St John Fisher Primary, a Catholic Voluntary Academy, Sheffield
Our FS2 workshop: 'Supporting Learning at Home' is on Monday 9th February 2026, at 3.30pm in the Y6 classroom. Supervised childcare will be available. This is for all FS2 parents and carers, so please try and come, and notify the office if you would like to attend. Thank you. | Looking for a great school? We have places! All children are welcome! | Excellent Y6 SATs outcomes -- Maths 84% (National 74%) -- Reading 87% (National 75%) -- Writing 87% (National 72%) -- Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling 87% (National 73%) -- Combined 81% (National 62%) | RESPECT is our learning value for Term 3. For more information, please click here. | SJF Community Carol Concert 2025: Both parts are now available to view via this link. Thank you. | Term 3 Wake Up! Shake Up! videos are available here  | SJF Book List 2025-26: please click here | Latest Newsletters: Click here | The School Office is open between 8.30am and 4.30pm. Please call between those times if you wish to speak to someone, otherwise you can leave a message. Thank you.
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What is Advent?

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27th Nov 2022

Advent and Lent, are seasons of penitence. On the Advent wreath, the three purple candles mark our preparations while awaiting the arrival of Christ on Earth at Christmas. Unlike Lent, Advent is a happier season.

The Third Sunday of Advent, called Gaudete Sunday. The word ‘Gaudate’ is Latin for ‘rejoice’. From the third Sunday of Advent we light the rose coloured candle on our wreaths. Priests also wear rose-coloured vestments at Mass on the third Sunday of Advent.

 

Pope Francis was talking about the difference between happiness and joy when he said:

 “To be happy is good, yet joy is something more. It’s another thing; something which does not depend on external motivations, or on passing issues. It is more profound. It is a gift.”

 

If joy is a gift from the Lord, then the Lord Himself is our first and greatest gift, and the only one that will never tarnish, break or fade. Gaudete Sunday reminds us that the gift has not yet arrived, but is very near.