmas Mass and lunch and parishioners were invited to take part in the Eastbourne nativity walk, a local ecumenical initiative. The large multicultural parish also celebrated Sim Bang Gabi at Sacred Heart Church Petone, a series of nine evening masses journeying to the birth of Jesus.

In Victoria, Sacred Heart Parish Preston children are preparing to dress up and take part in the presentation of the Gospel story at the Family Mass on Christmas Eve, before carols ahead of the 10pm Mass. Parishioners also donated gifts for the Vinnies Christmas Appeal and, honouring the large Italian presence in the parish, parishioners were invited to bring the Baby Jesus statues from their Nativity sets for a special blessing at the Bambinelli Mass on Sunday 14 December.

With a number of students either away on home leave or assigned to a summer pastoral placement, it will be a quiet Christmas at Dorish Maru College, but the students hosted a Thanksgiving Evening before the break, for all those who had assisted them in their studies and formation this year.

At SVD parishes in NSW, multicultural carol-singing was a feature, with popular Christmas Carols events held at Holy Family Parish Ingleburn and Mary Mother of the Church parish in Macquarie Fields.

While at the SVD’s Marsfield Community, the annual carols featured a broad array of choir groups from different cultures, sharing in the festive spirit. Santa Claus made an appearance too, and funds were raised to assist people in Vietnam and the Philippines who were affected by recent typhoons.

PHOTOS

TOP RIGHT: One of the homes in Santa Teresa, Central Australia, decorated for the annual Christmas Lights Competition.

TOP  LEFT: The Parish of Our Lady of Peace and St Therese - Wurrumiyanga, Tiwi Islands held a Christmas Carols Competition in the Church, attracting a large number of entrants.

MIDDLE RIGHT: Christmas Lights at Fr Truong Le SVD's parish in Thailand.

NIDDLE LEFT: Fr Tuyen Nguyen SVD hands out small gifts for children in his parish in Myanmar.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Fr Alex de la Sotta SVD (right) in Auckland, New Zealand enjoying a Colombian Christmas tradition featuring the lighting of candles.

BOTTOM LEFT: The Multicultural Christmas Carols at Marsfield once again drew a big crowd, with carols sung by groups from a range of different cultural backgrounds.

See more photos below.